Looking Good

Hannah and I met with my doctor today for a check up. We got to listen to the heart beat which Hannah says sounds like a choo choo train. Heart rate was 163 bpm. She also said there were three movements noted in thirty seconds which is good. I knew I was feeling him! The appointment was fairly brief. Weight check and blood draw were also done. I see the doctor again in a month. She also decided to have me cancel my next ultrasound at their office and we rescheduled it with a super high tech facility that looks specifically for birth defects. She said they have an extra fancy machine and that a doctor performs the scan instead of a tech. When I called the facility to set it up they said the ultrasound lasts 45 minutes. Wow that is a long time. She just wants to be extra cautious they don't miss the cleft. Not like it matters. All I'd do different is dust off the old Habermans and start saving for surgery costs. But like I remind the parents I work with regularly, we all have deficits somewhere, some are physical, some intellectual, some mental and we learn to make the best out of what we are dealt. Differences are what make us all unique, but I am excited to see what they find. That appointment is in two weeks. Hopefully they can also confirm the gender at that time. WIth 45 minutes I'm assuming they will get at least one good look.

Month 4 Bump Watch

As promised here is your Month 4: 16 week, bump watch photo (and yes I did cut 7 inches off of my hair this morning in an attempt to distract you from how fast my belly is growing). J/K I love my little bump, but it is much bigger this time around. At 16 weeks with Hannah I was a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding wearing a size four tight dress and I don't think you could even tell. Well this little guy is making a grand showing early. At 16 weeks, baby is 5 inches long or the size of an avocado. He can hear voices from the outside world, sleep and even have dreams. Baby is kicking, making fists and even somersaulting. I feel him move about twice a day and it is subtle in nature but still there. People are asking us more and more frequently about the name and we are not hiding anything just don't know yet. I'd say there are four contenders but who knows, I change my mind frequently. Just last week I thought I had it down to two. Hannah is so much fun. She makes me laugh and smile every day. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world and I can't wait to see her as a big sister. I have a feeling she will be a great helper, but also let baby boy know who's boss from day one. Baby boy take it from me, just don't encroach on her time with her Ne, her Dog, or the color purple and you'll be good to go. In all seriousness I am so excited to see their relationship grow. My brother and I are very different, but no matter what I have his back and he has mine. It's a good feeling. I learned in biology class back in the day that you are more genetically similar to your siblings than anyone else including your parents. Now I did take biology at a community college so who knows if that is true of not, I'm sure Uncle Jeff could tell us, but the point is how awesome to have a built in friend, protector, and supporter for life. Doctor's appointment on Wednesday this week and Daddy turns 30 on Thursday. Maybe it's my OCD side coming through but I like how Tim will be 30 when the baby is born. It's a nice round easy number to remember that they will be thirty years apart. Ok this post is starting to ramble and become all over the place.

15 Weeks

Sorry for the brief lapse in blog posts, but really there hasn't been too much to report. I am feeling good. Tired, but good. No single strange food cravings, but have been really wanting lays potato chips and McDonald's chocolate chip cookies. Super healthy and I'm sure doctor approved. Hannah is fully convinced there is a baby growing in her stomach as well. Tim played basketball for the first time in a long time last week and goes to see another specialist in San Diego on Tuesday. Baby boy has been new inspiration for healing so that he can have his dream of playing sports with his kids and coaching. Baby boy continues to grow. At 15 weeks, he is the size of an apple. I am also starting to feel slight movement throughout the day, but it is still subtle. What a great feeling! Tiny bones have developed in the baby's ears, which means he can now hear my voice. Doctor's appointment coming up next week and also stay tuned for your month four bump watch pic.

Team BLUE

No Tim, this post is not about Dodger Blue or Tarheel Blue, but Baby BOY BLUE. Tim and I were shocked today that at our 12 week ultrasound the tech felt confident baby is a boy. Please note, background blog color change. I started crying because I just feel closer to my babies once I can relate to them as a he or a she. I think Tim was in total shock. The tech saw boy parts in multiple views. It's still very early and we won't get complete confirmation for 6 more weeks when we go to our next ultrasound, but for now I'm trying to wrap my brain around boy. I am most excited about having the opportunity to experience both genders of children, the different personalities, different activities, interests, etc. But on the flip side it is overwhelming to picture our house with 50 baby dolls, every Disney princess known to man, tutus, and pink galore and try imagining a little boy coming into the picture. I feel so much more excited now that I can picture our little man and start thinking boy names. But, the best news of the day is that baby is growing and looks perfect. He was moving a lot so she definitely counted 10 fingers and 10 toes, she pointed out the stomach, bladder, cord, and brain. The lips and nose look typical which is awesome and doctor says at the next ultrasound they will get a good look at the palate. At 12 weeks they also measure a certain area of the neck which can give a good estimate as to whether your baby is at risk for Down Syndrome. Tater Tot 2's NT is 'very skinny' which means super low risk! I also had blood work done today which is always a joy. Hematoma is still there in two pockets. Both are considered moderate range still. One pocket is 3cm and the other is 2 cm. Doctor says the most important thing is that baby is growing so that is wonderful but she still says no activity, lifting or travel. Baby's heartbeat is 165 (guess the old wives tale is wrong). Oh and I am officially wearing maternity clothes. Why try to squeeze into stuff that makes me feel like a sausage when I can be comfy. So blessed and can't wait for Hannah's little brother to arrive. And as my dear friend Amee said which made me laugh "Hannah retains her Princess title" because all her buddies, siblings and cousins are boys. If baby was a girl you might have gotten a name reveal, but you'll have to wait a little longer. Suggestions are welcome:)

I like how you can see all his fingers spread out, you can also see one foot at the bottom.



The arrow points to boy parts. The black spot in the middle of the belly is the stomach which is kind of neat

2nd Trimester: Here we Come!

It feels great to say I am finally 12 weeks pregnant. It's like reaching a goal and you know you are going to start feeling better and that this baby is meant to be ours. On Thursday I have my 12 week appointment (Ultrasound, Tim gets to meet Dr. Flora, and more blood work). I am very excited and hope all looks great. At 12 weeks, baby can bend, stretch, kick and make faces. I am really looking forward to feeling the baby move soon. Baby is now the size of a lime. Hair and nails are starting to form. As for me, I feel kinda the same.Total first trimester weight gain = negative one pound. Nausea comes and goes. I don't sleep well at night so I am pretty tired during the day. Secondary issues would be lower back pain and headaches. All that to say I still think pregnancy is the coolest most amazing thing your body can do and I love every minute of it the good and the bad. This week I also told my boss, Principal and closest work colleagues. Convo with the big boss was slightly awkward, but overall everyone was very excited for me. And I'm glad I told them because that same day as I was sprinting across the field trying to catch a first grader who eloped, my Principal was yelling at me to "stop and you know why." I'm glad she was looking out for me and baby 1. because I'm suppose to be on pelvic rest and 2. because baby or no baby this mommy doesn't enjoy running (picture... out of shape pregnant woman barefoot after kicking off heels chasing super fast 7 year old who looked like he could go all day= not a pretty sight.) Just another day in the life.

And get excited, BUMP WATCH 2013 is in full effect.

Sleeping Beauty

Today we had our 2 week follow up (10 weeks) due to the hematoma they found at 8 weeks. I was so excited to see the baby again and what joy I felt when I saw the heart pounding (176 beats per minute). Technician said that baby has grown exactly as he/she should. The hematoma is still considered to be moderate size, but the good news is that at 8 weeks it sourrounded the entire uterus and today at ten weeks the top and bottom looked cleared up and just the side pockets remain. Hopefully at 12 weeks we will move into the 'small' size range. For now I am still on "pelvic rest" as they call it which doesn't translate well to a mommy of a two year old, but I do my best and I think it's paying off. The tech also did a 3D ultrasound which we never had with Hannah which was really cool. She was trying to get a good look at cleft or no cleft, but at this point she didn't feel comfortable making the determination one way or another. Baby TT2 was sleeping the whole time with his/her hands up over her eyes. Maybe he/she thinks it's 'bright' just like big sister. As you see in the pic we got a good glimpse of the downstairs region and the tech through me off by saying "looks like a boy." I knew it was too early, but I can't seem to get her comment out of my head. Before you get too excited, she then laughed and said it only looks like a boy because every baby up to 12-13 weeks has external genitals so every baby looks like a boy at this stage. In the end she said it means nothing and we have to wait longer to see what the ambiguous parts turn into. Still, now I feel like I'm kinda leaning boy. Next appointment is in 2 weeks and I can't wait to see our little one again. I might drink my first caffinated beverage in 12 weeks that day so I get a little more action on the screen. (I'm sure God will punish me for this statement later in about 6 months when I'm praying the baby sleeps).

At 10 weeks, baby is the size of a kumquat. Not sure I even know what a kumquat looks like, nor do I know how long it is. (Note to self: purchase kumquat at grocery store). As I mentioned last week, everything is pretty much formed by now so it's just a matter of growing big and strong.

Reaching a place...

9 weeks today and with each passing day I feel more excited. More excited about reaching a place I no longer feel sick, reaching a place the baby is in the 'safe zone,' reaching a place I can buy goodies at babies r us and not feel like I'm jumping the gun, reaching a place I can feel the baby, hold the baby, kiss the baby, etc. This week I have been taking it as easy as possible which means a lot of movies for big sister, but she doesn't seem to mind. I am anxiously awaiting our follow up ultrasound and hope all this laying around pays off.

This week the baby is 1 inch long or the size of a large grape. It hard to believe that after only 9 weeks, (4 of which you didn't even know you were pregnant), the baby already has all basic pysiology in place so at this point its mostly about gaining weight. All joints are working. The baby can make a fist and even start sucking it's thumb. Teeth are also forming below the gum line this week. The heart is already divided into four chambers, but valves form this week (let's hope baby takes after mom in the heart valve department). There is nothing like the creation of a baby to confirm your belief in God. It truly is amazing. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

We love you little baby, hang on tight!