Some Perspective...

So, in a casual conversation one of my colleague's asked me if I had any children. I told him that I was actually expecting my first in May. His first response was Dragon baby! He is Chinese and I forgot how heavily the Chinese rely on zodiac mythology.
So this got me poking around the internet for different information about zodiac signs, birthstone, etc. I don't have a particular interest or belief in the zodiac but it is fun to learn about. And for the record, I am VERY much a scorpio so maybe there is some truth to it.


So, here I am searching around, site to site and I found some information that was really....interesting. They are "fun" due date facts. Some were fun, some were SHOCKING.


Let's start with the fun:


Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Birthstone: Emerald
Birth Flower: Lily of the Valley or Hawthorn (I didn't even know we had birth flowers!!)
Chinese Zodiac: The Black Water Dragon (sick....)
Half Birthday: October 30
This time next year the baby will be 26 weeks old!


Ok, and now for the SHOCKING. This is only shocking because it makes me realize that I am going to get old, and that the future is long. This is exciting, but at the same time scary... So here it is:


Babies born on 5/1/2012 will start kindergarten in 2017, be old enough to drive a car in 2028, finish high school in 2030, and will graduate from college with the class of 2034, give or take a year.


HOLY CRAP RIGHT!!??

First Screen Results

Early last week I went to the doctor's for a combined screening to check for the risk of Down's Syndrome and Trisomy 18. The doctor took measurements of the baby's neck during the ultrasound and they also drew blood.
I received the results yesterday and although nothing is really guaranteed, the results are GREAT. I'm told that there is a 1:10,000 chance that the baby could have one of these diseases, which is really good. If there was a higher risk, they would have recommended further, more invasive screening like an amniocentesis. But I'm in the clear - yay!


I have another routine appointment on Halloween. I have literally been there every two weeks! There are routine appointments with the obgyn, and there are the appointments with the ultrasound tech, so they all add up.


The next thing I am looking forward to is finding out the sex! 
I decided to schedule an elective 'gender check' ultrasound appointment at Goldenview in Boston on 11/8. It's a 2D ultrasound with a quick 3D/4D peek at the baby. They also do a live streaming video of the entire session so family and friends that are interested can watch from home! What a great way to have the family find out the gender right along with us!
It's a little expensive, but I just can't wait any longer! I want to start painting and decorating and knowing my baby by name. I want to buy cute baby outifits (NOT in yellow or grey!!) and think about the future by being able to picture a little girl or a little boy in the house...


So, if you haven't voted on the gender in the poll to the right, do so now! We'll find out soon if the chinese gender chart is right (girl) or if the magic pee in the cup thingy (boy) was right!!

Honeymoon Trimester

Oh hey there second trimester!! So happy to finally see you!!
I am definitely feeling some of the benefits of the most glorious trimester. My spirits are up and I have more energy. Not much, but rather than falling asleep at 8pm on the couch, I actually stayed up until 10 last night. Whoa.


The first trimester was pure hell, and I hear the third is as well. So I will enjoy the next few months as much as I can!


Now that I'm feeling better I'm going to try to move around more and eat better. I bought a preggie yoga DVD so I can yoga-at-home, and I vow to walk more often on the treadmill. I will try to eat more fruits and veggies, but this is probably the toughest for me since my biggest cravings are SWEETS. I gained 2 pounds in the last week and I'm pretty sure it's the peanut butter cups and the box of frozen yogurt I single handedly consumed. Whoops. 


The second trimester is going to mean lots of growing for mom and baby. It also means that the dreaded risk of miscarriage drops dramatically (phew.)


This week, the baby is about 3 inches long, or the size of a shrimp. The baby is growing hair all over her body (also known as lanugo.) She is also her very own unique person and now has a unique set of fingerprints. She also looks very much like a little baby now.


Just a few more weeks until we find out if she really is a she!

Ohmmmmmmmmmmmm

So, I started prenatal yoga last night. I had a few goals in mind:
1. Stress relief
2. Physical activity
3. Meet other preggie moms


In just one visit, I accomplished all three. I literally came home and told Jason that I was going to dedicate the rest of my life to the practice of yoga. I was going to spend whatever was necessary to go to yoga AT LEAST once a week. Yeah, I was exaggerating and yeah, I was on a 'yoga high' but there was some truth to it.


Mentally, without a doubt, I obtained some stress relief. Every day I wake up and I am almost immediately plugged into my computer for work. After work, I am almost always staring at a TV, my phone, or playing with my iPad. I am ALWAYS connected to electronics. For one hour, I was able to completely unplug and instead, connect with what matters!! Me and my baby. I was able to focus all my attention on my breathing, my movements, and the positive energy I needed to send to the baby. 
Sounds a little fluffy, I know, but I had never felt so close to the baby. I had an overwhelming sense of love and protection. It was amazing...


Physically, I got moving. I wouldn't really call it a workout, but with every movement I could feel the tension leaving my body. I could feel my joints and muscles moving and it felt great.


And I met a mommy. A very nice, very preggie mommy took me under her wing and showed me what I needed, how to set up, etc. She made it so I wasn't completely lost and I was very grateful.


The class had preggie ladies of all stages and not once did I feel out of place. I can't wait to go back!! I think I will buy some prenatal yoga DVDs so that I can practice anytime I'm feeling stressed and will not have to wait for a class.


Thank you yoga. Namaste.

Belly Lump

I'm coining a new phrase... the belly lump. This is different than Fergie's "lady lumps"... but those are getting bigger too haha.
This is what comes before the 'official' belly bump :-) And this is what a 12 week belly lump looks like!
Don't I look like I had too many cheeseburgers? Or went on a beer drinking binge? 

12 weeks

I've reached the 12 week mark! Woohoo!!!
Some of my books and web sites say this is the end of the 1st trimester, but if you divide 40 weeks by 3, it would technically be when I turn 13 weeks. But who's counting...


I'm feeling much better than last week. I don't think I've cried since that episode of X Factor last week - but don't want to jinx myself! Who knows what can set this pregnant lady off!


I'm starting a prenatal yoga class tomorrow and I'm really excited about it. I need it on so many levels... mentally I think it will help calm me down, even if it's only for an hour, once a week; physically I need to get stretching and moving; and socially I'm looking forward to meeting other preggie chicks! At $12 a class that's less than what I used to spend a week on cigarettes, and you can do the math on the cost vs. benefit!


So what's going on with the baby? Well the "peanut" has upgraded from a fig to a lime. (Does anyone else find all these food associations with my baby just a little disturbing?)
I'm reading that the baby's most dramatic changes are that the fingers now open and close, the toes curl, eye muscles clench, and the baby will start to make sucking motions -- in other words, reflexes! Cool.


I'm still waiting for that signature baby bump to arrive. I wake up every morning and feel my tummy. Even though I know it's too early. It's really neat feeling myself grow, even if it's just a bit of padding so far. Too early for maternity clothes, but too lumpy to fit into my jeans. 
Thank you inventors of the bella band. I can still wear my old jeans but unzipped and no one knows the difference. Except you, now that you've read this haha.


Let's hope that the yoga gets me off this crazy train and I can enjoy the wonderful 2nd trimester. I'm hearing that it really is the best of the 3.

First Screen (and more pictures!!)

Picture day!! We had an ultrasound appointment today (my favorite.) The ultrasound tech asked me if I knew why we were there. I didn't know - I was only focused on the fact that I could see little peanut again! (Who is actually much larger than a peanut I might add.) The reason we were there was actually a very serious and important one. We were there for what is called the "First Trimester Screen."

This is a test that combines results from bloodwork and ultrasound to test for risk of chromosomal abnomalities - Down's Syndrome and Trisomy-18. The ultrasound tech was taking pictures of the baby to measure "nuchal translucency" which is measuring part of the neck. It's not a fool proof test. But if there are warning signs, then we would be asked to perform more invasive testing. I will have to wait for the results of the combination testing, but she said that from what she could measure, everything was in the normal range. What a relief.

This ultrasound was so completely different than the last one. We got to see the baby for a while, and (s)he is an active little thing!! It was so cool to see. The baby flips and turns and waves and wiggles. It's pretty interesting to see since I can't feel any of it.

We also learned a couple of interesting things about my body. First, I have an anterior placenta. This means that the placenta is located at top of my uterus, close to my abdomen. This is fine, and occurs in about 50% of pregnancies, but means that I might not be able to feel the baby kick as soon as other mommies, because the placenta will act as a cushion.

It also explains why it was hard for the obgyn to detect fetal heart rate. Again, the placenta blocks the doppler. 

I also got to see my ovaries and the technician could see which ovary I ovulated from to make the baby. SO cool! Completely useless information, but man science is fascinating. In case you're wondering (which I'm sure you're not), my right ovary made the baby. 

Here are some pictures of the baby below. SO much different than the pictures a few weeks ago. You can really see the profile now! Cutest nose on the planet!! (Yep...I'm already a proud mommy.)

11 weeks

So, I'm now 11 weeks pregnant. That countdown on the sidebar is haunting me... 203 days left!? Really!? My boss laughs at me and says that I'm 'just not a good pregnant lady.' Is there such a thing? Do people REALLY enjoy this!? They must, since I see people out there with more than one child. Do they brainwash you in the hospital after the baby is born or something? Because I will tell you right now - I will NOT do this again. 


Oh, I know, you will all say - yes you will! You'll want another! You'll get baby fever! Ok, well I'll take baby fever over another 40 weeks of pregnancy any day! I'll make my friends have more kids so I can 'get my fix'!! I will not go through this process again! I will not willingly subject myself to nausea, constipation, and crazy mood swings again! And I am so sure of this - only 11 weeks in. What kind of crazy person am I going to be come April!!??


I welcome your feedback on this mommies, but Jason and I have already made the decision. It's a personal choice, partly financial, partly emotional. We want to be able to afford private school, we want to be able to vacation easily without having to attend to children of different ages, and well frankly we went from not wanting any, to wanting one. So we'll stick with that.


So, you know how I'M doing at 11 weeks (no longer sick in the morning, but now sick in the head.) But what's baby up to? Let's take a look:


Peanut is about an inch and a half long and when looking at that fruit comparison is now being compared to a fig. Not easy to envision since I've only eaten a fig once and was already sliced for me, so I've never seen one whole. 
Baby is moving and kicking up a storm and now hiccuping, but I won't be able to feel it for a few more months. 
The other major development is that the baby now has reflexes and can feel. So if I were to poke my belly, the baby would respond and move. And they say during this week that the baby starts to explore it's face. 


Despite how much I've complained about being pregnant, reading my weekly updates brings me so much joy. I will have to admit that I spent a good deal of time in the beginning worrying if the pregnancy would 'stick.' I'm close to the second trimester now, and no longer have that fear. I'm starting to really bond with the baby and I'm completely fascinated that I'm growing a person. It's insane, really. I am truly a person without patience and waiting for May 1st to arrive is a real test of my character. I can't wait to meet him or her!!

Symptom alert! From tilt-a-whirl to crazy-ass-bitch...

Oh boy. I'm only 11 weeks into my pregnancy and I am ready to be done. I had NO idea there were so many symptoms associated with pregnancy. For the first 10 or so weeks they were mostly physical (I was nauseous, constipated, gassy, exhausted) Sorry, I know, TMI. 


Now I'm entering the realm of emotional symptoms... and whoa - it ain't pretty!


Goodbye morning sickness, hello mood swings! This is something like PMS, on some level, but this is PMS times a gazillion. 


One minute, I'm crying uncontrollably. That minute can last anywhere from a few moments to hours. I literally cried like someone died for hours one day because my husband said 'the wrong thing.' I cried through 2 hours of the show XFactor. A singing contest. Every song made me cry.
Another minute I am PISSED OFF. Again, because my poor husband 'said the wrong thing.' 
Another minute I am jealous beyond all reason. I have no reason to be, mind you.
And another minute I could be ridiculously giddy and seemingly normal. Don't be fooled! I am NOT stable and these 'normal' moments are fleeting. 


Can someone please find the old Nicole and return her? 


I thought pregnancy was supposed to be beautiful, and happy! (Anyone who has been pregnant is laughing uncontrollably, I'm sure.) So far I have been an unstable farting machine. Beautiful? HA! That glow on my face? That's grease. Happy? HA! Get too close and I might hurt you.


I hope that this all changes once the baby is born, though I'm petrified that the guaranteed lack of sleep and chance of postpartum depression is just going to make this worse. I think I will express my concerns with my doctor. I can't live like this for too long, and I would like to stay married through this experience!!


A friend of mine gave me a great book for Jason. It's perfectly named 'Pregnancy Sucks. What to do when your miracle makes you both miserable.' Honestly, I'm learning as much from reading it as he is. It makes me feel like I'm not the only one feeling this way, that in many ways it's 'normal' (even though I feel anything but.) It doesn't really help change anything. Jason still wants the old me back, as do I. But I guess it does help us both know that it's only temporary, and it's not just us...


As a final note, I've heard people talk about a 'push present' that the husband is to present to his wife as a 'thank you' for carrying and delivering the baby. If that is true, then I owe him a 'thank you' as well for living with (and not killing) this crazy-ass-bitch that took over his life for 40 weeks (and possibly longer!) 

Gender test...is it right!?

So, they have these over the counter gender prediction tests that you can buy at Walgreens / CVS / etc. In an effort to take advantage of all that science has to offer (and to pacify my increasing excitement to find out the gender) I bought one of these things.


It's called Intelligender, it cost about $30 (I know, I'm crazy) and the basic idea is that you pee in a cup, add it to this cup of 'magic' crystals, wait 5 minutes and it tells you whether you're having a boy or a girl!
But does it really work? Well, we'll have to wait another few months to verify the results.... but for now - it says it's a boy!

We were both convinced it's a girl. We both really wanted a boy in the beginning, but it's funny how a new idea can settle in, because we both became really comfortable and excited about having a girl! 2D ultrasound can't detect gender until around 19 weeks... so we'll just have to wait.

But for now - please vote in the poll on the side! And in a few months I'll let you know!

Week 10!

I am officially 10 weeks pregnant today. A lot of GREAT things are happening at 10 weeks.


Most importantly - I'm feeling better!! Woohoo! I haven't needed medication in over a week. I still have passing moments of queasiness and some smells give me the gags, but I'm functioning again. YES!


Next - baby has passed a huge milestone - (s)he's no longer an embryo, but is now a fetus! Cool! 3 more weeks and I'm done with the first trimester - even cooler!


Kind of on the gross side, I read that baby is now drinking amniotic fluid, peeing, and pooping. 


The baby is the size of a kumquat today. There's this interesting slideshow that compares the baby with fruit, week by week. 
http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-size

Now that I'm feeling better, I hope that the weeks fly by more quickly, and I'm ready for my expanding gut to start to look like a real baby bump.

Love at first sight

That famous phrase - "It was love at first sight." Most people don't believe in this. And I suppose I don't either, in it's traditional sense.
But that is the only way that I can explain the emotions that I felt today when we saw our little nugget for the first time. Absolutely head over heels in love.


We went in for a routine exam and we were mainly there to hear the heartbeat for the first time. I could barely sleep the night before, was excited ALL day (first time mom over here!) But, when the doc tried to find it, she couldn't.
She reassured me that it was early, and she was sure everything was ok. And I was too - but I waited for WEEKS for this moment! The disappointment was written all over my face. Pouty face worked I guess and she sent us downstairs for an ultrasound (wahoooooo!!!!) 


Together we saw our baby alive for the first time. 
The experience was moving and emotional, to say the least. We could see it's head (huge head, I might add - already taking after daddy!) hehe
And then the baby moved! It jerked it's little body around and then there it was.... (s)he waved at us!! That little hand waved at us and said "hey mommy! hey daddy!" *sigh* Love at first sight....


Everything is measuring EXACTLY where it should. The heartbeat was strong and mommy and baby are healthy. <3