Friday, July 16, 2010
And so it begins!
So the my blood sugar readings have been pretty steady and predictable (for the most part - there was always a few crazy, unexplainable ones too!) up until now. And I knew this time was coming...I just wanted to get back from vacation before I had to put my mind into the steady blood sugar climb that I knew was inevitable....but it looks like my blood sugars don't take vacations like I do! The last few days, I've been in the high 100's, doing everything I could do get them down (bolus, bolus, bolus, in other words - more insulin, insulin, insulin!), and they are still hanging out in the upper 100's. I hate that. It makes me feel like a crappy mom already. So on the third day of this, I decided to use all these innovative features on my pump that I usually don't have to use - one of them is called a temporary basal rate. Usually, I have a set basal rate throughout the day (e.g., Noon - 4pm is at .8 units/hr, 4pm - 9pm is at .725 units/hr, etc. - I have about 7 or 8 different basals rates throughout the entire day). My basal rate should keep me at a steady good blood glucose number if I didn't eat any carbs throughout the day (the bolus is what I take for meals or short bursts of insulin to correct a high). I can go in and tell my pump that I need a temporary basal rate - either higher or lower than normal. Eventually, I will just adjust my basal rates entirely (and keep adjusting from what I read from other diabetic pregos!), but until I know for sure if this rise is permanent, I thought I would set a temporary basal rate and increase by 30%, so essentially I am getting a 30% increase in my regular basal rates. And guess what happened? Yep - numbers were amazing yesterday. 86, 93, 65, 86, 94...loved it! I had it set through the night for a 20% increase instead, but at 2am I was 42, so I stopped the increase, ate some Starbursts and woke up at a little low, but good number of 70 this morning. Went for a walk, was 104. Good. Had some coffee, check again after 30 minutes. 198. I think we are back on track for my temporary basal to be set...so that's what I did and am hoping it delivers as well as it did yesterday. I am now to 160...which isn't great, but not terrible...at least on the downward trend. Plus I did eat some oatmeal and peanut butter for breakfast too, so that would naturally have me higher because there are carbs in them. I have a feeling my life is about to get a little crazier!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Rocky Mountains Baby!
Thought I would upload a few pictures from our last couple days in the mountains. We hiked a 2 mile trek today up to Alberta Falls (which you'll see in the pics). It was a little steep and the air is definitely different in your lungs here (and I'm definitely pregnant with you!), so it probably was not the easiest day I've ever hiked, but great work out for all of us! Then we went to the town of Estes Park, which is a cute little mountain town with cutesie shops and restaurants. It even rained for us up here - which is something we've been missing in Phoenix for a while now - so we loved getting rained on! There are also a few of yesterday of the mountains and then one or two of the Stanley Inn - which is the hotel that the movie, The Shining, was filmed in. It sits right at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park on the edge of Estes Park...so we swung by last night and looked in the lobby. We couldn't go actually into the hallways of the hotel where the movie was filmed (the staff must be used to us onlookers!), which was really a-okay with us, because the girls were a little creeped out anyway. =)
Hope you like! =)
Hope you like! =)
Right when we got up in the mountains - one of our first views
Your sisters!
Right inside the National Park - across from the Alluvial Fan
The Stanley Inn - where The Shining was filmed
Front entrance
About as far as we were allowed to go - the sign tells us to keep out =)
This was the place we stayed - super nice - the girls loved it! The Fawn Valley River ran right by our screen doors.
Hiking up to Alberta Falls - Kyndall was the videographer today
This was a Megan-inspired picture - she was taking it with a another camera and I loved the shot!
Our path
Yay! We made it to Alberta Falls!
Your Daddy and Sisters!
Probably my favorite pic!
Gorgeous view on the road out of the park
I think that's it for now! Believe it or not - we are now watching "The Sound of Music". Your Dad has never seen it and your sisters and I have always told him we need to watch it and didn't want to. Now, our cabin place we are staying in lets you check out movies and they had it, so your Dad, of all people, wanted to watch it and Kyndall doesn't want to watch it anymore. Go figure. I guess he got inspired by the mountains or something! =) Talk to you soon baby girl!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Week 19 - I'm thinking we are halfway there!
Hey there little girlie-o-mine! We are now 19 weeks in! And depending on we both do at the end of the pregnancy, it could be the halfway point this week. Many times, if induced or c-section, they will do this at 38 weeks....so we are halfway there! =) I am sitting here writing this in the Rocky Mountains with you in my belly! The Fall Valley River is flowing right outside our open screen door. Love it! Can't wait to sleep with our screen open tonight too...with the sound of the rushing river putting us to sleep! I can pretty much feel you getting bigger! So here's the scoop on you!
Your reproductive system is already well established. The vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place, and your ovaries contain more than 6 million primitive egg cells (wow!). When you are born, that number will have shrunk to about 1 million, which is all the eggs you'll ever have. Your arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of your body now. Your kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on your scalp is sprouting. Around this time, your skin starts to produce a creamy substance called vernix caseosa, which is made of oils secreted by the skin, dead cells, and lanugo, the fine hair that covers the body. This waxy coating protects your skin from the effects of floating in amniotic fluid (I am imagining what my skin would look like after swimming in a pool for nine months - so thank goodness for that covering for you!). Most of the vernix will disappear before birth, unless you arrive early. Preterm babies are often born still covered with a lot of vernix. Even full-term infants will have a bit of vernix in the creases of their skin. You most likely measure about 7 or so inches and weighs anywhere from 7 to 9 ounces (you measured in last week at the doctor's office at 8 oz.). You are about the size of a mango! There's a definite upswing on the fetal growth chart now, so we can expect some big gains in the coming weeks.
We are still adjusting to the fact that you are a girl! All in a good way! We catch ourselves sometimes saying "he" instead of "she"...still getting used to the change I guess! We took back most of the boy-ish clothes and exchanged for some super cute girlie stuff instead. Can't wait to see you in it all!
I am feeling great...definitely have a belly and love showing it off now more than ever. We are in Colorado this week seeing your aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, etc. I am definitely showing you off to everyone around here! Plus, we have all your latest sonogram pics that we are showing everyone too! They love them. They are throwing us a little shower on Saturday, which will be super fun! I'll tell you all about it next week!
That's it for now I guess. I feel like there should be more, but nothing is coming to mind. I'll post some good pictures of our trip soon. In the meantime, kick away! I still need to feel you! Love you baby girl!
Your reproductive system is already well established. The vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place, and your ovaries contain more than 6 million primitive egg cells (wow!). When you are born, that number will have shrunk to about 1 million, which is all the eggs you'll ever have. Your arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of your body now. Your kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on your scalp is sprouting. Around this time, your skin starts to produce a creamy substance called vernix caseosa, which is made of oils secreted by the skin, dead cells, and lanugo, the fine hair that covers the body. This waxy coating protects your skin from the effects of floating in amniotic fluid (I am imagining what my skin would look like after swimming in a pool for nine months - so thank goodness for that covering for you!). Most of the vernix will disappear before birth, unless you arrive early. Preterm babies are often born still covered with a lot of vernix. Even full-term infants will have a bit of vernix in the creases of their skin. You most likely measure about 7 or so inches and weighs anywhere from 7 to 9 ounces (you measured in last week at the doctor's office at 8 oz.). You are about the size of a mango! There's a definite upswing on the fetal growth chart now, so we can expect some big gains in the coming weeks.
We are still adjusting to the fact that you are a girl! All in a good way! We catch ourselves sometimes saying "he" instead of "she"...still getting used to the change I guess! We took back most of the boy-ish clothes and exchanged for some super cute girlie stuff instead. Can't wait to see you in it all!
I am feeling great...definitely have a belly and love showing it off now more than ever. We are in Colorado this week seeing your aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, etc. I am definitely showing you off to everyone around here! Plus, we have all your latest sonogram pics that we are showing everyone too! They love them. They are throwing us a little shower on Saturday, which will be super fun! I'll tell you all about it next week!
That's it for now I guess. I feel like there should be more, but nothing is coming to mind. I'll post some good pictures of our trip soon. In the meantime, kick away! I still need to feel you! Love you baby girl!
Friday, July 9, 2010
We have a healthy baby boy...oops, nevermind, it's a girl!
Okay, baby GIRL!!!!! (Yes, GIRL - we'll talk more about that in a bit!) What a day! We went in for your detailed ultrasound today and had my doctor's appointment first. Met with the same nice doctor that we had a several weeks ago. We really like him a lot. Anyway, my blood sugar numbers looked pretty good to him and he suggested a few changes, which was great. He answered a few questions I had (like would getting an electric shock hurt you, because yes, your Mommy somehow managed to mess with the pool pump's on/off switch with a wet hand the other day and I guess I touched some exposed wires! Anyway, he let me know that you should be fine, especially since it seemed like a small shock and we have heard your heart beating away just fine in there since then!). And, we were just a bit concerned because I had a high-ish blood pressure reading (140/85). I am always soooo nervous before I see you - and they ALWAYS do the ultrasound first, except today - so I was still all riled up because I hadn't seen you yet - and so obviously my blood pressure reflected that. So, we would just wait and take it again after the ultrasound. He let me know that my appointments were going to get closer together - every week to two weeks - which is great, I figured around halfway through things would start ramping up! After talking with the nice doctor, we went and got your sisters out of the waiting room and went in for the ultrasound.
The tech first asked if we wanted to know the gender - we, of course, already knew - but didn't want to "admit" this to her because we went to an outside company so we felt a little silly about it I guess. So, she started in on your scan and we first saw your beautiful spine - so cool to see all your vertabrae! Then, she went down to your boy parts - except - there weren't any and she announced that you were a girl! We were all shocked! We couldn't believe it - we had thought of you for almost a month now as a boy! All I could do was laugh. I had this little gut feeling that I shouldn't lock my mind on you as a boy yet. The girls were all shocked too...all we could do was laugh and talk about how crazy this is...and that they would have a sister now! We did confess to the tech then that we had gone and gotten a gender scan a few weeks ago, and she checked over and over again....still a girl! She admitted that there's always a chance for her to be wrong, but she has done this over and over again and never been wrong (to her knowledge). You were a little shy at first and had your legs crossed, so we got a shot of your girlie-ness, but later, you opened up and really showed it off even better. It's almost like you could hear us questioning whether or not this could be true and you just spread 'em and said, "hey, look...I really am a girl, okay?!". =)
All that crazy stuff aside...you looked great and healthy! That was the biggest deal to me above all. You were sleeping at first, but then started moving all over the place - which is SO COOL to see on the ultrasound screen. Your heart rate was 148, which is exactly what we measure you at at home with our doppler. She checked your brain, kidneys, spine, bone lengths, head and belly measurements...and I'm sure a ton more that I don't even know about. By the time she was to look at your heart, you were hiding it under my belly button, so the angle to capture everything was tough for her to get. We did get to see that you had all your four chambers and the aorta valve pumping (I think)...but I guess there were a few other things that normally get measured and checked that she could see properly because of your position, so we will have to wait a few weeks until I get a fetal echo sonogram...that will be a detailed heart look only at 22 weeks. The ultrasound doc came in to review the tech's findings and she reiterated all that the tech found - all looked great...just the heart was a little difficult to see...so they were a-okay with getting the rest in a few weeks. She said that this detailed scan finds at least 50% of all deformities and abnormalities (even alerts to Down's Syndrome and Spina Bifida) and everything on your looked great! Whew! What a relief! Now the only stressor was to figure out how to return all of those boy clothes we had bought over the last few weeks! =)
After the awesome 20-30 minutes looking at you (oh...and your sisters LOVED seeing all your nooks and crannies! They were ooooh-ing and aaaah-ing the whole time!) she gave us some pictures and sent us over to take my blood pressure one more time before leaving. I was still 138/82, which is a little high to them, so they had to tell the doctor the number and have him talk to me before they would let me leave! Felt kind of crazy to be stuck there because of this...but the doc came back in and let me know that he's sure my nerves were playing into this number and I should just go find a BP machine at Walgreens or CVS over the next couple of weeks and check and make sure it's down. Your Daddy and I went a step above that and went and bought a machine so we could take it on vacation with us...and I am happy to report I came in at a healthy 104/65 tonight. Whew! I'm telling you, those ultrasounds do a number on me!
Oh yeah, I also found out that I my placenta is on the front side of my uterus, or "placenta previa". This isn't where you want your placenta at the end of the pregnancy, but the doc said that 90% of the cases resolve themselves and change by the end, so they aren't worried at all at this point. I did ask the tech is the placenta being in front (or between where you are and my tummy) would make it less likely for me to feel you move and she said, definitely yes...but I'd still feel you plenty...just maybe not as early as others. That was kind of nice to know so I don't sit here and worry that I haven't felt you much yet.
Tonight, your Daddy and I returned some of your boy clothes to a consignment store that we like...they took them all back and we picked out some cutsie new girlie ones for you! They are really, really cute! Your Daddy even found a Cowboys onesie for you...it says something like, "I spit up blue" and then has a Cowboys star on it. He loved it...whether you knew it or not...you are a Cowboys fan. =)
We are sooo much smarter than we even realized because we 1) used all neutral greens and yellow colors in your room - no need to change anything there, and 2) had your initals be AJ whether you were a boy or a girl. So, you used to be Aidan Josiah, but now will be our little Avery Jo! And your middle name comes from your Mimi's middle name! Oh, and I looked up your names tonight and what they "mean"...Avery means "elf counsel" and Jo means "he will enlarge". Your Daddy and I are cracking up at those meanings. Too funny - Jo's variant forms mean "God is gracious", so I think we will just stick with that one instead!
Okay, here are several pictures of you....you're our little girlie! And we love you so very much Avery Jo! More than you will ever know probably!
The tech first asked if we wanted to know the gender - we, of course, already knew - but didn't want to "admit" this to her because we went to an outside company so we felt a little silly about it I guess. So, she started in on your scan and we first saw your beautiful spine - so cool to see all your vertabrae! Then, she went down to your boy parts - except - there weren't any and she announced that you were a girl! We were all shocked! We couldn't believe it - we had thought of you for almost a month now as a boy! All I could do was laugh. I had this little gut feeling that I shouldn't lock my mind on you as a boy yet. The girls were all shocked too...all we could do was laugh and talk about how crazy this is...and that they would have a sister now! We did confess to the tech then that we had gone and gotten a gender scan a few weeks ago, and she checked over and over again....still a girl! She admitted that there's always a chance for her to be wrong, but she has done this over and over again and never been wrong (to her knowledge). You were a little shy at first and had your legs crossed, so we got a shot of your girlie-ness, but later, you opened up and really showed it off even better. It's almost like you could hear us questioning whether or not this could be true and you just spread 'em and said, "hey, look...I really am a girl, okay?!". =)
All that crazy stuff aside...you looked great and healthy! That was the biggest deal to me above all. You were sleeping at first, but then started moving all over the place - which is SO COOL to see on the ultrasound screen. Your heart rate was 148, which is exactly what we measure you at at home with our doppler. She checked your brain, kidneys, spine, bone lengths, head and belly measurements...and I'm sure a ton more that I don't even know about. By the time she was to look at your heart, you were hiding it under my belly button, so the angle to capture everything was tough for her to get. We did get to see that you had all your four chambers and the aorta valve pumping (I think)...but I guess there were a few other things that normally get measured and checked that she could see properly because of your position, so we will have to wait a few weeks until I get a fetal echo sonogram...that will be a detailed heart look only at 22 weeks. The ultrasound doc came in to review the tech's findings and she reiterated all that the tech found - all looked great...just the heart was a little difficult to see...so they were a-okay with getting the rest in a few weeks. She said that this detailed scan finds at least 50% of all deformities and abnormalities (even alerts to Down's Syndrome and Spina Bifida) and everything on your looked great! Whew! What a relief! Now the only stressor was to figure out how to return all of those boy clothes we had bought over the last few weeks! =)
After the awesome 20-30 minutes looking at you (oh...and your sisters LOVED seeing all your nooks and crannies! They were ooooh-ing and aaaah-ing the whole time!) she gave us some pictures and sent us over to take my blood pressure one more time before leaving. I was still 138/82, which is a little high to them, so they had to tell the doctor the number and have him talk to me before they would let me leave! Felt kind of crazy to be stuck there because of this...but the doc came back in and let me know that he's sure my nerves were playing into this number and I should just go find a BP machine at Walgreens or CVS over the next couple of weeks and check and make sure it's down. Your Daddy and I went a step above that and went and bought a machine so we could take it on vacation with us...and I am happy to report I came in at a healthy 104/65 tonight. Whew! I'm telling you, those ultrasounds do a number on me!
Oh yeah, I also found out that I my placenta is on the front side of my uterus, or "placenta previa". This isn't where you want your placenta at the end of the pregnancy, but the doc said that 90% of the cases resolve themselves and change by the end, so they aren't worried at all at this point. I did ask the tech is the placenta being in front (or between where you are and my tummy) would make it less likely for me to feel you move and she said, definitely yes...but I'd still feel you plenty...just maybe not as early as others. That was kind of nice to know so I don't sit here and worry that I haven't felt you much yet.
Tonight, your Daddy and I returned some of your boy clothes to a consignment store that we like...they took them all back and we picked out some cutsie new girlie ones for you! They are really, really cute! Your Daddy even found a Cowboys onesie for you...it says something like, "I spit up blue" and then has a Cowboys star on it. He loved it...whether you knew it or not...you are a Cowboys fan. =)
We are sooo much smarter than we even realized because we 1) used all neutral greens and yellow colors in your room - no need to change anything there, and 2) had your initals be AJ whether you were a boy or a girl. So, you used to be Aidan Josiah, but now will be our little Avery Jo! And your middle name comes from your Mimi's middle name! Oh, and I looked up your names tonight and what they "mean"...Avery means "elf counsel" and Jo means "he will enlarge". Your Daddy and I are cracking up at those meanings. Too funny - Jo's variant forms mean "God is gracious", so I think we will just stick with that one instead!
Okay, here are several pictures of you....you're our little girlie! And we love you so very much Avery Jo! More than you will ever know probably!
That's your back at the top - and your spine is all white - your head is down on the left
This is your scary alien baby look. =) Head is on the left, and a distorted look at your arms, legs and belly. =)
Okay, so here's the big revealing picture. It's a shot of your buns and legs, like you are looking up at them when you are sitting on a glass chair. You're a girl!
Your head is on the right, with one arm/hand coming up to your face, with the other fingers showing up in the background.
That's your arm and fingers - looks like you got them all! =)
One of my favs from the day - your profile shot - you look so cute there! I think one of your hands is coming up by your face in the background too!
A 3D shot of you
Look at that little chicken leg! This is just a shot of one of your legs, bent, with your cute little foot. Your knee would be to the left and your foot on the right, with your butt cheek right above your heel.
Another 3D Shot...looks like you may be sucking your thumb!
Another girl shot - just in case you were still wondering about it. =)
Whew! Baby girl...quite a day we had. Can't wait to think of you as a girl now! And buy all those adorable girl outfits - boys clothes really just aren't as cute! =) We love you Avery Jo...like Kyndall said today at the scan, wish you were out in our arms already! We all can't wait!
Monday, July 5, 2010
18 weeks and counting!
Hey there little man! You are now 18 weeks along...so crazy that I am close to 20 weeks - that seemed like such a BIG DEAL way back when and now it's almost here! And, we get to see you IN DETAIL this Thursday. Your Level 2/Detailed Ultrasound is then, so we will get to have some significant time to look at all your 2000 parts! We can't wait! The girls are going with us again this time, so we can give them a little better view of their brother than what they had before. I am hoping for some good pictures to post! It's been so long since we have seen you, so you are going to look so big to us I'm sure! Speaking of big...here's how big you are this week!
You are hitting the height chart at 6-7 inches long and you weigh about 5-7 ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast I'm making for dinner tonight!). Speaking of food - you are the size of a sweet potato now! The bigger you get, the crazier it is for me to imagine these big things inside of me!
And now for your skill of the week (drum roll please…): You have mastered the art of the yawn(someone's sleepy!). In fact, we may even catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn on Thursday. You are also making a ton of fetal movement — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And "they" are telling me that you are finally big enough for me to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So punch and kick away!
Something we won't see on the ultrasound, but is still in working order, is your nervous system, which is maturing rapidly at this time. Nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in your brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, you are growing more acute, making you more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body (which means we could both be listening to each other hiccup — a skill that you have by now).
I will have a lot more information about you on Thursday...can't wait to share!
Your Daddy and I also (almost) finished your room! We had all the furniture and the paint, but finally got around to painting yesterday. It wasn't too hard at all...we hope you like it - here's a video of your room - the only thing missing is some wall art (that your sisters are going to help us make) and then YOU of course! We can't wait til you are in it!
I think that's it for this week - we are excited to see your Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins soon! That's coming up on the agenda! =) I'm sure you'll feel lots of love as they touch my tummy!
Love you little guy!
You are hitting the height chart at 6-7 inches long and you weigh about 5-7 ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast I'm making for dinner tonight!). Speaking of food - you are the size of a sweet potato now! The bigger you get, the crazier it is for me to imagine these big things inside of me!
And now for your skill of the week (drum roll please…): You have mastered the art of the yawn(someone's sleepy!). In fact, we may even catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn on Thursday. You are also making a ton of fetal movement — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And "they" are telling me that you are finally big enough for me to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So punch and kick away!
Something we won't see on the ultrasound, but is still in working order, is your nervous system, which is maturing rapidly at this time. Nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in your brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, you are growing more acute, making you more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body (which means we could both be listening to each other hiccup — a skill that you have by now).
I will have a lot more information about you on Thursday...can't wait to share!
Your Daddy and I also (almost) finished your room! We had all the furniture and the paint, but finally got around to painting yesterday. It wasn't too hard at all...we hope you like it - here's a video of your room - the only thing missing is some wall art (that your sisters are going to help us make) and then YOU of course! We can't wait til you are in it!
I think that's it for this week - we are excited to see your Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins soon! That's coming up on the agenda! =) I'm sure you'll feel lots of love as they touch my tummy!
Love you little guy!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
17 Weeks!
Hey there little boy! We are at 17 weeks now with you. I can also say that I am four months along. Four down, five to go! Almost halfway there! And you are going to be getting fat in the next few weeks...read on!
This week, you start to plump up a bit. The fat that's acquired, also called adipose tissue, helps produce and retain body heat (and your sweat glands begin to form). Fat tissue is also important for metabolism, since it's a great source of energy. This is a time of tremendous growth—you may measure up to anywhere from 5-6 inches and weigh around 5 ounces. Just wait until a few weeks from now with all your new fat coming on - your weight is going to double in the next few weeks.
You also have been working on two basic reflexes for a few weeks: sucking and swallowing. By the time you are born, you will have nearly all the reflexes that I do, ones that will help you survive and learn about the world.
"They" also say that you can defnitely hear us talking to you now and even feel me touching my belly. My favorite thing to do lately is to feel my belly before I get out of bed. For some reason it is especially taut and obvious if I lay on my back in the morning...and I can feel my little bump with you in there. You are a mover and a shaker in the morning too. Although I wish I felt all of this (I have only had one "maybe feel you move" moment - read below), I really know this because of the fetal doppler. When you move, the doppler noise makes huge squeaks and thud noises - that tells me you are kicking around in there. And your heart rate travels back and forth around my belly, the sound comes in and out like your arms and hands are moving in front of your chest or your flipping around so I am listening to your heart through your back. You must be a morning person (which is interesting because your Mommy is not!), because you are wild in the morning. Before I climb into bed at night (if I listen to you), you must already be sleeping because there are no thuds or squeaks on the doppler, just a steady heart rate (and you stay in one place - I don't have to chase you all over my belly!).
So, for the "maybe I felt you?" moment - it was first thing in the morning (surprise there!) and sometimes (like today!) I lay propped up in bed and do my reading and then get my laptop out and just check email and stuff. Well, I think I was on my laptop and I felt a feeling that I have never felt before.
Tap. Tap, Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was very light, but something I had never felt before (and there are lots of aches and pains happening around you lately with round ligament pain, pressure, etc.). This was extremely light and just a rhythmic tapping on my right side of my belly - kind of right where you would be - but also a little more to the right than I would find you on the doppler. It was almost like you were nudging me gently from the inside going, "Hey Mommy...I'm in here!". I told your Daddy and was just taking in the moment and then it went away. I had your Daddy grab the doppler for me so I could see if your heart beat would be right where I felt the tapping (and I wasn't sure I would since it was further to the side than you ever go). And lo and behold...there was your heart beat, right where the tapping was. So, I still don't know 100 % what to make of this...but I am going to chalk it up to be the first time I felt you! I haven't felt you since - but with you gaining a lot of weight in the next few weeks and getting more energy from that, I should be feeling you soon enough!
You are definitely showing on the outside of my body now too - this past week you popped out on me a little more. If I wear a form fitting tank top and shorts or pants, you'd be completely noticeable. And I think I may just embrace this look, because, heck...I am pregnant! And, I'm tired of looking puffy in the middle with flowy shirts. I'm ready to look pregnant finally, so let's do this! =) Your Daddy likes to talk to you and give you kisses, so does your sister Megan...when she gives your Mommy a hug and kiss goodnight, she never leaves you out either! You are already so loved, little man!
Oh, and your sister Kyndall got back a few days ago from the Christ in Youth conference she went to in Colorado. She LOVED it! She had such a good time, grew so much in her faith, and made some more great friends at church. She is really coming into her own. She already has had a mind of her own and likes to tell you about it (and I'm sure you'll know what I mean soon enough!), but now her beliefs are flowing into all of that and she stands firm in her faith. More so than I ever did at her age. Your Daddy and I almost marvel at times with her level of faith for a 15-year-old. At the conference, she made the decision to get baptized in a couple weeks at our church. That will be such a special event - we are going to have to push back our family trip to Colorado by a day or two in order for it to happen (which kind of messes with our plans a little) - but it will be so worth it. A great problem to have for us!
And, if you are wondering which diaper bag I chose for you, I chose the Petunia Pickle Bottom (blue/brown) bag. It was obviously cheaper (and you'll find that out soon enough about your family too - we aren't rolling in money!), but I really liked the organization of it all - and it's super cute and it needed to match you! =)
Alright baby love - I think I am signing off for the day - go on gaining weight and kicking away in there - I want to REALLY feel you this week! I love you!
This week, you start to plump up a bit. The fat that's acquired, also called adipose tissue, helps produce and retain body heat (and your sweat glands begin to form). Fat tissue is also important for metabolism, since it's a great source of energy. This is a time of tremendous growth—you may measure up to anywhere from 5-6 inches and weigh around 5 ounces. Just wait until a few weeks from now with all your new fat coming on - your weight is going to double in the next few weeks.
You also have been working on two basic reflexes for a few weeks: sucking and swallowing. By the time you are born, you will have nearly all the reflexes that I do, ones that will help you survive and learn about the world.
"They" also say that you can defnitely hear us talking to you now and even feel me touching my belly. My favorite thing to do lately is to feel my belly before I get out of bed. For some reason it is especially taut and obvious if I lay on my back in the morning...and I can feel my little bump with you in there. You are a mover and a shaker in the morning too. Although I wish I felt all of this (I have only had one "maybe feel you move" moment - read below), I really know this because of the fetal doppler. When you move, the doppler noise makes huge squeaks and thud noises - that tells me you are kicking around in there. And your heart rate travels back and forth around my belly, the sound comes in and out like your arms and hands are moving in front of your chest or your flipping around so I am listening to your heart through your back. You must be a morning person (which is interesting because your Mommy is not!), because you are wild in the morning. Before I climb into bed at night (if I listen to you), you must already be sleeping because there are no thuds or squeaks on the doppler, just a steady heart rate (and you stay in one place - I don't have to chase you all over my belly!).
So, for the "maybe I felt you?" moment - it was first thing in the morning (surprise there!) and sometimes (like today!) I lay propped up in bed and do my reading and then get my laptop out and just check email and stuff. Well, I think I was on my laptop and I felt a feeling that I have never felt before.
Tap. Tap, Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was very light, but something I had never felt before (and there are lots of aches and pains happening around you lately with round ligament pain, pressure, etc.). This was extremely light and just a rhythmic tapping on my right side of my belly - kind of right where you would be - but also a little more to the right than I would find you on the doppler. It was almost like you were nudging me gently from the inside going, "Hey Mommy...I'm in here!". I told your Daddy and was just taking in the moment and then it went away. I had your Daddy grab the doppler for me so I could see if your heart beat would be right where I felt the tapping (and I wasn't sure I would since it was further to the side than you ever go). And lo and behold...there was your heart beat, right where the tapping was. So, I still don't know 100 % what to make of this...but I am going to chalk it up to be the first time I felt you! I haven't felt you since - but with you gaining a lot of weight in the next few weeks and getting more energy from that, I should be feeling you soon enough!
You are definitely showing on the outside of my body now too - this past week you popped out on me a little more. If I wear a form fitting tank top and shorts or pants, you'd be completely noticeable. And I think I may just embrace this look, because, heck...I am pregnant! And, I'm tired of looking puffy in the middle with flowy shirts. I'm ready to look pregnant finally, so let's do this! =) Your Daddy likes to talk to you and give you kisses, so does your sister Megan...when she gives your Mommy a hug and kiss goodnight, she never leaves you out either! You are already so loved, little man!
Oh, and your sister Kyndall got back a few days ago from the Christ in Youth conference she went to in Colorado. She LOVED it! She had such a good time, grew so much in her faith, and made some more great friends at church. She is really coming into her own. She already has had a mind of her own and likes to tell you about it (and I'm sure you'll know what I mean soon enough!), but now her beliefs are flowing into all of that and she stands firm in her faith. More so than I ever did at her age. Your Daddy and I almost marvel at times with her level of faith for a 15-year-old. At the conference, she made the decision to get baptized in a couple weeks at our church. That will be such a special event - we are going to have to push back our family trip to Colorado by a day or two in order for it to happen (which kind of messes with our plans a little) - but it will be so worth it. A great problem to have for us!
And, if you are wondering which diaper bag I chose for you, I chose the Petunia Pickle Bottom (blue/brown) bag. It was obviously cheaper (and you'll find that out soon enough about your family too - we aren't rolling in money!), but I really liked the organization of it all - and it's super cute and it needed to match you! =)
Alright baby love - I think I am signing off for the day - go on gaining weight and kicking away in there - I want to REALLY feel you this week! I love you!
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Diaper Bag Dilemma
Okay, just for fun - I thought I would stray from my normal "talk to BabyAJ" post style and ask for your help! I am looking for my diaper bag and want your input! Look at the choices below!
Read the descriptions on each to help make the fully informed decision! The key is that this will be my purse as well as the diaper bag...and I already carry a big purse because...well, I am a girl...and I have tons of diabetes stuff to always tote with me (blood meter, extra insulin, syringes, glucagon, sugar if I am low, etc.).
Read the descriptions on each to help make the fully informed decision! The key is that this will be my purse as well as the diaper bag...and I already carry a big purse because...well, I am a girl...and I have tons of diabetes stuff to always tote with me (blood meter, extra insulin, syringes, glucagon, sugar if I am low, etc.).
The Expensive Gap Bag
This one is a Gap purchase (althought it's not Gap brand). It is new and spent $80. It also has the side pouches for my cell phone, but my diabetes stuff doesn't fit as well in there, so it would go in the front pouches. The inside has a diaper mat in a pouch area, where other baby stuff can go. There are bottle holders there too. I tried my stuff in this one and things get a little mixed up (baby vs. my stuff) on the inside...the areas aren't as separated as the other bag. But it's so stinking cute! =)
The Cheaper Consignment Store "Petunia Pickle Bottom" Bag
This is a Petunia Pickle...as as much as I hate pickles, I love these bags! It was bought at a consignment store for $20, which is a great price considering new ones are waaay more. It has the side pockets (cell phone and diabetes stuff can go there) and then the front zipper area you see completely unzips and rolls out a diaper mat with plenty of extra pouches and area for diapers and wipes, even a change of clothes. The inside pouch (can't see it in this pic) is plenty big with a couple bottle holder areas and then other zippers and area for my regular purse stuff. Oh, and I think on the shoulder strap there is even a little zipper area for a pacifier - quick draw! =) Keeps stuff separated nicely...which is always nice for a big purse, digging to find my keys, blood meter, and whatever else-kind of girl! =)
Okay...so vote away! =)
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