The times, they are a-changin'

Hi everyone. Dexter here.

 

Mommy has been sick lately, so I volunteered to write her blog post for this week.

 

I don't know how Mommy can be so tired. It seems like all she does is lay on the couch with her eyes closed and an ice pack on her head. She seems pretty lazy if you ask me. And Daddy waits on her hand and foot! He is always bringing her water and rubbing her belly and asking what he can do for her. I don't get it. They should rub my belly more!

 

Sometimes when Mommy is being lazy I like to snuggle up with her and chew my bone. Mommy likes this and pets me and sometimes I fall asleep. Other times, I get mad that Mommy is being lazy and I have to bite at her hands so she knows I'm there. Then Daddy gets mad at me and puts me upstairs. Hrmmph!

 

Things have been happening in my house. Some things are disappearing, while new things are coming in. For example, Mommy and Daddy got these great stuffed toys for me, or so I thought. They haven't let me play with them yet! There is a little stuffed tiger and a stuffed musical giraffe just sitting on the table being wasted! I could have ripped them both apart by now.

 

Don't these animals look ready to be chewed on?

 

 Mommy and Daddy also got a lot of books and cards, but I think their birthdays were awhile ago? Mommy also got a cape from Nana, but she wears it backwards. I'm not sure what's going on with that.

 

Nursing cover made by Nana!

 

 

Also, Pappy Marshall came to the house to paint an empty room for Mommy and Daddy. They were very excited about it. I followed them in there to sniff around, but I didn't notice anything except it smelled funny!

 

Mommy and Daddy said this will be their new bedroom. Maybe I can sleep with them now?

Mommy said I look possessed here!

 

 Oh, and one more thing! Those little squeakers are gone. I'm not sure what they were, but they were furry and stayed in a cage. Usually I just ignored them, but sometimes I liked to get close to their cage and sniff around. Mommy was talking about "steam cleaning the carpets" soon, buying new furniture, and wondering where they could put a "pack and play." A pack and play sounds like something fun for me! I can't wait!

 

Merry, one of the "squeakers"

Pippin, the other "squeaker"

 

15 Weeks

The belly is definitely out!

Bebs:  The baby now measures about 4 inches long and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces--the size of an apple! Bebs is busy moving amniotic fluid through his/her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in his/her lungs begin to develop. Legs are growing longer than his/her arms now, and s/he can move all of her joints and limbs. Although Bebs' eyelids are still fused shut, s/he can sense light! If you would shine a flashlight on my belly, s/he's likely to move away from the beam. (Yes, I tried this last night!) Bebs is also forming taste buds.

What's going on in there?

Hebs: H is for Headaches. Oh man. This past weekend was absolutely horrible in terms of headaches and morning sickness. All day Saturday was spent taking Tylenol, icing my head and neck, using a heating pad on my head and neck, having Hubs massage my neck, drinking a TON of water, running to the bathroom, and trying to rest in a cold, dark room. I've been prone to severe headaches and migraines my entire life thanks to my horrible vision (yes, I was the little girl in third grade with coke bottle size glasses!), but this was something different. I don't know if I've ever felt this sick in my life. Thankfully my mom was texting me advice, and I got some great advice from my mommy friends on Facebook after I posted a desperate status asking for morning sickness remedies. Ginger Ale, saltines, tea, pretzels, fruit, etc. just weren't doing it for me. However, drinking Gatorade on Sunday morning, after my headache had died down a bit, seemed to help immensely. I think my headache stemmed from dehydration (my fault) and lack of sleep (again, my fault).

It's funny, because prior to this past weekend, I had been seeing a chiropractor for my headaches and it was/is greatly helping! I am still a strong believer in chiropractic care and will continue seeing her. I always feel better after being adjusted. I think it was the lack of water that caused what I explained to Hubs as "all of the blood has been sucked from my brain, and now my brain is crushed on the inside of my skull." Ouch. Hopefully I do not have a repeat of that pregnancy symptom!!

Paleo chili simmering on the stove. Yum!

Oh, one of my weird food adversions is getting better: meat. It depends on what it is, but it is definitely getting easier to eat meat again. I don't think I could cut into a steak and eat it yet, but I survived eating some chicken, a hotdog, and some chili made with ground beef!

Can I talk about how amazing my parents are for a minute?

Diddy and Mom with the poppy seed packet that announced they were getting a grandbaby!

Mom and I went shopping on Sunday for.....wait for it.....MATERNITY CLOTHES! I was so excited! I am still so excited! I can't wait until I need to wear my new outfits for real. We picked out a bunch of things at Old Navy, which has a surprisingly nice and affordable maternity section. I got a few tops, capris and jeans. Yes, the jeans have the "belly band," and yes....it is amazing. They are SO comfy! Thank you so much, Mom! :) I had a great day with you!

I'm not sure most people can handle the sheer awesomeness that is maternity pants. ;)
(That is a "belly panel," not my bare belly!)

Diddy was caught red-handed earlier this week by the Hubs. He came over (when he thought no one would be home) and decided to weed our atrocious looking flower beds. Our yard seriously looks like a mess. I guess when your weeknights are full of running errands and appointments, and your weekends are spent either feeling sick, or at family parties....the whole taking care of a house and yard thing just kinda falls by the wayside. We are incredibly thankful that Dad came over to help us out. I think all we'll need to do is mow the lawn and clean off our patio furniture (for the millionth time) and it might actually look acceptable for a cook-out sometime this month! Thank you Dad! We truly appreciate it!

Hubs and I finished priming our new bedroom last night. All that's left to do is paint (we picked out a warm, neutral cream/tan color), paint the trim and doors, and caulk! Oh, and then move all our furniture down there, pick out curtains, buy and install a new light fixture/ceiling fan, hang up pictures, etc. ;) Can't wait! We're going to start painting the nursery next!

My handy hubby covering up the old blue paint!

14 Weeks

14 weeks! Bebs is the size of a lemon!



Please forgive the picture. It was taken at 6 a.m. this morning, without make-up. The horror!

On a more serious note, please also forgive the previous post I wrote entitled "Mommy Rant." I went back and majorly edited it. I want my blog to be positive and showcase what my pregnancy is like. I don't want to have all that negative energy taking up space in my life, let alone the blogosphere!

Bebs: Bebs can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb! The kidneys are producing urine, which he/she releases into the amniotic fluid — a process he'll/she'll keep up until birth. Bebs can grasp, too! From head to bottom, the baby measures 3 1/2 inches — the size of a lemon! — and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His/her body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of the body. (Legs still have some lengthening to do.) Bebs is also starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his/her body. The baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and the spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells.

What is going on in there?

Mommy Rant

Here is a list of acceptable (and encouraged!) things to say to a pregnant lady:

1. "You look wonderful!"

2. "How are you feeling?"

3. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Please do not say anything to me related to breast-feeding, and how if I am not able to/choose not to breastfeed, that makes me less of a mom. If you are a mom who has been able to successfully breastfeed, or have struggled with it, then I will gladly listen to any and all advice you have to offer.

When you tell a nervous first-time mom that if she chooses not to breastfeed, she isn't holding up to some "mothering" standard, you are not making yourself look good. It actually makes you look like an insenstive jerk. (Double that if you're a man). There are a whole plethora of reasons why women cannot and choose not to breastfeed.

So, if anyone's interested, I plan on trying to breastfeed. I have no idea if I will actually be able to when the time comes, but it is my goal to do it for a few months. If I can't do it, or end up choosing not to do it, please do not label me "less of a mom." If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. :)

13 Weeks

Here I am at my desk!

Bebs: Baby is the size of a shrimp this week...which is probably fitting because I've been craving seafood lately! This past week I've had crab cakes, crab legs, crab dip, shrimp and lobster bisque...oh my! :) Bebs now has fingerprints on the tips of his/her tiny fingertips! Veins and organs are also clearly visible through his/her thin layer of skin. Bebs' head makes up just a third of his/her body size now. Bebs is 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. I still don't believe I've felt any definite movement yet, but I can tell something is going on in there!

What's going on in there?

 Hebs:  I felt pretty sick this week. I stayed home from work on Monday due to some morning sickness issues and an intense migraine. Hubs and I went to the beach over the weekend with my family and I wonder if I got over-heated or dehydrated? So I spent most of my time Monday in the bathroom or on the couch. I also called the chiropractor a few times (with no answer) to see if I could get in to get adjusted to help relieve my headache. I am going to call back later this week and hopefully get through so I can make an appointment. I've been having headaches everyday and Tylenol just isn't doing it for me, and I am unable to take anything stronger.

Aside from feeling a bit sick, Hubs and I had a great time at the beach with my family! We played games under the "E-Z Up," got a few slices at "Macko's," and enjoyed time on the beach, boardwalk, and mini-golf!

Sequential Screening, Part 1: July 10

Bebs had a photoshoot last week! We went to the hospital to the Maternal Fetal Medicine department to do the first part of our two-part sequential screening. A sequential screening is an ultrasound and bloodwork that is done in your first and second trimesters to determine if there is a chance your baby may have a genetic disorder, such as Down's Syndrom or Trisomy 18. The ultrasound tech measures the thickness of the baby's neck; the more fluid in the neck, the higher the chance of the baby having an abnormality. The ultrasound results, as well as bloodwork from the Mommy, are then sent to a lab to be analyzed.

Bebs at 11 weeks 6 days. Big difference than the first ultrasound!

The ultrasound tech and the doctor both said that everything with the Bebs was looking great! S/he was SO incredibly wiggly in there! S/he kept moving around, kicking its tiny legs, and kept trying to cover his/her eyes with his/her hands! It was really adorable. We got to hear the heartbeat again--165 beats per minute--which the tech told us was normal. I then had to have one vial of blood taken to be tested. Thankfully, I didn't pass out! I may be getting better at this! :)


"Hi Mommy and Daddy! I'm doing ok in here!"
(Hubs's favorite picture)

OB/GYN Check-up: July 12

My visit to the doctor last week was pretty uneventful. They took my weight and blood pressure (both normal) and said the ultrasound from the sequential screening looked good! The doctor also used a doppler to listen to the baby's heartbeat. It took her awhile to find it, since the baby kept squirming around and moving too much for her to get an accurate read. Once she found it, we heard the heartbeat loud and clear. I love hearing that sound!

Only 51 days until we find out if we're having a boy or a girl!! But, who's counting? ;-)

**Big thank you to Jeff, the photography guru, for editing the ultrasound pictures!**

12 weeks

The first trimester is over!!! Three months down, six months to go! :)

Baby bump! July 11, 2012

I can't believe the first three months are done! It seriously felt like that time FLEW by looking back on it. Compared to other stories I've heard from women and their pregnancies...I almost feel like I had it relatively easy! No extreme morning sickness, which I am SO thankful for!

Some symptoms I had and what (mostly) worked for me:

Dysgeusia (metal taste in mouth)--aside from brushing and flossing my teeth, sucking on hard candy, like Green Apple Jolly Ranchers, really helped.

Nausea--eating Saltine crackers, sour green grapes and getting fresh air was best. I felt better if I ate a lot of little snacks throughout the day, so I always had something in my stomach. Also, I had felt sick in the mornings after taking my prenatal vitamin. I switched to taking it at night, right before bed, and that made all the difference!

Bathroom issues--Tucks pads, drinking a TON of water.

Chest soreness--wearing a sports bra constantly!

Sensitive skin/breaking out--I had to switch my body and face wash since it all of a sudden felt like I was rubbing acid on my skin. I've been using the Aveeno skincare products for sensitive skin and they seem to be working great!

Cravings--Since I never craved anything too bizarre, I usually just gave in. :) The first month I was all about green grapes and spicy Mexican food, second month I wanted pickles and fruit, and the third month I wanted pickles, fruit and processed goodies! :-O

Weight-to-date--My pre-pregnancy weight was 111 lbs. I'm now 114 lbs. The doctor said I can expect to gain between 25 to 35 lbs!

Bebs: Baby is almost the size of a lime, weighs almost an ounce, and measures almost 2.5 inches!   Eyes are now positioned in the front of his/her face, and the ears are in position on the sides of his/her head. Reflexes have begun! Bebs' mouth is making sucking movements, clenching eye muscles, curling toes and fingers, hands open and close, and s/he may even begin to suck his thumb! His/her brain has been developing rapidly and the intestines are developing and will soon be moving into his/her stomach cavity.

We had our second ultrasound appointment last night, so we got to see the Bebs on the monitor! This ultrasound was for the first part of our "sequential screening" test. The doctor said that everything looked great so far! We got to hear the heartbeat again and it was a perfect 165! I will post the ultrasound pictures we got (we got 7 pictures!!) with a more detailed blog entry later this week!

Hebs, Hubs & Bebs at Raechel and Corey's wedding on July 7, 2012!
Adorable photo by the very talented Jeff! :)

11 weeks

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July! I'll post some pictures next week from our family picnic at my Uncle Mark's house. (No "belly" pic this week, but I'll definitely have one next week!)

Bebs: The baby is the size of a fig now; s/he's just over 1 1/2 inches long and is now almost fully formed! Hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under his/her gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden. Bebs is already busy kicking and stretching, though, unfortunately I still can't feel it.

Fig!

Hebs: This week was a little rougher than last week, unfortunately. All of my issues seem to stem from food: if I don't eat enough, if I eat too much, if I look at something that's unappetizing...I feel sick. There are a few things that I can still eat no problem--pickles, cheese and crackers. Mmm. Haha. Eating meat has been a challenge, but I'm trying to just suck it up and eat it for the sake of Bebs. It's sad, but pretty much the only foods that sound appetizing to me lately are anything that's been processed or pizza. I could probably eat pizza or processed macaroni and cheese for every single meal now...with a side of pickles!

What's going on in there?

Hubs: Dexter and Hubs have been quite active lately! Hubs has taken up golf and seems to really enjoy it! He has been using one set of clubs from my brother and pretty much golfing once a week. He's been out on the golf course with friends, at the driving range, and even hitting balls in our backyard...which Dex then loves to chase and attempt to gnaw on. I'm really happy that he's found a new hobby that gets him outside!

Dex retrieving a ball for Daddy. Getting him to give it back is another story!

Hubs chipping and putting on Father's Day

Our little pug also has a new hobby--swimming! Hubs took Dex in the pool at my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bill's house. Watching him "doggy paddle" around the pool was the cutest thing ever! At first he didn't seem to like it, but he was able to swim back and forth between me and Jason a few times! Playing with Dexter in the pool just made me all the more anxious to have a baby to take in the water!

Dexy-doo doggy paddling!

Watch out Michael Phelps!