34 Weeks!

Getting much closer to her arrival now. I measured my baby belly last night to see just how much I've grown and the baby has added 10 inches to my waist line, and she isn't done yet!

32 Weeks!

Not only have I lost sight of my feet, my belly button as also disappeared from view. 8 more weeks!

Who ordered all this sand?

I really shouldn't complain. I mean, I have managed to escape some of the lesser loved pregnancy related symptoms such as morning sickness, horrible cravings, excessive weight gain, but little did I know, the third trimester would bring on a whole new world of agony.

Everyone warns you about that first trimester. ("Oh you wont be able to keep anything down", "your boobs will become so painful", "you'll have to pee every 20 minutes") but nobody warns you about the perils of the third trimester. Maybe its due to the fact that by the time most women get around to discussing the third trimester pains they already have had their babies and have forgotten about all the hurdles they had to cross to get to that point. I'm not really sure, but nevertheless, I was unprepared.

First of all, I have no idea I would become such good friends with the sandman. I have never been so exhausted in my life. I know I had to catch a few naps during my first trimester, and maybe getting all my energy back during the second trimester has made me jaded, but I literally have great difficulty making it through an entire day now. The sandman has arrived and he brought a sh*t load of sand with him!

Now if that weren't trouble enough, the part that tops it all is, that despite complete and utter exhaustion, its pretty much near impossible to stay asleep! I'm up every 2 to 3 hours because my hips ache. Not a slight ache where you can take a tylenol and head back to bed, but ACHE as though I've broken something. They say its from the hormones which cause your ligaments to loosen up and stretch, allowing your pelvic bones to widen in preparation for childbirth. Being that I lost the ability to sleep on my stomach months ago, I have no choice but to sleep on my side. So every few hours I have to wake up and rotate sides in order to relieve some of the pain and pressure. Lying on my back doesn't help because now I can no longer breathe since the weight and position of the baby restricts my lung capacity.

I don't know if this symptom is related to the hormones or the sleep deprivation (most likely both), but I have turned into a cry baby. I've always been a pretty emotional person (something I've always disliked!), but now the littlest things can set me off, and I honestly have no control over it. Cute commercials, a sad song, pictures of babies, a disagreement with a friend, good or bad news.... i'm a wreck! With Christmas steadily approaching my mind often wanders to next year where we'll have a little baby to buy presents for and show her Christmas lights and Santa and I get all teary from joy and excitement. Heck even today I was watching a tv show about kites and I got teary eyed thinking about how eventually I get to teach her how to fly one! I'm very glad that the majority of the time I'm at home when the tears hit, because that could get very embarrassing if it happens in public to often.

There is a bright side to all these little annoyances.... the thought that its almost over. At this point I have 7 weeks to go (hopefully less) and I know all these little quirks are natures way of preparing me for whats to come, be it physically or emotionally. I know the lack of sleep wont improve for some time as the baby is bound to have a similar 2-3 hour schedule, but hopefully a few weeks after she arrives I'll finally be able to sleep on my stomach or at least lay on my side without being in constant pain. Fingers crossed!

32 Week Check In

I had my regular visit with my OB today. Everything is progressing nicely. I can't believe there is only 8 weeks left until my due date. Its going by really fast now.

He did his usual measurements and the baby is measuring out to exactly 32 weeks, so she is right on track. She has officially flipped and is head down in my tummy (which would explain why my ribs are aching). Her head is still "floating" which means she hasn't dropped down into between my pelvic bones yet, but that should happen in the next few weeks. I am looking forward to being able to breathe again once that happens. It feels like I haven't taken a deep breath in weeks.

At this point in the pregnancy I should be gaining a pound a week, 1/2 of which is the actual baby growing and fattening up and the other 1/2 is fluid retention. To date I have gained a total of 10 lbs, which really is pretty good for being this far along. Hopefully only another 6-8 will pack on and I'll lose it all when she's born. That would be ideal in a perfect world anyways.

I go back in 2 weeks for another check-up and then we start the countdown to "any day now!" Its getting very exciting for us.

Hospital Tour

This past Monday Rob and I had an appointment at the hospital for the pre-labour tour. Given that the Maternity ward is a place we've never really visited, we thought it would be best to hear from the hospital what we could expect and where exactly to go once we are in labour.

We arrived at the main doors and met with our tour guide. There were 11 other couples on this tour as well. We were delighted to see that 2 of the other couples were actually from our pre-natal group, so we got a chance to catch up and chat with them. It was particularly exciting as one of the couples was one day away from their due date. I asked is she was nervous, but she said that the nervousness has passed and she's at the point where she just wants it over with. Given that I have 8 weeks to go, I'm not exactly that the "just get her out" point, although if she was to show up early I certainly wouldn't be complaining either.

The tour started by taking us down to the emerg dept. We all had forms to fill out that allowed us to pre-register so that when we are in labour we don't have to wait in the line up of people before being seen. We just come in and immediately go to the registration desk where they will print off our bracelets and labels and escort us up to labour and delivery.

We then all squeezed into the elevator and headed up to the 6th floor. Everything on the floor is only accessible by key card pass, so that there are no security issues and no one can randomly wander into your room as your giving birth. As a non-hospital staff member once we get to this point there is a buzzer to push, then the nurses station will ask us to identify ourselves and then allow the doors to open.

The first stage of check-in once in the maternity ward is the assessment room. The pregnant women will be given a bed in a room of about 8 beds, where the nurses will strap monitors on the belly and do a physical exam to make sure you are actually in real labour. We are told that we can expect to spend the first 2 hours in this room.

Once it has been determined that you are indeed in real labour, you are moved to your delivery suite where you will spent the rest of your time until after the baby arrives. The rooms were pretty nice. All equipped with a personal bathroom/tub/shower, tv monitor with internet and phone, a few chairs for your labour team and obviously the bed for delivering as well as the warmer for the baby.

At this point we are told "the rules". You are allowed 3 people in the delivery suite with you, but they have to remain the same 3 people throughout the entire time. You can't have 6 people rotating through in groups of 3. Everyone else must wait in the waiting room until after the baby is born. Now we had some thinking to do. Given that Rob will obviously be there, we only have room for 2 other support people. (For the record, Rob will be the only person, other than medical staff, in the actual room when it comes time for pushing, but the other 2 people will be there to serve as a comfort or distraction during the contractions)We had planned on having 4 people taking turns. All picked for very different reasons. Obviously the 2 mothers are on the list, and we had 2 very close friends. (one because she has been there herself and we have a very open relationship, not to mention that she is hilarious and would be fantastic company, and the other friend has been my friend all my life and has been with me through thick and thin) We pretty much have it narrowed down, but it may change on the day of given things like whose able to actually make it between work, weather, traffic etc, and how the labour is going. There is a chance I may not want anyone seeing me in that condition, so we'll decide on our people when the time comes.

They also pointed out that if it is decided that you need to have a c-section, they have their own operating room in the same ward,(literally next door to the birthing suite) so that you don't need to be transported to any special area. All your things are safe where they are and you support team can go with you.

Next they showed us the nursery where the babies are kept if there are any medical concerns. Access is strictly for parents only and again, only accessed through a buzzer system. There are no windows for public viewing, its very much a lock-down situation. With any luck, we won't need this area of the hospital.

Finally they showed us to the post-delivery rooms, where the mother and baby will stay for the duration of their hospital stay until discharged. They have ward rooms, semi-private and private available. (depending on insurance coverage or if you're willing to pay for the privacy). In here they also have tvs, internet and phones, as well as chairs for visiting company. They told us the visiting hours (11-2 and 5-8) and that anyone can come visit during these hours. They have made the washrooms large enough so that you can roll the baby (in bassinet) into the washroom with you so you can take a shower. They also equip each room with a hat and booties for the baby along with items that you will need for the first night (diaper, cream, towel, washcloth etc).

It seems like a pretty decent set-up and honestly I feel a lot more comfortable now knowing where to go and what to expect once the labour starts. Now all we have to do is wait for those contractions to start!

Jake comes home!

After a solid 10 days in the vet hospital, Jake is finally on the path to recovery. He was able to come home today and are we ever glad to have him back. It really wasn't "home" without him. Something was definitely missing.

He is now eating and drinking on a regular basis and his energy/personality is starting to come back. His blood levels have returned to normal on all levels. It will still take a few more weeks of at-home care for him to return completely to his old self, but he is well on his way.

We couldn't be happier to have our baby boy back home!

30 Weeks!

Only 10 weeks (maybe less) to go! Its starting to go really fast!

Our other baby

Anyone who knows me, knows that I see our dog Jake as more than just a dog. He is family, my baby boy and truly one of the greatest loves of my life. Since I think of Jake as a family member, I was devastated last weekend when he fell violently ill.

Last Saturday morning Jake began throwing up. Shortly there after he developed loose watery stools and became very lethargic. Hoping it was just a bad reaction to something he ate, we attended to his needs and waited for improvement. By Sunday night things had gotten worse instead of better. We whisked him away to the vet for a check up. They weren't entirely sure what could be causing the illness, so they gave Jake two injections (one anti-biotic and one anti-nausea) and then some oral medication for us to take home with us.

We watched him carefully overnight while he slept. By Monday afternoon he barely had energy to walk outside, and he started having blood in his stool and urine and was continuing to vomit. We raced back to the vets and they hospitalized him and began running a battery of tests. They started him on IV fluids and nutrients along with antibiotics. They took regular x-rays to check for any foreign objects that could be blocking his digestive track. His temperature and blood work came back normal, but the x-rays couldn't show a clear picture because he was too gassy.

The next morning they ran a barium test, in which they make Jake swallow a milky chalk liquid and track it with a series of x-rays as it makes its way through his system. This normally takes 4 hours for it to reach his hind end, but after 4 hours the barium still hadn't left his stomach lining. It was clear at this point that there was some sort of blockage between his stomach and his intestine. They rushed Jake into surgery within the hour.

A few hours later I get a phone call that the surgery went well, but unfortunately there were no foreign objects found. The problem was that Jake had a severe viral infection that had attacked his intestines and it was so inflamed and that it had basically swollen shut. This virus attacks the lining of the intestines and makes it slough off, which is why he was passing blood in his stool. With the intestine lining missing, any other bacteria that is in his stomach is then allowed to enter the blood stream and attack the rest of his body/organs. Its a serious condition.

They sent a biopsy of the intestine to the lab, which wouldn't have results for 4 days and by then we would know if Jake has a significant chance of survival. They adjusted some of his medication and we were told that all they can do now is keep him alive long enough for his body to fight the virus. There was no cure. They can treat symptoms (diarrhea/vomiting/dehydration)but he just had to make though long enough to begin recovery. The intestine lining should grow back within 3 to 4 days and then he should be on the road to recovery. Our fingers were crossed.

They continued doing blood work every 12 hours to track his progress and make sure he wasn't going downhill. They also tracked his temperature and physical characteristics. By the next morning he was recovering beautifully from his surgery but his white blood cell count had gone from normal, to extremely low, which meant the virus had begun attacking his bone marrow. He had also developed a slight fever. They keep pumping him with fluids and we all hoped for the best.

It was a surprise to all of us when the next mornings blood work revealed that his white blood cell count had begun to rise again. His fever had diminished and he looked a little brighter. He still was still throwing up and having diarrhea but for the first time we were able to be a little hopeful that he was getting better.

Rob and I went to visit him that afternoon and I couldn't help but cry when I saw him. He was lying down in his kennel and barely had the energy to wag his tail when we got there. We recognized us, but had a hard time lifting his head. I just felt so helpless. We stayed with him for about 45 mins, telling him how much we love him and can't wait for him to come home. We talked to him about Ali and his toys and how he needs to keep fighting because we need him and miss him terribly. I had a difficult time sleeping that night and getting the images of him so helpless and weak out of my head. I was very concerned. The vet continued to encourage me not to give up because if he thought for one second that fighting wasn't going to be worth it, he would tell us. He couldn't guarantee anything, but he was remaining very positive that Jake would have a good outcome.

The next morning I got a call that Jake was looking and feeling better, but unfortunately had developed jaundice. This symptom was not consistent with the bacterial enteritis that he was fighting so the vet was confused. They took a blood sample and sent it out for testing because they suspected he may have developed Addison's disease. (a disease of the adrenal glands that affects the cortisol hormone. Which meant he wouldn't be able to naturally produce the stress hormone and antibodies required to fight illness. Its highly treatable with steroids, and if he did have it, it meant he was pre-disposed to getting it and the surgery/virus had brought out the early on-set of it)The results would take 24 hours.

Friday afternoon arrives and we head out to see Jake again and meet with the vet. What a difference two days can make. Jake was able to stand right up when we got there. Tail wagging and there was some light in his eyes. He was still obviously weak but thrilled to see us. I sat on the floor beside his kennel and he basically crawled into my lap. His scar from surgery was healing nicely and he hadn't had diarrhea is almost 24 hours. It was a good sign. After talking with the vet we were even more excited to find out that the tests for Addison's came back normal, which means he did not have the disease! Yay!

The only remaining concern was the jaundice. This meant that his protein levels were very low in his red blood cells and the walls had broken so the colour was leaking, causing the yellowing of the skin/eyes. In order to fix that, he would require a blood plasma transfusion to up his protein levels. The transfusion would take place that night.

Which brings us to today... When I called this morning Jake was more alert, he had finally begun drinking on his own and he did eat a tbsp of food for the first time. He did throw up twice, but given that he hasn't had anything in his stomach for over a week now, and that his intestine is not fully healed, that's to be expected. He seems to be getting better day by day so we are hopeful that in a few more days, after he starts fully eating and drinking on his own, and is no longer throwing up or having bloody stools, that he will be able to come home in better health.

Its been a terrifying ordeal and one full of ups and downs, but it also has made Rob and I even closer and stronger as a couple. We thank all our friends and family who have sent well wishes over the past week and we continue to remain positive that he will continue improving. Can't wait to have my baby boy back home.

Just Checking In!

I had my monthly OB appointment today. The heartbeat was a strong 135 bpm and my uterus was measuring 30 weeks (but i'm only 29) so she is growing quite well in there. I finally have gained a few pounds. I put on 4 lbs, pretty much all baby since she is now 3 lbs herself.

Rob was able to attend and we got to discuss some of our birth plan wishes with the Doctor. He is on the same page as us in terms of immediately putting the baby onto the mom's chest so bonding and breastfeeding can take place. He asked me to bring in my written plan next visit so we can discuss if there is any areas were we may not be able to accommodate my wishes.

My next visit is in 3 weeks, and the visits following that will be 2 weeks apart and then every week as we approach the due date. Things are finally starting to get near the end! Only 10 weeks max to go!

Pregnancy Shot

This photo was taken a few weeks ago but I didn't have a chance to post it. It was framed and brought to the baby shower so guests could write well wishes to the baby on it and now its hanging in her room. Her Mom and Dad will always be watching over her and she'll always be able to see how much she is loved by everyone.

The Doula Decision

Recently Rob and I have been discussing the option of hiring a Doula to attend the birth. For those of you who don't know what a Doula is, they are basically a support person who is there to advocate for the mother and provide support by encouraging the mother to use relaxation techniques during labour and delivery. Statistically speaking they lessen your chances of needing a Cesarean section, lessens the length of labour, lessens your need for forceps & vacuum delivery, lessens the use of medications needed and lessens your likelihood of developing post partum depression. Sounds pretty good right? Unfortunately the only drawback is that they charge for their services (and rightly so... its a lot of work) and the cost can range from $250-$1000, which is a significant expense for someone who doesn't actually deliver the baby.

We met our potential doula a few months ago at a Prenatal Health Fair. She was set up there with a table all about breastfeeding. She is a certified Lactation Consultant and the leader of La Leche League in our area. At the health fair she answered several questions I had about breastfeeding and was very personable, approachable and Rob and I immediately liked her. We didn't know at this point that she was a doula. A few days later we started our prenatal classes only to walk in and discover that she was the instructor of the 7 week course. A very pleasant surprise.

Over the last 5 weeks we've been able to develop a very close relationship with her and she's kind of taken on a maternal role in our lives just because she's so approachable and informed on all things baby related. She has some pretty strong convictions (which we agree with) which are based on years of experience being a doula, as well as being a mother of 4.

Recently as part of the course homework, we had to create our birth plans, basically a list of wishes for our labour and delivery experience. After taking several hours going through item by item, Rob and I discovered just how difficult it may be to make sure the Ob/Nurses acknowledge our wishes. Sometimes they have their own agenda or are in a hurry to get their tasks done, and can overlook the importance to the mother of certain issues. We also realized that given how intense, long and painful labour can be, we may not be coherent enough to make decision at the time and may agree with a nurses suggestion out of pure delirium instead of really wanting what she's suggesting. What we needed is someone who will stay calm amongst the chaos and will advocate our wishes when we are unable to do so for whatever reason. That's when we first heard about a doula.

We've now spent a few weeks discussing it and our list of positive benefits is growing even longer. In terms of pain management, if at any point Rob is too exhausted or in desperate need of a break, there would be someone there to take over, even better that it would be the person who taught Rob what to do! The real benefit we see is that she could speak up for us. She isn't afraid of a nurses reaction or offending the OB (whom she actually knows quite well) and we know that she would tell them exactly what we want. For instance, we've really learned the importance of breast feeding immediately after the baby is born, not 20 mins later after they have cleaned the baby off, weighed it, measured it and wrapped it.. it needs to happen when the baby is first born so you can have skin to skin contact. Its proven to help de-stress the baby since it finds the mothers scent comforting and the skin to skin helps regulate temperature. There is no reason the baby needs to be over in the corner bonding with the nurse for 20 mins when they can suction and check the baby's colour right there on your chest. Small things like that are important to us, but we may forget to mention that until its too late.

We're still wavering currently only because of financial reasons, but every day we lean more and more towards hiring her. She's there for the entire labour and delivery experience and she also comes back and helps you after wards at home to make sure the transition is going well. Plus the fact that she is a lactation consultant means any difficulties I may have in that area would be dealt with immediately and not 2 or 3 days later when I can get an appointment with the hospital consultant.

Some people consider a doula a luxury expense, but considering what you spend on a crib, swing, stroller, bouncer, high chair, jolly jumper, and everything else, whats a few hundred dollars to have peace of mind knowing your wishes will be met and your baby got off to the best possible start?

28 weeks!

Officially into the last trimester now. Getting closer!

Product Testing

Many soon-to-be parents worry about bringing a baby into a home with a dog. Will the dog be jealous? Feel outta place? Be angry or sad that a new little person is stealing all his attention?

Being that Jake is an incredibly important member of our family, we have done a lot of research online, as well as spoken to dog trainers about how to make the adjustment as easy on him as possible. All the professionals say the easiest thing you can do is keep your dog involved in everything going on and make sure visitors don't ignore him when they come over. So that's what we've been doing.

Anytime something for the baby comes in the house, Jake gets to smell it, inspect it and get to know what is appropriate for him to do with each item. He is quite curious about everything going on in her bedroom and he is right there trying to help me unpack new items, make her bed, put away her clothes, inspect her new noisy toys and everything in between.

Jake has been incredibly well behaved in all areas of adjustment so far, and we can honestly say that we are not worried about bringing the baby into the house. He is already fantastic with my niece and nephews and whenever he sees a little kid on the street or playground he wants to go right over and say hi. He is particularly fond of strollers right now and the babies that are in them. I'm actually quite excited to know that Alison is going to get to grow up with a fantastic dog for a pet/big brother.

Fantastic Baby Shower!

Its been a busy few weeks, so I haven't had a chance to blog lately, but needed to get on here to write about my amazing baby shower that was held at the beginning of November.

First off, I'd like to thank my wonderful friends and family for all the fantastic gifts we received. It was great to see everyone and spend some time catching up. Special thanks goes out to Jess for organizing the entire thing. I was delighted when I arrived and saw all the decorations, the diaper cake and the games she had planned. The soon-to-be grandma's helped with the food (which was delicious) and my dear friends Sarah and Kelly helped with games, presents and bringing cameras and the amazing cake.

As mentioned we got some amazing gifts! We got receiving blankets, adorable outfits, handmade blankets, a stroller and carseat combo, shoes, hats, a memory book, diapers, wipes, a bouncy chair, bottles, bath products, toys and so much more. It really really helped us start our collection of all the things you need for when baby arrives. We were also lucky enough to receive some gift cards which we used to purchase a playpen, snugli infant carrier, diaper bag, swing, exersaucer, bathtub and various small items we needed. We finally are beginning to feel ready for our little girl to make her appearance.

Thanks again to everyone for making my shower a memorable event. I feel lucky that I have such a wonderful support network of friends and family. Love you all!

26 Weeks!

I officially can no longer see my feet, which makes tying shoes incredibly difficult. I cant believe how much she has grown in the last 2 weeks!

100 days to go!

Today makes the countdown from triple to double digits. It seems like it took forever to get here and then looking forward, 100 days seems like barely any time at all! With Halloween literally around the corner and then Christmas sneaking up on us ever so quickly, its going to be New Years before we know it!

I had a check up with my OB on Tuesday. A few weeks ago I had to do the Glucose Challenge, in which you have to drink a disgusting beverage that tastes like flat orange pop in less than 5 mins, then wait around for an hour barely moving (since movement burns off sugar) and then get some blood drawn. This is to check to see if you're at risk for developing gestational diabetes. With a history of diabetes in my family I was particularly nervous about this test. (Mainly because it means I would have to cut our sweets and carbs, which seem to be my two favourite things lately) At the check-up on Tuesday he disclosed the results. I was 4.2 and you want to be under 7, so he said I'm in the clear.

As per every appointment, they took my weight and once again.... nothing... I haven't gained any weight since last month, so that still makes it only a 2 lb weight gain throughout my entire pregnancy so far. My OB's official medical advice was "go eat cake". (little does he know I baked a chocolate cake the night before and had an extra large serving) Once again he mentioned that the baby is growing and meeting all the stages on time, so there is nothing to worry about.

Aside from the regular check-in, Rob and I have been attending prenatal classes on Monday nights. Its a group of 7 couples (including us) and we are meeting for 7 weeks, covering topics like labour and delivery, how your relationship will change, financial challenges, medical interventions, etc. Its incredibly informative and not at all what you see on tv. We aren't sitting around with pillows learning how to huff and puff properly. Although they will touch on ways to make labour easier (massage, hot water bottles, breathing etc) its not the main focus of the class. Its more of an overall education of what to expect now and after the baby is born.

All the couples are due within 6 weeks of each other, and then we will continue meeting once a month for the following year so we can discuss the baby's growth stages and any struggles we are having as a couple or as new parents. We chose this course mainly for that purpose. It allows you to develop a support network of people who are going through the exact same thing at the exact same time. We've already made friends with a few of the couples in class and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few classes brings.

Room to Grow

The baby's room is starting to come together. The first picture is of her bedroom door. We found small letters, painted them and put them on the door. We tried hanging them with double sided tape, then glue dots, then poster stickies, but nothing worked. We ended up having to hot-glue them, and now they won't be going anywhere!

We've had the crib for about a month, and now we've got the gliding rocking chair and a book case. We found great letters at Michael's Craft Store and painted them, then Rob used his handy man skills to hang them for me. I must say, they turned out great.

Some of the stuffed animals in her crib are mine from when I was a child. The little purple bunny I actually received as a gift the day I was born, and according to my mother, she went everywhere with me.

I've also started gathering a few books that I loved when I was young. She is already getting a decent collection going. We've got a few Franklin books, some classic Robert Munch and the entire collection of Jillian Jiggs stories. My mom has managed to track down one of my favourite books called Jenny Greenteeth, about a water witch who lived in the Toronto Beaches area. I can't even recall how many times I made her read it to me. We couldn't find any copies locally, since the book was only released once, back in 1985, but we managed to find a gently used copy and its currently being shipped in from Alberta.

24 weeks!

The baby is officially viable! She now weighs over 1 pound and is larger than an ear of corn. Only a few more weeks to go until the start of the third trimester!

Hippy Chick

Another relatively new symptom I'm experiencing is hip soreness. This past week I've woken up in the middle of the night a few times barely able to roll over because my hips are aching so badly and in the morning when I finally get my tired body out of bed I cant help but have that oh so classic pregnancy waddle for the first few minutes until everything lines back up where its suppose to be.

Once again, its those crazy hormones that I can blame for my aches and pains. According to babycentre.ca "Hormonal changes cause the ligaments in your hips to stretch and the cartilage to soften, which can lead to soreness when you’re sleeping on your side at night." Given that pregnant women cant sleep on their tummies or backs, looks like I have a few months of achy joints ahead of me.

I've found that after a long day of sitting, or even driving, my hips just ache in pain so I'm having a lot more baths these days. The AquaFit Classes I attend weekly have also helped because being in the pool allows all the baby weight to be lifted off my joints and I get a good 45 minutes of stretching. The only draw back is getting back out of the pool, when gravity sets back in and you feel even heavier then you did before. It really makes me understand why some women would opt to have water births!

To lather or not to lather?

Well into my 23rd week of pregnancy, all of the symptoms normally experienced late in pregnancy are creeping up on me.

With the baby belly becoming more and more firm as each day goes by, I finally experienced my first pregnancy related stretch marks. Now I'm no stranger to those little red lines, as puberty attacked me well back in my teens. I seemingly went from no curves to having hips overnight so for a long time my hip area looked as though I was clawed by a bear. Fast forward a few years down the road and all those red lines faded into little silver ones that are barely noticeable, so I'm not entirely worried about the pregnancy related ones because there isn't really any way to avoid them.

After hearing all the commercials and other pregnant women rave about certain creams that help avoid stretch marks, I mentioned it to my OB and once again, did my own research online. At the end of the day the only way you can avoid getting stretch marks is if your mother didn't get stretch marks and her mother didn't get stretch marks.... moral of my story is, I'm getting stretch marks whether I rub every lotion in the world on me or not. I'm just going to think of them as a badge of honour to this remarkable journey my body is taking, and besides, they'll fade eventually anyways.

Welcome to the world Sara!

I'm pleased to announce the arrival of our new niece. My sister-in-law Dawna welcomed her 7th child to the world on Monday October 4th, a baby girl named Sara Elizabeth. I've only seen pictures so far, but hope to get out to Calgary to meet her soon :)

22 Weeks!

Here's the latest belly pic taken at 22 weeks. The Other one is a photo of Rob getting in on the belly showing action. (From the look on Jake's face, I think he thinks his daddy has lost his mind)

5 Month Check In

This past week has been very low key, as per Doctors orders. Last weekend, after a particularly stressful week, I started experiencing heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness and some cramping, so Rob and I took a trip to the hospital just to make sure everything was fine. I would rather spend an hour or so in the hospital making sure everything is ok, than spend hours at home worrying that something was going wrong.

Honestly I've never been given such priority service at the hospital. Within minutes of arriving and disclosing that I was 21 weeks pregnant, they had my chart made up, took my vitals and attached to an EKG machines to track the palpitations. My pulse was jumping from 107 to 77 every few seconds. After a minute or so of recording they disconnected me and rushed me upstairs to the maternity wing.

Walking in there was quite the experience. You get off the elevator and hit a buzzer across the hall on the wall. Almost instantly these double doors open in sync to a room of nurses staring at you, as if you were royalty. It was a very odd feeling. They rushed me around to a bed and slapped a fetal heart monitor on my tummy. After recording for a few minutes, they discovered that the baby's heart rate was fine. I wasn't concerned about the baby, because while the nurse was tracking the heartbeat the baby was kicking exactly where she was pushing the probe, as if to say, get this thing off me!

The nurse then took all the information and phones the OB on-call. We waited abut 20 minutes to hear that he was sending us home as the baby was fine. As for the heart palpitations, they had begun leveling out, and the OB told me to go home, and take a week on bed rest/house arrest. His strict instructions were to avoid stress. (A lot easier said then done.) I had a regular scheduled appointment 2 days later with my OB that I was to be attending to re-check on the baby, and if anything got worse between heading home and that OB appt, I should return to the hospital.

When we left the hospital we checked the time and we had only been there for 1 hour. Quick the express service for the emergency department I must say. We returned home and Rob set me up on the couch and made sure I had everything I needed for a relaxing evening.

We decided jointly that in order to enjoy a week completely stress free, I would be giving up my cell phone and the internet just to get some peace and quiet and focus on health and family. I thought at the time that it would be incredibly hard to make it through a week without attachment to the electronic world, but I gotta say it was a welcome relief. I didn't realize just how attached I was to my blackberry (checking it when i wake up and when im laying in bed, not to mention a hundred times in between) and to Facebook in particular. It put things back in perspective for me.

Having a few days without those forces controlling my life allowed me to take time to reconnect with myself and with what was happening inside my tummy. I got to enjoy bubble baths, naps, magazines, books and catch up on some favourite tv shows. I spent some quality time playing cards and board games with Rob, and got to focus some time on Jake as well. Rob was a godsend this week. He took Jake for all his walks as walking to much is what was causing my cramping.

At the OB appointment on the Tuesday, he re-checked everything with the baby and she was still doing fine. All the results had come in from my testing a few weeks earlier so we spent the majority of the appointment discussing those. The blood tests/ultra sound scans that tested for things like Downs Syndrome and Spina Bifida all came back in the extremely low range. There is no guarantee that we wont be the 1 in 50,000 that does acquire the disease, but the odds are definitely in our favour. We already knew the heart scan came back fine, but he confirmed that indeed everything in her heart appeared to be the picture of perfection at this time.

The 19 week ultrasound for measurements also came back perfect. She measured out to be 18 weeks and 6 days, when our early dating put her at 19 weeks, so that's right on schedule. All her parts looked as they should and nothing was out of place. So good news all around.

My OB advised me to continue taking the rest of the week off (as in remain at home taking it easy) and that the remainder of the pregnancy needs to be as stress free as possible.

The big news for us this appointment was that I had finally gained my first few pounds of baby weight. A whole 2lbs. 5 and a half months pregnant and I've gained 2 lbs so far. I'd be concerned if my OB didn't continually remind me not to worry because clearly my belly was growing, and the baby was measuring out just fine. The weight must just be re-distributing from other areas.

I have other appointment scheduled for next week to do glucose screening for gestational diabetes, and to find out if my stress has lowered enough to start getting back to normal activities. Especially important with Thanksgiving coming up. My favourite holiday of all!

Echo Echo Echo.....

As mentioned in one of my earlier blog postings, my older brother was born with a genetic defect called hypo-plastic left heart. Because this could be passed onto any of my children, my OB ordered a Fetal Echocardiograph to be done during week 20 of the pregnancy. Finally the time had come to make our way to Kingston to meet with the Pediatric Cardiologist.

We first met with a female ultra sound tech who would be taking all the pictures of the heart for the Cardiologist to review. Given my previous experience with ultra sound techs, we were slightly nervous that would we be in for another round of the silent treatment and absurd comments, but she quickly put that fear to rest when she invited Rob into the room from the very start and began cracking jokes.

Once the ultra sound got under way she explained everything she was looking at. She showed us the various chambers of the heart, which way the blood was flowing, how open the valves were, what the heartbeat was and even took the time to let us casually watch our little girl swim around., which is basically all our little bun wanted to do. She didn't cooperate in the least. The second the tech would get a decent frame, the baby would block the picture with her arm or decide it was time to roll over.

The tech was remarkably well spirited about the entire thing. She kept cracking jokes about the baby, saying she was gonna win in the end cause she wasn't about to give up. It made for a very enjoyable experience, although she was making me giggle so much that my entire tummy would move and she'd have to try and find the right angle again. Rob found it particularly funny when the tech squeezed a giant amount of ultra sound goo directly into my belly button, because he knew i'd be trying to get it back out of there for hours.

After about 20 minutes she had all the pictures of the heart she needed, so she gave us a few more minutes of watching the baby kick where she was pushing the probe, re-confirmed that it was indeed a little girl, and then she sent the photos to the Cardiologist and informed us that he would be in shortly.

We waited about 10 minutes for him to show up and it literally took him less than 1 minute to tell us everything looked perfectly fine. No signs of hypo-plastic left heart or any other condition and all the pictures showed her in excellent health. That was fantastic news! Now we have one less thing to worry about and can just enjoy the fact that we have an active healthy little girl who will be showing up in a few more months.

Nightly Playdates

Its been quite the exciting week around our household. Between various doctor's appointments and both Rob and I celebrating our birthday's, we've barely had any time to kick back an relax. Finally we made the time tonight, so I thought I'd catch up on my blog.

Earlier in the week I had been lying in bed trying to sleep and my hand gravitated to my tummy. I've been waiting for weeks to feel our baby kick and hadn't felt anything as of yet, or at least not anything. I was 100% sure of. There had been a few twangs here and there but that could be anything from muscles twitching to eating the wrong thing to being hungry.

I've read that the first time you feel the baby kick it would feel like butterflies or popcorn or bubbles popping, so I was completely surprised when, lying in bed, I felt an out and out kick. A little tapping from the inside letting me know she was in there. Making sure I wasn't imagining it, I kept my hand there and then once again, another kick!

Right then, Rob walked in the room and I must have had a crazy look on my face cause he asked what was wrong. I said I think I felt the baby kick and before I knew it, his hands were on my tummy trying to feel her too. It took a minute or so, but she made us both believers when he felt her too! His eyes lit up and he started kissing my tummy and talking to the baby. Such a proud papa he was!

Tonight, around 10pm, she started at it again. While relaxing on the couch her movements became quite regular. Every few minutes she would tap where I was touching on my tummy. Its the most wonderful feeling, finally being able to connect with her on this level. I can't wipe the smile from my face, as I look forward to many more nightly play dates!

Empathy Belly!

Today was the local prenatal health fair sponsored by the Peterborough Health Unit. It was loaded with about 30 booths from local support networks ranging from baby dental care, to breast feeding help, to bring a baby home with a dog in the house, to pregnancy massage and my personal favourite, the empathy belly.

Rob being the good sport that he is agreed to try it on for me. It weighs about 30 lbs and is suppose to mimic the aches and pains a pregnant woman feels near the end of the 3rd trimester. There was a band placed around him first that constricted his ribs so he would have difficulty breathing. Then, with assistance, they loaded the belly onto him, strapping it on like a bulletproof vest, and then giving him a weighted bean bag type baby for him to insert under the belly.

You could instantly see his face change. It definately was heavy. The nurse then had him walk up and down the display area, bend over and pick up something off the ground and then sit in a chair and try to stand up. The funniest part was watching him try to bend over and stand up, as his center of gravity was completely thrown off. With a little wobble, he made it back to an upright position.

Upon being released from his pregnancy belly he did say it was quite the interesting experience. Now he understands why walking up hills make me out of breath and why I get dizzy if I stand up to fast.

The rest of the health fair was extremely informative and we came away with some great information, but the pictures of him pregnant will bring a smile to my face for a long long time.

20 Weeks... Halfway there!

I've made it to the halfway point! Its all a countdown from here :)

Drum Roll Please......

After a very disappointing ultra sound on Monday, (see previous post) a friend of ours suggested we try UC Baby. Its an organization that takes 3D pictures of your baby via ultra sound and will determine the gender if you wish to know. We did a little web research and went through various chat rooms reading what people had written about this company and the type of service they received. No one who has done it appeared to be disappointed, so we thought we'd give it a try. We booked an appointment for Thursday and waited with baited breath.

Arriving in Whitby on a particularly miserable day weather wise, we pull into the appropriately named Mom and Baby depot. Inside we were greeted by a chipper lady who had us fill out some paperwork before sending me into the ultra sound room. We were excited when we entered the room and saw that at the foot of the bed there was a big screen TV that projected the same image the tech would be seeing. By far the best set up we had seen in any of the clinics we had been in.

A very nice lady came in and began scanning. We only paid for the gender determination part, so we wouldn't be getting the entire scan of the baby's face and body since we had just seen that on Monday. She got right to the point and began searching for the area. We could clearly see the baby when she started poking around but the baby was lying sideways, so all we could see was a profile shot. She then proceeded to shake my tummy with her free hand (seriously) to try and encourage the baby to roll over.

Within 3 minutes we had our answer. While the tech is poking around she casually said, "it's a girl I'm just trying to get you a better picture." I was shocked! I shouted back at her, "its a girl!?!" For as long as I've been pregnant Rob has had me convinced that it was a boy and so I had just gotten used to that idea. I was so prepared for the tech to tell me it was a boy that I hadn't even imagined that she would say girl. The tech repeated "yup it's definitely a girl. I knew right away but wanted to get her to roll over so you could see too"

Rob and I both looked up at the TV screen and see our baby, legs spread, showing a lack of boy bits. Rob asked the tech how reliable the scan was and what the error rate has been. She told us that she's been doing it for years and has yet to have anyone call in and tell her she was wrong. She also said she was 100% positive that our baby was in fact a girl. It was on the screen clear as day. Her confidence and the pictures we're enough to convince us. We're officially having a baby girl, and couldn't be happier!

19 week ultrasound with the worst tech ever!

We had our 19 week ultrasound this past Monday and it wasn't quite what we expected. We knew we were going to the fairly new clinic, as its one of only two offices in town that disclose the sex of the baby providing you want to know, which we did. The past couple ultrasounds the tech has allowed me to see the screen the entire time they were checking things out, so I was expecting much of the same and was very excited to see the baby.

Arriving at the room, we were first put off by the fact that the tech wouldn't allow Rob into the room until she was done all of the measurements. Now I can't speak for him, but I would assume that an ultrasound is one of the things expectant fathers look forward to since they aren't involved in much of the goings on until the baby is actually born.

Already disappointed my frustration quickly escalated when I was lying on the table and she wouldn't show me the screen or tell me anything that she was looking at while she was probing around my tummy. For the record, I understand that for OB's and ultrasounds techs, pregnancy is old hat. They deal with plenty of people everyday who ask the same questions and want the same reassurance so it must become frustrating, but as a pregnant woman, especially a first time pregnant woman, I would like to be able to expect that my OB or anyone involved with the pregnancy would make it his or her job to make me as comfortable as possible and reassure me that everything is indeed fine along the way. Well this particular tech did not. She left me in silence for over 20 mins. I would ask if everything was fine, or what she was measuring, or if she was going to let me see the screen, and she would simply grunt or tell me to wait until the end.

Every horrible thought possible was racing through my head. Was something wrong? Was there still a heartbeat? The only reassurance she did give me came near the end when she said "taking pictures of your baby is like taking pictures of my dog".... and to that I said "excuse me!" She clarified by saying that the baby was moving around so much it was difficult to get clear pictures, just like how her dog constantly moves when she tries to take his picture, but the explanation didn't do much to remove the sour taste in my mouth. Did she seriously just liken my child to her dog? What is wrong with this woman. I guess on the one hand it was kind of a compliment, being that you want your baby to be very active, but what kind of class did she take in bedside manner? I took a deep breath and pictured my baby doing somersaults and kicking its legs to help pass the time, since i couldn't actually see what she was talking about.

Finally she got up, walked out of the room without explanation, leaving me on the table and a few mins late returned with Rob, giving him strict instructions to stand on my left side by my head. She finally turned the screen and systematically went through some of the different areas of the baby. We got to see the spine, the hands, the feet, the legs and arms, the head, including the brain and face, the stomach, the heart and then we got the hear the heartbeat. Keep in mind during this show and tell she never did tell us if everything looked ok or not, just simply that it was present.

We had mentioned to her several times that we wanted to know the sex of the baby. She proceeded to lecture us in the fact that she is not a doctor and doesn't want to be held liable. We explained time and time again that we understand and wont hold her liable, we're just curious and she again repeats that she doesn't want to fathom a guess and even if she did it would really only be that, a guess. We asked her to show us anyways, and she finally scanned down to the baby's legs to try and catch a peek. She explained that if its a girl you'd see the lips of the genitalia and if its a boy you'd see his bits between the legs. She showed us the picture and tells us to guess. Seriously! At the same time that I say girl, Rob says boy... turning to her to see which one of us is right, she simply says I can't tell and don't want to guess because its really not clear with the way the baby is lying. I thought Rob was going to slug her right then and there. Pissed, I just wanted to leave. She puts the probe away and tells us she will bring the pictures out in a few mins.

We waited in the waiting room for a good 10 mins when finally she emerges with a CD. We payed and head home. Getting home, we looked at the disc and realized she has given us about 6 pictures. She gave us a few decent profile photos, the hands and the feet, and then gave us the scariest pictures I'd ever seen. I was of the baby's face, but not in a cute, look at his nose kind of way, but in a scary I'm a skull kinda way. It looked like it was straight out of some Halloween movie. What kinda parent wants to see that?? I'm not posting it because its that wrong, so you'll have to take my word for it.

I've never been so annoyed and frustrated with a medical professional before in my life. I will never ever go back there, in fact when I see my OB at my next appointment I will be requesting that he send me for another ultrasound at the other location. At least that way the scan will be done by an actual doctor and not a bitchy tech with her own agenda. We both feel she purposely didn't tell us the sex of the baby. She didn't even try zooming in or spend anytime waiting for the baby to move or roll over.

The only great thing to come out of that appointment was knowing we have a very very active baby. While she was showing us the various parts we did get to see the bun roll over, wave, make a fist, suck its thumb and kick its legs. It was pretty awesome to see that!

Crib Central

Trying to decide on a crib for the baby's room was one of the most difficult decisions we've made so far. There are so many options out there. What colour do you chose? White? Chocolate? Oak? Cherry? The possibilities are endless. Then it comes down to style. Do you go with straight lines or curves? Classic or antique? Drop or fixed sides? One that eventually converts into a double bed or is the crib just going to be used as a crib?

After narrowing it down to lighter colours and preferring fixed sides rather than drop downs, we started our search. For a few weeks we browsed baby stores, flyers, online stores, checked what our friends had and researched the best brands online. We finally came to a decision when the deal of a lifetime presented itself. This couple had bought a brand new crib for their first born, but when the mother in law saw it, she decided she was going to buy them one even better. Being that it was the first grandchild of the family, the mother in law decided she deserved only the best. So the couple needed to get rid of the crib they had just purchased. It was a matter or right place at the right time for us, and we managed to score the crib, the mattress and the change table for less money than the change table alone would cost in store.

I must say we are surprised with how much we love it. Being that its oak in colour, it pretty much goes with everything we have already purchased and it fits nicely into our jungle themed baby room.

Its a party!

I was shocked and surprised when I got my mail today, as I received an invitation to my very own baby shower! My friend Jess has been busy planning a baby shower for me but has been very hush hush about the details. I had no idea what to expect. Needless to say I was beyond delighted when I opened the envelope to reveal a bright, colourful and fun invitation. I can tell she put a lot of thought and energy into the invites and for that, I am very grateful! Some women dream of their wedding days or their honeymoons, but since I was little, my mind has been consumed with becoming a mom. I've dreamt of a baby shower surrounded by my close friends and family and I am so excited that Jess is making my dreams come true. I can't wait until November 6th!

Holding Steady

I had my monthly appointment with my OB today. It was much quicker than the last as things are starting to become routine. Everything is sailing along just fine. All my blood tests and exams have come back perfectly fine and the baby appears to be growing well. My uterus as moved up above the pelvic bone and is now almost belly button level. The babies heart was beating at a strong 144 bpm. Its still so thrilling to hear that sound.

He asked about aches and pains and I mentioned the slight cramping I experienced last weekend. He wasn't concerned and said it was just the ligaments starting to stretch. I have read up about and experienced several bouts of this round ligament pain, usually when getting up to fast or rolling over in bed. The shooting pain can be overwhelming but it just reminds me that I need to slow down and remember there is a little person growing inside me. I no longer need to move at warp speed.

I also brought up the fact that I've developed a small cold, mainly affecting my sinuses and asked if there was anything safe to take for it. He basically said he doesn't suggest taking anything if I can suffer through it, but if it gets to the point where I can't breathe and am just miserable there is a nasal spray I can use, but only for a few days. I'm not really a fan of nasal sprays so I will do my best to hold off and suffer through the cold. Its beginning to get better anyways.

Once again when it came time to weigh in, I still hadn't gained a single pound. At 17 weeks it was beginning to concern me. My doctor said at this point he really isn't that worried. The baby is clearly growing as my belly is expanding week by week and my uterus is also growing at the normal healthy rate. He said that most people have gained about 5 pounds by now, but as long as the baby is growing there is no need to worry. My ultra sound in 2 weeks will also confirm that the baby's growth rate is right on schedule. Doing some research there are some doctors who believe that weight gain during pregnancy is predetermined by your genetics and that no matter what you eat or how much you exercise, you gain what you are meant to gain. That's why some women gain 15 lbs and some gain 50 or more. I think deep down inside most women hope they are closer to the 15 lb mark so that you'll have that much less weight to lose after the baby is born. As long as my little bun is healthy and on track, I'll continue to eat healthy and just enjoy being pregnant without worrying about the number on the scale.

Public Notice

Today I experienced a pregnancy milestone that I think every pregnant woman waits for.... the day when a perfect stranger notices that you're pregnant.

It happened to me while Rob and I were grocery shopping. I had noticed throughout the course of the store that I was getting a few inquisitive looks shot my way, but it wasn't until the check out when someone finally spoke up. Upon impulse, I had thrown a box of smarties onto my conveyor belt and when the cashier noticed, she jokingly remarked "is the baby causing cravings?"..... Little did she know that she made my whole day. I must have looked like a fool, smiling ear to ear as she ran them past the price scanner..... And at the end of the day, the Smarties tasted every bit as good as being pregnant feels.

16 weeks :)

With great thanks to my friend Kelly, who generously handed down her maternity clothes, I know have clothing that actually forms to the baby bump instead of just hanging off it like over-sized clothing. This photo is at just over 16 weeks, getting close to half way!

The Thing I Miss The Most!

I've never been particularly good at falling asleep... sleeping yes, but the act of actually getting to that point, not so much. Ever since I was a teen when I'd decide to go to bed I'd toss and turn for at least 30 mins trying to shut my brain off before I actually get to slumberland. I've heard all the advice and wisdom from everyone who dares to offer it... "well you're just not tired yet so stay up and do something productive".. If I followed that advice I'd likely be up until 2 or 3 or even 4 in the morning every night. No matter of exhausted I get, my brain seems to have to go though this shut down period, where I create the next days to-do list, or reflect upon what happened today, or worry about things I can't control, before it gives up the battle.

The one saving grace for me has always been that I could lie on my tummy, snuggle up with my pillows and just melt into the mattress. I've been a tummy sleeper my whole life, literally (ask my mother). So, imagine my frustration with the fact that the little bun inside of me is no longer allowing this comfortable position. I feel like I'm the princess and the pea. I can't get comfortable. Period. I can't get comfy on my tummy, I can't get comfy on my back, and never having been a side sleeper, that position, either left or right, feels completely awkward and uncomfortable (where are your arms suppose to go?). I've tried the pillows and the blankets and being the big spoon and being the little spoon (cuddle wise with Rob). I've tried flailing about like a star fish, cocooning up into the fetal position, upside-down, right-side up, legs off the bed, feet dangling.... you get the point. Combine the fact that I can't find a comfortable sleeping position with the fact that I still have to get up to pee every 2 hours, and I'm beginning to wonder why they call the second trimester the honeymoon period.. and don't even get my started on the restless legs syndrome!

Yes, I realize its likely going to get worse before it gets better. Then I can trade this problem for the baby waking me up every two hours with its crying, but I must say, so far this has been the most annoying pregnancy symptom of them all. I suppose I should just be happy with the fact that the baby is growing, but man, what I wouldn't give for an uninterrupted 10 hours of sleep on my tummy!

14 weeks and growing

The belly seems to be sitting a little higher than it was in the 12 week photo... baby is moving on up :)

Monthly Check In

I had my monthly check in with the ob today. Everything checked out on track. The results from my ultra sound last week had come back already and he said the baby is growing at a great rate and is healthy. That ultra sound was the first round of IPS screening where they check for down syndrome and neural tube defects. They measure the skin at the back of the baby's neck for thickness. Our measurement came out at 0.9mm and anything under 3mm is considered fantastic. We still have one more round of blood work to complete in 3 weeks before we'll have the official results but everything is looking a-ok.

Finally being into my second trimester he was able to hear the heartbeat via fetal doppler for the first time and I got to listen. That was very exciting. I had seen the heart beat at the ultra sound screens without sound but until your hear it out loud it doesn't seem as real. That made my day.

My favourite thing about this doctor is how prepared he is. I walked out of his office today knowing exactly when my next appointment was, when my next ultra sound was, when I had to go for blood work and with the paperwork to fill out for the hospital pre admitting program. He is always 3 steps ahead which really puts my mind at ease.

I'm really looking forward to the next ultra sound on September 13th as its the day we'll be able to find out the baby's gender. (providing he/she doesn't have its legs crossed) Although we plan on keeping the baby items as gender neutral as possible I feel that finding out the sex will help me with the bonding process.

The one thing I'll be having that most mom's don't get is a fetal echo ultra sound. Its only performed in Kingston and Toronto and its a close up scan of the baby's heart. I had a brother born with a hypo-plastic left heart, which is a rare genetic condition in which the left side of the heart is severely under developed and if not corrected the baby would pass away shortly after birth when the heart chambers close up. This ultra sound is just a safety measure to check and see if he/she possibly has a problem as its much easier to fix if its found before birth. The ultra sound takes place during week 22, so not until the end of September.

Other than that, everything was fairly routine. At this point I haven't gained any weight, although I feel as though I've put on about 10lbs, but the scale says otherwise. Its likely due to the fact that I've completely lost my appetite during the last few weeks but the doctor assures me that's completely normal and that some people in fact lose weight in their first trimester. I'm sure I'll start gaining soon as this little baby is growing so quickly :)

Boy vs Girl - Old Wives Tale Experiment

The big debate started pretty much the second we discovered I was pregnant. Rob swears its gonna be a boy and I was hoping for a girl. Several of my friends have voiced opinions on the matter and so far were one up for a boy. Two of them are convinced without a doubt that its a girl, but three are convinced its a boy.

Once people find out you're pregnant they start telling you all these wives tales about how to determine the sex before birth. My best friend Jess, using her sister (who has 2 children, a boy and a girl) as a guideline feels that since I have no acne and now morning sickness and last time she saw me I was "glowing" that its definitely a boy.

Our good friends from Mexico, Fransisco and Maria, said that in Mexico when you are pregnant and you hang around young children, if little girls are more drawn to you then you are having a boy, but if little boys are drawn to you then its a girl. To test that theory the following weekend we visit my niece aged 5 and my nephew aged 3 to observe what happens. Immediately when I walked in the door my niece runs up to me and jumps into my arms screaming "Aunt Jenn!" while my nephew following quickly behind her stops short of my arms and asks "Where's Uncle Wobbie?" and then continues running past me straight into his arms. Over the next few hours my niece drags me around the house showing me her room and books and toys while my nephew couldn't care less if I was there.

Thinking maybe this was a fluke situation, we stop by our other friends who have young children. They have a daughter aged 2, who has met me on regular occasions over the last 6 months and never really came close or wanted anything to do with me, but within 20 mins of being there this time she was my shadow. Following me around the house, standing on stairs so she could look at me face to face, wanting up all the time.... Ok, chock one up for a boy if Mexican theory is correct.

With a significant amount of free time on my hands these days and being as curious as it gets, I googled a found a list of the 52 most common wives tales about pregnancy. Now some didn't have anything to do with gender prediction, but I'll highlight some of the ones that did....

As mentioned by Jess the lack of acne points to a boy. Lack of morning sickness also points to a boy. If you craving salty instead of sweet that apparently means a boy. Being that I could not be more turned off by the thought of ice cream and chocolate, but wouldnt pass up a pickle if you offered it to me, I'd say im all about the salty.

More scientifically speaking, if the baby's heartbeat that is lower than 140 bpm, means boy. My baby's has yet to reach 140 bpm, and upon first hearing it registered at 125 bpm.... anyone else becoming convinced?

Carrying high and round vs low and straight out. I know its still early on, but I am carrying low it seems, which again points to a baby boy. That along with being clumsy as heck, which also apparently means a boy.

For giggles my friend Sarah convinced me to do the ring on a string test. Hold the ring over your belly and if it goes straight back and forth its a girl and if it moves in a circle than its a boy.... verdict says, round and round we go for another point in the boy column.

There is an old Mayan tale that says if you add the mothers age at the time of conception along with the year of conception and get an even number its a girl, odd number means a boy. Being that I'm 25 and its 2010, that would make it 2035... odd number. Boy!

One I found rather odd was the skin under your left eye test. If you look in a mirror and pull the skin under your left eye down and see a "v" or "branches" in the white part of your eye than you're having a girl. I have no such V's or branches... that's another boy point.

If you have dreams of your baby during pregnancy and you dream that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. In all of my dreams where a baby is involved, the baby has been a little girl. So again, that points to a little boy inside me.

The side you sleep on... If you lay on your left side then its a boy. If you prefer your right side then its a girl. I've always been a left sided sleeper, so I don't know how accurate this one is for me. Plus I've heard that you're suppose to sleep on your left side during pregnancy because its better for the baby. Either way, I suppose this is another win for a boy.

If the father to be gains weight with you, its said to be a girl. If he stays the same then its said to be a boy. Sorry to sell you out on this one Rob but he has recently been complaining that his pants are a little tighter than normal. Finally a point in the girl column!

The majority of women I know hate having to shave their legs. I'm sure the first person to come up with a product that slathers on and comes off and takes the hair with it and doesn't let it grow back for months or better yet, EVER, will have the world at their fingertips. That being said, if you find your leg hair growing even faster than ever while pregnant, that a sign that you're carrying a boy. Being that I should take stocks with Gillette for all the razors and shaving cream I'm having to buy, we're giving the boy pile another point.

They say that if you experience and increase in the amount of headache you have while pregnant that also means a baby boy is on board. My head has pretty much been pounding since the day I conceived. Excuse me while I reach for a tylenol!

And finally, the baby name debate. It is said, that if you can only think of and/or agree upon specific names for one gender of baby then that's the gender you're having. Checking in on our baby name list, we pretty much have one name for a boy. It was one of the firsts mentioned and it hasn't changed. For a girl, we have about 2 dozen names and it changes daily. Guess its a good thing all signs point to boy.

In conclusion to the Old Wives Tale Experiment, we come out of this with a whopping 14 outta 15 points for a boy, and 1 point leaning towards girl. I guess I can start picking out Tonka trucks and dinky cars.

We'll be finding out for sure in a few weeks at the 20 week ultrasound if it is indeed a boy or girl. It will be interesting to see if any of these wives tales ring true.

12 week baby bump

As we finally approach the second trimester (which seemed to take forever to get here) I thought I would post a picture of the changes that have occurred since I posted the 8 week photo. Things are finally beginning to take on a more pregnant shape. I'm still carrying quite low so we'll see if that changes. They say the most noticeable changes occur during the next 2 months, so I'm looking forward to seeing my bump get larger and larger with every passing week.

12 Week Ultrasound!

We made it to the 12 week ultrasound. It was fascinating to see how much the baby had grown from the 6 week ultrasound. He waved at u s and kicked his feet and we were able to see his tiny heart beating away. What a moment! So glad Rob was finally able to be in the room for this ultrasound. It made his day!