18 Weeks

I wonder if this is going to ever start feeling real?  I still feel like I am living in a dream. Well, ok, the vomiting is very real but it's still hard to believe there is a baby growing inside of me. I've spent so long feeling like it's never going to be my turn that it's just so hard to believe that it IS my turn. Here are a few updates:

Baby Names: We have NONE!  We have tossed around a few that we sort of like but nothing we love - feel free to send us your suggestions

Movement: Not feeling anything just yet. I can hear her moving on the doppler but definitely don't feel it when she does (it's still weird saying she!)

Body changes: I swear the sterile gloves I wear to catch babies are already starting to feel snug. My danskos feel tight too. Pregnancy is full of changes. My husband commented this week that my belly is starting to look more and more like a baby (rather that a growing too much ice cream belly).

Brennan: We are trying to get her used to the idea of sharing her mama. She likes to say "no! my mama!!". Today at school she was caring for one of the teachers 10 month old son. Talking to him, feeding him, etc. According to the teacher she was being a great little mommy. I think she will be an awesome big helper. 

Here is the newest belly pic. Baby snowflake is around 5 1/2 inches long, has hiccups and yawns. I'm excited to figure out a name for this little girl.

Read More

(almost) 16 weeks!

I misled you. I let you all believe that we wouldn't be finding out baby snowflake's gender. I'm sorry, but it was necessary! Here's why:

On Mother's Day we went to brunch after an incredible church service. My church gave a house to a single mother with a special needs child!  Check it out here. After brunch we asked my father-in-law to come to the office and help us pick up a piece of furniture, since I can't lift it. When we arrived at the office the ultrasound machine was warmed up and our Peek-A-Boo expert April was waiting for us. As they followed me into the ultrasound room they began to suspect something was up.

We had my sister Michelle, my mom and grandma on Facetime as I climbed up on the table for an ultrasound. Next thing you know we are looking between baby snowflake's legs!  I was so set on seeing a little penis that I was really shocked that "it" was so small. April said, do you want me to say it?  I said "YES!".  She said you're getting what you've already got it's another girl! My reply? "No way! Keep looking!"

We all cheered, laughed, and cried. Especially Brennan who's got her hair stuck in her GG's (her grandpa) shirt buttons. We proceeded to facetime all of the sisters and let April show them the view then once they were sufficiently confused she typed in "It's a Girl" on the screen. We all laughed and cried together!  It was great.

Here are all of the bogus reasons I thought it was a boy:

The Ramzi method which predicts 97% of genders based on early ultrasound said boy.
The Chinese calendar said boy.
The genital tubercle was very prominent at 12 weeks.
2 girls at work that are due within a week of me are both having girls, figured a boy would balance the world out.


I always try to guess the gender of my patient's babies at the early appointments. If the heartbeat is hard to find I call it a boy (too busy moving to be heard). If the heart rate is less than 160, I guess boy. You would think with only 2 options for gender you would be correct 50% of the time. Right?  Well I AM ALWAYS WRONG!  So it's no surprise that I can't guess my own baby's gender either.


Here SHE is!

Check out those arms and legs. The donor dad is 6 foot 6. She will outgrow me in no time. 

Read More

Toddler Room

I'm excited to get Brennan's big girl room done before baby snowflake arrives this fall. 

We have 1 room in my house that we have painted 3 times since moving in. We moved in 2 years ago!! I refuse to continue repainting rooms so I'm now very careful to make sure that I test the paint colors in the actual room on several different walls before painting.

They make a product called Swatch Right to help with this problem. You apply your paint to their mats and then place your mat on the wall to evaluate the color. Smart, right?

Here's the problem. They charge $14.99 for 3 workmats of 2 swatches.

I found s cheaper, easier, faster alternative. Press 'N' Seal!! For 3 dollars you can save yourself a lot of time and money. Plus you can use it to cover paint when it's not in use, brushes and rollers between coats, and to protect items from splatter. You can also move the swatches from wall to wall to test the color in different light, even different rooms.

Happy Painting!!

Read More

15 weeks

2nd trimester has been interesting to say the least. I always reassure my patients that most women turn a corner at 14 weeks. I've gone backwards. After brushing my teeth (and tongue) every morning for roughly 32 years it's hard to remember to take caution! Aside from a few rough mornings in the last week I can definitely start to feel my body changing.  I've never been so aware of my uterus in my life. Between the cramping, ligament pain and just general pressure it's a constant reminder that something is growing in there. The female body is incredible.

We scheduled our ultrasound for June. Can't wait to see how much this little one has changed. Brennan says "Mommy, I want a baby brother!" Guess we will see what God has in store for us come fall!! 

I've finally begun to accept the fact that my belly is no longer mine. I will never be one of those mamas with a little basketball belly but I love thinking about my little one getting bigger. We have now graduated to the size of a lemon. Pretty fitting since fresh squeezed lemonade has been my only true pregnancy craving. After taking this photo I found a recipe online for a single glass of fresh squeezed lemonade. Thought I'd share it with you all too.

Single Glass Fresh Lemonade

Ingredients

• 2 scoops granulated sugar
• ¼ cup hot water
• 3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice (I used 1/2 of a large lemon)
• ¾ cup cold water
• Ice

Instructions

1. Stir together the sugar and hot water until the sugar is dissolved
2. Stir in the lemon juice and cold water
3. Fill with ice and enjoy! 

Trying to Reach the Rainbow

Read More