Week 23

So a couple of weeks ago I posted about my placenta being anterior and that it was exactly where it was supposed to be.  I guess that is not all together right - it is much more common to have the placenta located on the posterior wall.  Not anything serious, just not as common, and means that kicks will not be felt as strongly.  Now that that has all been cleared up...

Lots of baby news with friends and family which is making me so excited!  My cousin had a beautiful baby boy on Friday; our friends are due tomorrow, and other friends just announced that they are expecting!  It's baby fever and it SO wonderful! 

Baby has been kicking a LOT lately - this morning seemingly kicking away madly at my bladder.  Ward dropped off the change table, crib, and mattress Saturday (thanks!) and so now we need to get crackin' on getting the nursery set up.  We picked out paint Saturday and are really happy with coming to an agreement so easily (we seem to be doing this more and more lately, which is great!)  We were inspired by a feature in Chatelaine magazine on colour trends.

Chatelaine article on colour trends

From left to right: Mariachi, Moon Grey,  Fiesta Aqua

We had the whole family over for supper last night and had a great visit with everyone.  We are so fortunate to be bringing this baby into such loving families who are so excited to welcome him or her!  Love you guys so much!

Here is my bump this week - starting to feel like a house!

Week 23

Week 22

I do not believe in fate.  At all.  I do not think there is some master plan in the universe, but random events.  That being said, there are some pretty hilarious coincidences that can arise sometimes.  I went to high school with Kendra.  We were friends and we also sang together, going to the same voice teacher (even sang in a quartet together at grad).  We lost touch after high school until 2008, when we turned up at the same marriage preparation class out at what was the Prairie Christian Training Centre.  Fast forward to 2013 when who should we see at our childbirth preparation classes but Kendra and her husband Aaron!  We are a little over a month apart in our due dates.  We had to laugh thinking about how our life plans seem to go at the same pace.  Then it gets weirder.  Last weekend we ran into K and her mom at the Baby Expo.  This weekend we were perusing diaper change mats at Hello Baby when in walks K and A.  Last night we pulled into the Owl for some JunoFest shows and who is there?  K and A again! Now I know when couples are expecting, there are a limited number of places to shop and 30-something yuppies (or yippies, in my case) tend to favour local stores but I am starting to think we may be destined to be friends!

This was especially clear when we realized what good taste they have as we found ourselves both at Hello Baby picking out the exact same strollers and carseats!  That's right - we are now the proud owners of the most awesome travel system that includes at BoB Revolution SE jogging stroller and a Britax Chaperone carseat!  Early on in the pregnancy, my parents, Mark and Gail, said that they would like their present for the baby to be a really good travel system, and we said "Awesome!"  So, us being us, we did a lot of research, read a lot of reviews, and figured out what features we really wanted.  We decided fairly quickly on the BoB Revolution SE - it is one of the top rated jogging strollers in Runners World magazine but we also spoke to lots of local parents who raved about how great it is. 

BoB Revolution SE jogging stroller in Orange

Jeff with our new stroller

We decided on the carseat we did because a) there was a deal on at Hello Baby that if you buy a BoB stroller and a Britax carseat you get the adapter to make it into a travel system free.  And b) it is also highly rated and has a lot of extra safety features including side impact protection and an anti-rebound bar.

Britax Chaperone carseat

As we drove home with these two purchases in our backseat it really hit me that we would not have this stuff unless we were having a baby!  It seemed to be a major moment of reality.  And when we got home and Jeff started excitedly unpacking and assembling, I started taking pictures to remember the moment. I was imagining these things with our baby in them and it made me so happy and excited to think about.

As for baby - lots of moving around this week!  I am also looking forward to my second pregnancy massage at the Y.  Had one last Sunday and my goodness has it ever helped with the aches in my sides and tailbone.  Here is the bump this week -

Week 22

Week 21

Well it couldn't last forever...  After gaining four lbs. in the last four months, and thinking I was doing an awesome job of putting just a little weight on, I went to the doctor's office on Wednesday and discovered that I have put on more than SIX LBS. in one month!  Now this still puts my weight gain in the normal range at 10 lbs total but...yeesh!  That was a hard pill to swallow.  I am still exercising and, for the most part, we are eating our normal way, which includes lots of veggies and fruit, lean meats and whole grains.  Jeff assures me that all the weight he can see has gone straight into belly and bust.  I am going to just not let this bother me too much and continue to be mindful of keeping my health up for the baby, knowing that some weight gain is inevitable and required.

Heard the baby's heartbeat again - 160 bpm that day - and really loud!  Dr. Lett reviewed all the ultrasound pictures and said that everything is developing perfectly.  She told me she is not at all concerned with the weight gain and not to worry.  She said weight gain in pregnancy is not a gradual slope it comes in fits and starts.

She also gave me this card to carry in my wallet in the unlikely event we have to go into the hospital early.  This means that my placenta is on the anterior wall - right where it's supposed to be!  

In more exciting news, we picked out some nursery furniture this week!  Ward and Deb bought us:


Stork Craft Valentia Crib in "Espresso"

South Shore Cottage Change Table in "Espresso"

Having these items ordered is another step that makes things seem more real!

Here is my belly this week...

Week 21

Week 20

There is no hiding my belly these days - I now look pregnant in every outfit and people that I meet are starting to know without me telling them.  It's kind of neat that the whole world is in on the pregnancy now.  I went to Aquacize twice this week and I think the stretching is really good for me - I have been really achy around my belly.  Pretty sure it is just ligaments stretching out as this balloon keeps getting inflated! 

A word about cravings: yesterday we had lunch at 13th Ave Coffeehouse and I ordered a mango lemonade.  Jeff and I noted that, before I was pregnant, I was not a big fan of lemonade.  Now I order it frequently out at restaurants.  He explained that since the baby was half his I am taking on some of his preferences!  Must be so - I sure have more of a sweet tooth than I ever did before.  Some of my most common cravings are:

Chocolate Milk

Big League Chew Bubble Gum (Original Flavour)

Brown Tootsie Pops

But don't worry - these remain rare treats I have only about twice a week.  Ok, maybe double that for the chocolate milk...  Come to mention it, skim milk has been going particularly fast in our house as well.  Can't seem to drink enough of it.  Think we are going through almost two 4-litre jugs a week between the two of us. Also, peanut butter and apples and oranges.  Needed a steak this weekend and that was satisfied out at Table 10 last night.  They do an amazing beef tenderloin.

Ok, enough musings about food from an always-hungry prego (I should go eat some breakfast).  Here is my belly this week!  Yay - I'm pretty again...

Week 20

Ultrasound Pictures!!!

On Tuesday Jeff and I went to Radiology Associates of Regina for our 20 week ultrasound.  It was one of the greatest experiences of my life!  There is a real live baby in there!  Not that we're biased, but we think it is the cutest baby we've ever seen!  We were asked at the beginning if we wanted to know the sex of the baby and replied that no we did not.  I cannot stand to ruin the biggest and best surprise I'm ever going to have!  Jeff, for his part, knew this was coming and had consented long before, even though he would have been just as happy to find out. 

The sonographer kept saying what a cute nose he/she has. Baby weighs in at a healthy 13 oz. (this is a bit above average weight for how far along we are) and heartbeat was recorded at 157 bpm. Everything looks to be developing perfectly. 10 fingers, 10 toes and what she said was a beautiful brain. What an amazing experience to see. Baby was moving quite a bit and went from laying sideways to breach in the time we were there. At one point she said it was kicking away at my bladder. Not a problem yet, but down the road....

I am carrying the baby so low that she was having trouble getting a good picture of the baby's spine.  I had to keep pulling my pants lower and lower.  She got an ok shot eventually and that all looked great too.

Here are the ultrasound pictures!

3D face; foot

Hand, profile

 

Week 19

We got back from Arizona on Tuesday, then only had to work for two days.  We headed out to Moose Jaw on Thursday night where we stayed over at Mom and Dad's place and went for a nice date out to Kergano's.  We left Moose Jaw in the morning to go spend the rest of the weekend relaxing and cooking at the lake.  It took a while to open the cabin up but it was so nice to finally be back there after six long months away. 

I think the baby must be in a bit of a growth spurt as I have been pretty achy in my belly and also really itchy like the skin is stretching.  People who haven't seen me for a couple of weeks have noticed a big difference in the last little while.  Still feeling really good though.  And super excited to be at the halfway mark, which we reached yesterday!

This week brings some exciting things - tomorrow morning we will be going for our midway ultrasound.  I can't believe it's actually here already!  When we booked it, it seemed so far away.  Can't wait to see the baby actually looking like, well, a baby.  We also start our perinatal classes at the YMCA.  We've heard really good things about the instructor, Sally, and are looking forward to being a little more prepared for this major change.

Here is the bump picture for this week.  Please excuse the lack of makeup and unkempt hair but I was at the lake...I never even bring my makeup bag there!

Week 19