Doctor Appointment Number 3

Today was another doctor's visit, and, for some reason, I still never know what to expect when I go and I am shocked by how short they are.


Anyway, I was slightly nervous, because the first time I went, I got horribly lost, and then the second appointment Jeremy drove -- and took two different ways on the way there and back -- so I was feeling nervous that I didn't REALLY know how to get there.  I mean, I had directions, but I was nervous, because, you know, it's an important appointment and the last thing I want is to be late.  Also, the first time I went and got lost, I had directions ... just the WRONG directions, so I was worried that it might happen again.


However, I got there.  AND, Jeremy called me to say he got out on lunch early so he could be back in time for an afternoon meeting, and that meant he had JUST enough time to drive over and meet me for the appointment.  It made me so happy!


At this appointment, she calmed my nerves about some of the pains I have been having (she assured me they were just ligament pains) and we got to hear the heartbeat again!!!  Here's the thing ... it sounded really strong and steady, but then it would sound like it was being interrupted by another heartbeat!!  I swear!  Jeremy even agreed with me.  But did I ask the doctor why it sounded like two heartbeats?  Noooo.  I was too excited.


I gained a few pounds since last month, but I still haven't gained back all of the 20 I lost, and she didn't say anything at all about my weight, so I am assuming all is well there.


Also, my blood pressure was 104 over 60!!!!  Isn't that really low??  Or am I just being a worrier?  I am always an exact 120 over 80 person, so that freaked me out.  But, the nurse said "Oh, that's great!"  And did I ask the doctor about it?  Nooooo.  I was too busy asking the other questions I had prepared.  Sigh.  So, now what do I do?  Wait until next month to ask about it?  Double sigh.


BUT, I get an ultrasound on April 16th at 10 AM!!!!  Jeremy and I are SOOOOOOOO excited!!  I am already counting down the days!

Maybe Something Helpful?

After reading my post on my personal blog about how I have NOTHING for the baby, my genius mom reminded me of something:  Way back in the summer of 2003, when I didn't even have a boyfriend (a month before I met Jeremy!), I found some baby girl clothes on super sale ... and bought them.  

Apparently I also bought a copy of my mom's favorite book:

Maybe I bought it to have on hand for friends who had babies and then I just threw it in with the clothes and forgot about it?  Who knows?


But again, here we are with the same problem: helpful if we have a girl, not so much for a little boy!  Also, most of them are 6-9 month clothes ... and they are also summer clothes.  I am due at the end of August.  I'm no mathematician, but that doesn't seem to add up.  Oh well.  Clothes are clothes, right?


My mom loves the story of how I brought them home and hung them in my closet until I could think of a good way to store them, but then a few weeks later my Aunt Julie came to visit and spied them ... she was horrified!  She approached my mom and said, "Is there something you need to tell me?"  When my mom told my aunt that I just bought them because I was crazy, I don't think she believed her right away!  She probably kept an eye on my stomach for a while!  Love that story.

A Decision. Finally.

Nothing that exciting, but ... we decided what to do about the stroller/car seat debacle.  Jeremy and I were seriously confused about what to do.  Travel system and then upgrade the car seat later or big convertible car seat and "regular" stroller?  We had heard so many opinions we couldn't keep it all straight in our heads.

We realized there were pros and cons to each, but we couldn't figure out which would be better for us in the long run when it comes to both finances and practicality.  We want our baby to be safe, but we have like ... no dollars to spend, so every product decision counts.  Also, we know we will get a lot of stuff from the shower, and we are SOOOO grateful for that, but we can't just count on getting all the important things from the shower.

So, anyway, we had a lovely little investigative trip to Babies R' Us yesterday, since it is the only place in our area that has more than like five display models out and they don't get mad when you play with them (and bash them into things) for hours.

We picked out our "favorites" of all the pieces and then looked at the combinations.  Based on what we picked out, we would be spending about the same money either way we decided to go, so we decided to go for the travel system and then getting a bigger car seat when the munchkin outgrows the infant seat.  That way, we get the bonus of popping the kid in and out of the car and the stroller very easily, and we can bring a sleeping kid places more easily.  I am actually hoping to be a "baby wearer" and use my sling as much as possible, but it will also be nice to have a small seat to take places, like when we are visiting someone or I am going to the grocery store.

I think what really sold us was how much we liked this travel system:

It was lighter, easier to use, more agile, had more bells and whistles AND was about $90 cheaper than any of the other nice systems.  It even has a spot to store WIPES up near the "mommy" cup holders!!  Wipes! 

I know this is not a huge decisions in the grand scheme of having a child, but it was a big decision for us, and we worked like a team to get there.  We were like pros, I have to say. :)

So here's to more big decisions to come!  I know we can do it!  

16 Week Belly Pictures

I remembered late last night to take 16 week belly pictures.  Still counts!

I guess I AM pretty big ... no wonder everyone keeps asking me if there is more than one in there!

16 Weeks and Lots of Updates

I don't know why, but sixteen weeks seems "big" to me, like a substantial marker in the land of pregnancy.  I have no facts to back up why I feel this way, but that's true for a lot of things in life.

This week the baby is probably about 5 inches long and weighs around three ounces.  The fun things growing this week are on the theme of "tiny":  toenails (!!), eyebrows and eyelashes (!!!), and all of the tiny bones in the ears -- so the baby can hear and recognize my lovely voice.  I'll have to remember to talk and sing to him/her more often.  Actually, last night Jeremy had a little conversation with the baby.  I have been having some sharp pains that come and go (the doctor says I am fine), and I got one while I was talking to Jeremy.  He asked, "baby?" and I nodded, so he got real close to my belly and said "Hey, baby, can you please stop hurting your mom?  She is working really hard to grow you, so stop that nonsense in there."  Then he kissed my belly and I melted into a tiny pool on the floor.  What a guy!


Overall, however, I am doing MUCH better than those first three dramatic months.  I don't feel "amazing," but I feel solidly "good," almost normal, and that is leaps and bounds away from all the feelings of death I was feeling only a few short weeks ago.  I guess I understand now how women say you will forget all the bad parts really quickly and get pregnant again, even if pregnancy is horrible.  So, there IS a chance this baby won't be an only child! 


In other breaking news, the "to know or not to know" debate is really gaining steam.  For those of you who don't already know, I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to know what we are having.  I want to plan and shop and decorate the nursery, and I want the baby to have SOME clothes that are not green or yellow.  Jeremy wants it to be a surprise, even though he knows surprises are at the top of my hate list.  At any rate, we both realize that the other has good reasons for feeling the way he/she does.  So ... I guess it is not really heating up so much as it is at a standstill.  Oh well.


One thing that we do seem to be in agreement with is keeping the baby's name a secret until he/she is born.  Or, rather, it is really important to me and Jeremy is willing to play along.  


AND we have a boy's name that we both really like and we are 99% sure we will use if the baby is a boy, which is VERY exciting for us, since this is the first name we have agreed on in the six years we have been discussing baby names!  Victory!  We have a name that we both like for a girl, but I have one small hang-up with it.  Jeremy's homework is to make that go away, and I will be on board for the girl's name too.  So, even if we don't learn the sex, at least I will know that the names are all ready to go and I won't have to panic when I go into labor! 


Well, that was a long post, but fun for me.  I keep trying to post more so I can use this to look back on in years to come and remember all these little things.