T minus 3 days...

until we get the keys to our new place. Inevitably, my head is exploding with all the things I've been thinking about for the last week. I'm overwhelmed and so nervous about moving but I'm also at the point where I can't wait to move. I'm in the process of making a list to sort out what needs to be done at each place and when. I'm sure I'll be adding to this post.

Old Place

Finish Packing and Organize Boxes - Despite trying our best to pack in an orderly fashion, there are boxes everywhere and it's driving me crazy. I need to try to get everything organized by room to help make the move a little easier. I also need to finish packing up the bathrooms and miscellaneous items in the bedrooms, living room and kitchen.

Good Will - Then there's the bags of things we are giving away. We seriously need to do a good will run. Maybe Monday after work.

Move - The logistics are killing me. We'll be moving some of the boxes on our own Wednesday through Sunday, in particular the fragile items, and then having the movers come on Monday (7/19) to move the bigger items, such as the bedroom set, couches, table etc.

Cleaning - I'll have to do cleaning after we finish the move next week. And then I'll probably hire someone to do the deep cleaning that is required to get our deposit back. I need to call the lady the property management suggested to get a quote and see when she can come by. We need to get the carpets professionally cleaned. I've been a little bit more proactive on this and have already made the appointment to get them cleaned for 7/26.

New Place

Painting - We will for sure be painting the living room, master bedroom and eventually the bathrooms and nursery. I say eventually for the bathrooms and nursery because I haven't figured out what color I really want to paint them and I think they can wait since they probably won't be as hard to paint since they will be lacking furniture. Torin and I picked up the paint and the supplies today. We're going for Behr's Gobi Desert (3rd down on right hand column ). We both love it! Some generous and loving friends have donated their time and energy to help me paint this Saturday on my Birthday! Hopefully we will be able to knock out both of the rooms in time for the furniture to be moved over.

(Click to make bigger)

Utilities and Mail - Torin and I split up the bills anyhow so we were responsible for contacting our respective utility company to change service to our new address and disconnect service at our current address. I called AT&T to change service to the new address and was informed that even though we are only moving 3 miles away I would have to get a new phone number. So unfortunately, I made the decision to just cancel the phone service and we will only have DSL service. So for anyone that actually calls on the house line, you've been forewarned. Torin had a simpler call to PG&E to change her service. We are set up to get service on the 14th at the new place. I've been procrastinating about forwarding our mail. I'm not sure why. I guess maybe because mail forwarding only takes you so far and it will be such a pain to tell everyone (friends, family, credit cards, etc.) about our new address.

Unpacking and Organizing - I'm sure this won't be as complicated as packing. I think I might enjoy finding places for our things. I'm also planning to throw out any stuff that I missed in our packing phase that we don't use. Hopefully, we will be able to organize it in a way that will still work 9 months down the line. I'm sure I won't want to be looking for something in the middle of the night with a crying baby.

Update: U/S pics and Belly Comparison Pic

21 weeks...into the second half of pregnancy

How far along are you? 21 weeks.


How big is baby? According to the bump...a Banana. On average babies at this stage weigh about 12.5 ounces and measure about 10.5 inches from head to toe.

Development: Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. His digestive system now functions in a rudimentary manner and those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid.Your baby can suck and swallow and may even suck his thumb.Your baby's senses are developing, especially his sense of touch. He can feel his face and stroke his arms and legs.

Maternity clothes? Yep. Still some regular shirts.


Weight – Loss or Gain? Up another .5lbs so total weight gain 8lbs.


Stretch marks? Same old same old. Keeping an eye out for any new ones.


Sleep: Better than last week.


Best moment this week: Spending time with DH.

Any Movement?: LO is active all day but I get strong movements at certain points in the day - particularly on the way to and from work (must be the drive) and for a couple hours after work. Starting to get some movement up closer to my belly button.

Food Cravings?: Still French Fries...I really do love them even when I'm not pregnant.

Food Aversions?: Still not a fan of sweets right now. Maybe I haven't really accepted it. I keep thinking about baking a cake.


Gender:? Still on team surprise. Back and forth on what we think.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What do you miss: Not having people wanting to touch me.

What are you looking forward to: Getting through this weekend and our prenatal visit next Tuesday (7/13).


What was the BEST part of this week? Getting things packed up, getting in some couple time and finding a new burger joint.

What was the WORST part of this week? Packing...I really do hate it.

Weekly Wisdom: Procrastination will get you nowhere...

Milestones?: 21 weeks...into the second half of pregnancy. 6 weeks to 3rd Tri...WTF?

Adventure Day Trip...

After packing for 2 whole days, I figured I needed to enjoy and relax for at least one day of my 3 day weekend. I told Torin we needed to go out and enjoy the day especially since it was nice outside. Also I am trying to get in as much "couple time" as we can before our baby arrives. It's harder to make time for each other as it is during baseball season so I think we definitely need to make a better effort of spending time with each other despite our busy schedules. I know it will be even harder when baby gets here and I don't want to be one of the couples that fall apart because they aren't getting their "couple time".

Anyhow, we decided to go for a drive around the area and visit one of the many local county parks. Supposedly, Charlie Chaplin and Bronco Billy both filmed their movies out here in California in a rural area not very far from where we live. Because Torin is a movie buff, he wanted to see if you could still see any of the movie sets. So, we took one of the local roads out to see if we could find one of these 90-100 year old movie sets. Well, we didn't run into anything on our drive but we did stop at a cute restaurant (with great sandwiches) in a town the size of a football field.

Instead of doing any more searching for movie sets we drove over to the wilderness park. I'll admit I'm not much of a outdoorsy person but I do enjoy seeing wildlife, learning about the area and getting some exercise. We were able to do all of the above. After stopping at the visitors center and learning about the trails, the guide convinced to complete the nature trail and Indian Joe Trail. Instead of using the paper guide we used the podcast of the nature trial tour that we downloaded prior to leaving for our little adventure. So we eagerly started out for a little outdoor adventure.

We followed the trail and stopped at certain points to listen to the woman tell us about the history of the area and plants and wildlife found there. We even ran into some wild turkeys or as Torin told me "There are large birds in the trees".

The nature trail was just under a mile which was nice however we thought we were supposed to go a different way to finish the Indian Joe trail.

But there was a closed gate in our way. Apparently we are both goody two shoed law abiding citizens because we turned away from the gate figuring we were going the wrong way. After finishing the nature trail we realized that something was wrong with the directions the guide gave us and decided to go the back way up the trail so we could see the barn and turtles. As we hiked up hill to go up the back way, we were again thwarted. Instead of running into gates we ran into cows.....several dozen cows. 

Torin spent the whole time going up the hill saying "I don't think we are supposed to be up here". So again, we turned around and went back down to the main trail. 

Since we had yet to complete a trail we decided to try looking at the map for another short trail to hike. We ended up choosing the Shady Glen trail which was a nice cool trail under the trees. 

It kind of reminded me of a perfect place to build a fort...really brought out the kid in me. 

After finishing up our hike we finished our drive pass the local reservoir. 

Interesting fact...In the 60s a plane crashed into the middle of the reservoir and wasn't found until the 90s. It is still harboring the small passenger plane to this day.

Our little loop...

 And just for kicks a few pics of us.

Halfway there....aka 20 Weeks

How far along are you? 20 weeks.


How big is baby? According to the bump...a Cantaloupe. On average babies at this stage weigh about 10.5 ounces and measure about 7.2 inches from crown to rump. Didn't get any measurements at last US but will update pictures soon.


Development: Your baby may respond to external sounds, such as the music you are listening to or your voice. Your baby has developed some red blood cells already. The white blood cells that your baby needs to fight infections are being manufactured. He is developing taste buds on his tongue. His digestive system is sufficiently advanced to absorb water and sugar from the amniotic fluid that he swallows and pass it to his large bowel. Your baby's eyes are still sealed shut. Your baby continues to grow and develop and his kicking is getting stronger now.

Maternity clothes? Same maternity pants and jeans. Received my new pants yesterday...Yay! Still in regular tops for the most part.


Weight – Loss or Gain? 180.5....so up 7.5lbs.


Stretch marks? Same old same old.


Sleep: Let's not talk about that.


Best moment this week: Seeing the babe again for the f/u anatomy scan ultrasound. I got to see the legs stretched out for the first time and the face up profile for the first time.

Any Movement?: Lots of movement at particular points in the day. Definitely not a morning baby. Apparently his/her legs and feet are down on one side of my low abdomen and the head is on the other side hence why all the movement I fee is so low. No rib kicks yet for me.

Food Cravings?: French Fries...this really isn't unusual though.

Food Aversions?: Still not a fan of sweets right now. I've come to accept it.


Gender:? Still on team surprise. We're both now thinking it's quite possible that dear baby could be a girl.

Belly Button in or out? In. Some days it feels shallower than others might be my imagination.

What do you miss: Nothing right now. I'm very thankful.

What are you looking forward to: 4th of July weekend. Even though we will probably spend most of it packing. I need the 3 day weekend.


What was the BEST part of this week? Finding a new place to live, catching up with friends we haven't seen in a while, and seeing the babe again.

What was the WORST part of this week? Torin having to work and miss seeing the babe.

Weekly Wisdom: Your pregnancy will fly by and before you know it you will have a baby...

Milestones?: 20 weeks = 5 months = halfway there!

It's official!!

It's official!

We'll be getting the keys to our new place on 7/14/10.

I'm already overwhelmed thinking about packing and moving and unpacking.

So, to distract me and because I'm a nerd at heart. Here's the floorplan of the place I created using Floorplanner.com.

First Floor

Second Floor

The joys of looking for a home...

Many moons ago, Torin and I both made the decision that once I was pregnant we would need to find a bigger place. Don't get me wrong, a 2 bedroom condo is totally feasible for raising a kid, however, we knew that wasn't going to work for us.

Back in the day (aka March 2009), when we were fantasizing about moving we looked at the listings on craigslist for 3 bedroom 2 bath homes in our area and saw dozens of places that could potentially work for us. Homes with beautiful kitchens, walk in closets, ample square footage and cute little yards with fruit trees all in our price range.

(sigh) Those were the days.

Now the listings are nothing like that. Finding anything similar to what we found in March of '09 is few and far in between. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, maybe now that I'm pregnant I'm just a little too picky or maybe because the housing market sucks and people are raising their rent so the nice properties I remember are now out of our price range. I'm not sure what it is but we've been looking off an on since we found out I was pregnant in March. We've actually gone and looked at places since May and we have run from many horror stricken. OK so that's a little bit of an exaggeration. We only ran from one maybe two horror stricken by the state of the property, most we just casually said "No, Thank you" and left. I won't go into any details on these places since many of the stories are long and drawn out. I'll summarize the bad ones as small, old, dirty and expensive. The ones that could work and we just passed on were homes that we couldn't see ourselves committing to for any length of time let alone the leasing period.

Before and after our mid pregnancy class yesterday, we visited several places on our list from craigslist. They were scattered all around our area and posed quite an adventure to get to since we decided to use Torin's GPS on his phone. Anyhow, most of the places on our list were condos or townhomes since we hadn't seen a good listing for a house in a couple of weeks. Torin wasn't too keen on moving from our condo to another condo or to a townhouse but I convinced him these places looked pretty decent, had good square footage and he wouldn't have a yard he had to deal with (a positive and negative all in one). So out of all the places that we went to only 1 was a decent match.

The only match was a 3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom, two story townhouse with a 1 car detach garage. I was instantly smitten by the look and feel of the place. It was open, airy, and homey in the you could live in it sense. However, Torin though impressed with the layout was not a fan of the appliances. They were old as dirt. No exaggeration, I think the dishwasher and microwave/stove unit may have been from when the place was first built in the late 80's or early 90's. Despite the appliances, we really liked the place and the landlord.

So pending our background check, we will officially be moving from our 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo to a 3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom, two story townhouse. And when that happens, I will officially start to panic because I hate moving and I hate packing.

Mid Pregnancy Class

Yesterday we attended our first pregnancy related class provided through our hospital. The course was a hodge podge of information related to mid pregnancy, car seat safety, diet and exercise aimed at women who were 18 to 22 weeks pregnant.From the sign in sheet, I think I was one of the least pregnant women there at 19 weeks and due in November. I believe the majority were due in October making them more like 22 to 26 weeks.

The health education nurse spent a great deal of time on the discomforts of pregnancy. The information was interesting but most if not all of the symptoms that were discussed were symptoms discussed in any pregnancy book and discomforts that most of the people in the class had already experienced or were currently experiencing.

The rest of the information was really basic. The instructor stressed the importance of having a car seat and having it professionally installed. We received some information on local places that professionally install car seats which was helpful. However, the instructor seemed a little dated on her car seat information as far as which is the safest at certain ages. The review of the food groups, serving sizes and exercise was interesting because of the displays and visual aids but as I said the information was basic and information I already know from taking a nutrition course.

Despite it being information that I was already familiar with, it was enjoyable. Torin said he enjoyed the course and learned a few things he didn't know. So it was definitely a worthwhile 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon.

Our next class isn't until August 26th. I think it will be the late pregnancy class. After that we are signed up for the childbirth prep series (4 classes), breastfeeding basics, and newborn care.

19 weeks...a day late.

How far along are you? 19 weeks.


How big is baby? According to the bump..a Mango. On average babies at this stage are 5.6 to 6.4 inches long and weigh 8.5 to 9ounces. Dear baby was roughly 6.3 inches at the US yesterday. I'm not sure how much s/he weighed.


Development: His/Her skin is thickening and developing multiple layers- the epidermis and the dermis, the deeper layer where it will form fat. Your baby is now also developing a waxy protective coating for his/her skin called vernix caseosa. The vernix protects your baby's skin which is continuously submersed in amniotic fluid. Vernix, which is particularly thick around the eyebrows is held in place by tiny downy hairs called lanugo. Your baby can now grip with her fists. Toenails and scalp hair are growing. At this point, it is be possible to determine the baby's sex by ultrasound, if the baby cooperates. You can hear the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler ultrasound device or a stethoscope.

Maternity clothes? Same maternity pants and jeans. Mom was nice enough to expand my collection of pants. (Thanks Mom!) Still in regular tops for the most part.


Weight – Loss or Gain? Hmm I didn't weigh myself after we went to visit our parents but I know I'm up a couple of pounds. We'll just say up +3 pounds to be safe.


Stretch marks? Same old same old.


Sleep: Better this week. I've figured out how to wedge my regular body pillow for optimum comfort.


Best moment this week: The first big MOVEMENT, going to the L&D department and playing with the fetal monitor. Yay for getting to hear baby again.

Any Movement?: With the aid of my mom, we were able to witness the first big MOVEMENT from baby. Since then, there have been a lot more big movements some that even shock me and take my breath away. I'm sure in a few months they will take my breath away for another reason.

Food Cravings?: Hot Dogs!! What's a barbecue without hot dogs.

Food Aversions?: Still not a fan of sweets right now. It's frustrating seeing a candy bar or cake and thinking how good it would be but not really wanting it.


Gender:? Torin still thinks boy but now is cautiously contemplating the idea that it may be a girl. I just started feeling boy but I know for sure I could be wrong. Still on team surprise however, I think Torin secretly wants to know.

Belly Button in or out? In. I'm not sure it will ever come out.

What do you miss: Nothing right now. I'm very thankful.

What are you looking forward to: Our mid pregnancy class tomorrow (6/26).


What was the BEST part of this week? Seeing my parents reaction to my growing belly, celebrating father's day with my dad, and celebrating Torin's first father's day and 29th birthday all on the same day.

What was the WORST part of this week? Hearing I have to go back in to radiology for more pictures of the baby. I'm hoping that it's just because baby was stubborn and not something serious.

Weekly Wisdom: "Some people are making such thorough preparation for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine."

Milestones?: 19 weeks...almost halfway there!

Anatomy Scan...and we have a stubborn child.

This morning we had our anatomy scan. It went fairly well. I feel bad for Torin since he had to wait in the waiting room for over 30 minutes while the tech took the pictures she needed and did all of the measurements. It seems like he should have been able to sit next to me in the chair and be quiet especially since he's seem my stomach before, but whatever.

For the most part the ultrasound was painless. The tech did really well with trying not to push down on my very full bladder. (Sidenote...Did you know that they tell you to drink 32 ounces an hour before your appointment and then not pee until after the procedure?) While the tech roamed around my belly with the transducer I zoned out and tried to think positive. I zoned out up until the point she had me roll over. Apparently dear baby was buried head down near my cervix so the tech was having some problems getting the head measurements. Despite my moving and the tech trying to move the baby, s/he was not budging. After the measurements were completed we got to see the baby for a  a little bit. The tech explained some of the anatomy and printed off a couple of pictures. My little stubborn child stayed in the same "praying" position for the whole time we got to see him/her. A few times s/he started to roll over and changed his/her mind. I think s/he knows we are team green and is helping keep it that way.

Anyhow, the radiologist is supposed to look at the pictures and get back to my doctor in the next couple of days. However, if in fact they didn't get everything they needed I'll get a call today and I will have to come back in.

Update...I have to go back in next week for another scan to get the pictures they didn't get the first time around or at least that is what they are telling me.

Our Praying Baby

And we have MOVEMENT!

So as I've said for the past few weeks, I've been feeling baby move. I've been getting taps, flutters, bubbles popping and such for a while but I always managed to doubt that I was actually feeling the baby. Well I recently had MOVEMENT from the baby that I can't deny.

Well we're down visiting our parents this weekend for father's day. My mom is supposed to help me with feeling the baby and my uterus as well as help me listen to the baby with a stethoscope. (Before going any further, I will admit that I have no idea where my uterus is right now and how it's supposed to feel.) So as I was saying, my mom helped my find my uterus (no, it wasn't missing). She showed me where it was now. I have to say that I'm quite shocked that it's only a finger's width or two underneath my belly button and off to the left.

After discovering the location of my uterus, we (really just my mom) went in search of the baby with the stethoscope. After listening and moving, and listening and moving (rinse, lather, and repeat several times for several minutes)....she doesn't come up with anything. (sigh) So she switched to just finding the baby with her hand to entice some kind of movement. Mom found baby scrunched up on the low left side of my uterus after only a few minutes. Apparently baby did not like being disturbed because just when my mom announced she found him/her the baby decided to roll to the opposite side of uterus. At the very moment the baby rolled, my mom asked if I was feeling this. Ummm.. Hell YEA!! This was the oddest sensation ever. I don't think I can even describe it. It kind of felt like when your on an elevator (or roller coaster) and your stomach drops except imagine that feeling sticking and rolling from one side of your stomach to the other like a bowling ball. Anyhow, mom watched as baby roll from one side to the other. She could actually see it from the outside.

At this point Mom suggested going to "play" at the hospital. I'm lucky she's a L&D nurse at a small community hospital. We (Mom, Torin, and I) drove over to the hospital and went to one of the labor rooms. I was strapped up to the fetal monitor which measures baby's heart rate and contractions. It took awhile for Mom to find a consistent heartbeat solely because dear baby was jumping around and wasn't still enough to keep it. Mom says the baby did not like all the noise of it's own heartbeat...I'll just have to take her word for it. Anyhow, we got to hear, feel and see a bunch of kicks or punches and flips. I actually got to see my stomach move for the first time.

So with the aid of my mom (aka Nana), I was able to really feel the baby. She was able to get baby up and ready to play. Baby has spent the last few hours moving away in there.

Midwife visit #3...

We had our third midwife visit this past Tuesday. I should have the written the post out Tuesday, but I was too irritated with the whole appointment to blog about it.

Let's see the whole thing started off badly. We always request for the first or second appointment of the morning since we both have to commute at least 30-45 minutes to work and it's a hassle for both of our schedules to try to get off early to come to an appointment.

So...we scheduled this appointment for 9:15am, the second appointment of the morning. We get there at 9:10 and wait to be checked in. Of course I get in the line where the woman doesn't realize 5 people (ok just 3) are standing behind her and wants to call all of her husband's telephone numbers to check and see if she can take this appointment. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about having your husband there with you and checking his schedule but don't you think you can be a little considerate of the people behind you and write down some dates and then talk to your husband or call your husband and figure out his schedule before you get in line?

Hmmm...maybe that is way too much to ask of people. Anyhow, the minutes continue to tick by and by the time I actually check in it's 9:25. I'm not terribly behind schedule and it's only a 15 minute appointment it shouldn't take them that long to call me back. WRONG. It took the nurse(CNA, whatever) another 20 minutes to pick up my paperwork (9:45) and another 15 minutes to call me back into the room to get my vitals checked (10:00) and request my urine sample.

While checking my vitals, she asks if I have the lab form for the second part of the integrated prenatal screening. I tell her no and she begins to look for it. I guess at this point she couldn't find it since she stopped looking and told me to go the exam room. In the exam room, she enters all the information and does a dip strip test on my urine. Before leaving the exam room, she tells us that it will be another 10-15 minutes before the midwife would be in since she is still seeing another patient.

WTF...Are you serious right now? Who the hell is she seeing? The 9:00 patient still or have they moved on and started seeing the later patients? By this point I'm livid (I really should write a separate post about my temper these days) and pacing in the little ass exam room. I was irritated enough that Torin actually got up and proceeded to dance with me in the room just to calm me down. Gotta love the man especially since he hates dancing.

Anyhow, promptly at 10:15 the midwife walks in...no apologies for running late...just hi how you doing like we haven't been waiting an hour to see you. The rest of the visit was uneventful. The baby had a steady heartbeat in the high 150s again. I'm (aka my uterus is) measuring on track, there's no protein or sugar in my urine (yes I had to ask) and my weight gain is good. She tried to figure out why the last midwife wanted me to change my ultrasound scan that was scheduled for next week...Lady I have no idea.

I was also told I needed to get labs drawn for the second part of the fully integrated prenatal screening. She went off to get me a new form when she realized I didn't have one with me.(Apparently they lost my form before and had to fill out a new one.) Of course, the midwife wanted me to do it that day since I was already here and have time. I really wanted to reply "Umm...I really don't have time. I would have had a lot more time if y'all weren't messing around for an hour." (sigh) But instead I was passive aggressive about my complaint and said I would try to stop by the lab today but I really didn't expect to be here for over an hour especially since my appointment was scheduled for 15 minutes. Her response...I know, I'm sorry.

18 Weeks down...22 to go?

As I said last week, the fatigue and exhaustion are slowly disappearing, however, I have a shit load of housework to do. I just barely unpacked from our trip to Texas, there are dishes flowing out of the sink and lets not even talk about the mountain of laundry Torin and I both have. (sigh) I can't wait until we move so I can pack and get a fresh start on being clean in a new (well not necessarily new) and bigger place. I'm not sure how we managed it but we outgrew our large 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo. I blame it on lack of storage space. We have a nice amount of square footage but little to no storage areas. Although, I'm sure Torin would disagree on lack of storage and blame it on us having to much stuff (which I won't fully deny). With our expectations it might be hard to find a bigger place to rent, we might not be moving during our ideal time period June, July, first part of August. We might just have to move later or we might have to suck it up and stay until the baby gets older and we find a place we want to stay for awhile. Anyhow...on to the survey. I'll be sure to include some development aspects this time around.


How far along are you? 18 weeks aka the start of the 5th month...


How big is baby? According to the bump..a sweet potato. On average babies at this stage are 5.2 to 6 inches long and weigh 7 ounces.


Development: The buds for the permanent teeth are forming behind those that have already developed for the first teeth. Your baby's nervous system and brain development continue at a spectacular pace. By this week, your baby's motor neurons, which connect muscle to the brain, have grown into place so that your baby can consciously direct her movements. They will spend hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon. Your baby's ears are now placed on the sides of her head and her limbs are now in proportion. Your baby's tiny foot is just one inch long, but is in perfect proportion to the rest of her leg. Your baby can hear your voice and recognize it.

Maternity clothes? Been wearing the the maternity pants and jeans most days. Have a couple of maternity tanks that I wear with my layers but still in regular tops.


Weight – Loss or Gain? +3.5lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. I'm down 1.5lbs since last week. Yay for pooping. Plus the swelling went down. According to Dr. I'm up 5 pounds total. I tend to disagree but that's a whole other topic.


Stretch marks? Same old same old.


Sleep: Hit or Miss. Some days it's divine other days I'm not sure I'm actually getting any sleep.


Best moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat. Absolutely love hearing it. Celebrating my 3 year anniversary with Torin.

Any Movement?: As my mom has deemed, I have a lazy baby...s/he only makes his/her presence known after I have eaten. But once I eat it's like constant movement for a couple of hours. Apparently, I was the opposite I would move all the time before food to let my mom know I was hungry and then crash and sleep after she ate. Oh yea, I think I may have felt something from the outside. I feel like I imagined it. Torin is too impatient to sit and wait with me for any outside movements.

Food Cravings?: Nothing really.

Food Aversions?: Still not a fan of sweets right now. It's disappointing when work has donuts and muffins instead of bagels on Fridays.


Gender:? Torin still thinks boy but now is cautiously contemplating the idea that it may be a girl. I just started feeling boy but I know for sure I could be wrong. Still on team surprise. The idea to find out and just not tell anyone was nixed immediately by Torin.


Belly Button in or out? In. I'm not sure it will ever come out. I think it may have gotten deeper.


What do you miss: Still...not being so emotional. I had a meltdown last weekend that had Torin worried.

What are you looking forward to: Our anatomy scan/gender reveal secret ultrasound next week (6/24) and our mid pregnancy class next Saturday (6/26)


What was the BEST part of this week? Hearing babies heartbeat (needed some reassurance), celebrating anniversary, the fact that both my docs are gone for a week.

What was the WORST part of this week? 1.) The hour wait for my prenatal appointment. WTH did I make the appointment for 9:15 if I wasn't going to be seen until 10:15?? 2.) The fact that everyone in my office is gone on vacation except me.

Weekly Wisdom: Patience is a virtue. I never really had it before pregnancy but I sure as hell need to learn it quickly!

Milestones?: 18 weeks...almost halfway there!

Belly Pic: From the Front

Belly Pic: From the Side

17 weeks...

So I'm starting to feel better. Since the fatigue and exhaustion is slow disappearing I think I should venture away from only completing my weekly posts or at least add a little more to the weekly posts.

This last week has been interesting since I went to a family wedding in Dallas for an extended weekend. My bump is actually there (as you saw in previous post). It gives my mom the giggles and makes my aunts and uncles super happy since my nickname is belly. Traveling wasn't as hard as I thought. I was able to bring a water bottle on the plane (32 oz) and the flight attendants were always accommodating and nice to fill it up on each plane (we had a connection so a total of 4 planes). I wasn't as good about drinking water the last few days I was there and that combined with the food I was eating and the heat led to little sausage feet. My feet were killing me by the time we got back to CA. They're back to normal now and I've been extra good about drinking more water.

How far along are you? 17 weeks


How big is baby? According to the bump..an onion. =)


Maternity clothes? Been wearing the the maternity pants and jeans most days. Can still fit in most of my regular pants but definitely not as comfortable.


Weight – Loss or Gain? +5lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. Yes you read that correctly I gained 3 lbs in one week. I blame the delicious but unhealthy food I had on my 5 day trip, the swelling I've been having and the fact that I can't remember the last time I have pooped.


Stretch marks? Same old same old.


Sleep: Horrible but considering that I slept in 4 beds in 7 days I think it was probably not as bad as I thought it was.


Best moment this week: Seeing my extended family. Everyone is SUPER excited about the baby.


Any Movement?: Apparently the babe likes care rides or Sonic Freezes. Not sure which one...but s/he was moving all around vibrating, tapping, rolling throughout the whole trip from Dallas to Houston (roughly 4 hours).

Food Cravings?: Bagels with jalapeno cream cheese, burgers with jalapenos....yes I think I may be starting a theme with spicy food.

Food Aversions?: It's not a super strong aversion but I'm noticing that I really don't crave anything sweet like I used to. I was the first to get cake at work functions now I'm the first to pass. If I do get something sweet like ice cream....I never finish it.


Gender:? Torin still thinks boy. I'm starting to get that feeling but we won't be finding out until delivery. In the back of my mind I still wonder if we should find out and just not tell anyone.


Belly Button in or out? In


What do you miss: Still...not being so emotional. I'm high, I'm low, I'm sad, I'm pissed, I'm happy...all in the span of 5 minutes. It's pretty f'ing ridiculous. I feel bad for Torin since he is usually the one dealing with the swings.

What are you looking forward to: Our appointment next week (6/15) and our 3 year anniversary (6/16).


What was the BEST part of this week? Seeing my mom. Looking at the pictures and realizing I really look pregnant.

What was the WORST part of this week? 1.) The whole deal surrounding the wedding. 2.) Seeing the pictures and realizing that not only do I look pregnant...but thinking that I look sort of fat also.

Weekly Wisdom: Think Positive!

Milestones: 17 weeks, almost halfway there!!

The Belly Comparison...

I've been somewhat diligent about taking belly shots at least every 2 weeks but I've been too lazy/tired to get them off my camera, on to Picasa, and then on to my blog. I finally found the energy/time to do all of that. So here's a belly pic comparison from weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 clothed and unclothed. Please excuse the dirty mirror in one or two of the pics.

I figure that since I've "popped" and you can now easily tell I'm pregnant that I might should at least do pictures every week. Not sure if that will actually happen but I will try to aim for every 2 weeks at the very least.

16 Weeks..

How far along are you? 16 weeks


How big is baby? According to the bump..an avocado. =)


Maternity clothes? Been wearing the the maternity pants and jeans most days. Can still fit in most of my regular pants but definitely not as comfortable.


Weight – Loss or Gain? +2lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. Only a half a pound up from last week.


Stretch marks? Same old same old.


Sleep: Pretty Ridiculous...DH has offered to buy a snoogle. I think deep down he's hoping that it will help me sleep better and subsequently he can sleep better.


Best moment this week: Feeling the babe.


Any Movement?: Felt light tapping and rolling after going to the bathroom at about 5 in the morning. Hard to go back to sleep after that. Nothing but light flutters here and there since then.

Food Cravings?: Sushi =(

 Food Aversions?: Nothing at the moment.


Gender:? DH still thinks boy. I'm starting to get that feeling but we won't be finding out until delivery.


Belly Button in or out? In


What do you miss: Not being so emotional. I was pretty miserable the whole 3 day weekend. Stupid pregnancy hormones!

What are you looking forward to: Seeing my extended family this weekend.


What was the BEST part of this week? See above...Feeling the babe.

What was the WORST part of this week? Dealing with David's Bridal. I swear they must hire incompetent people at all of the stores.

Weekly Wisdom: Never say never and never judge another mother/parent. You never know what you will be dealt.

Milestones: 16 weeks!!

15 weeks...

How far along are you? 15 weeks


How big is baby? According to the bump..a navel orange. =)


Maternity clothes? Been wearing the the maternity pants and jeans most days. Can still fit in most of my regular pants but definitely not as comfortable.


Weight – Loss or Gain? +1.5lbs from pre-pregnancy weight.


Stretch marks? Same ones from HS/college.


Sleep: Having a hard time getting comfortable and staying asleep...it's getting pretty sucky.


Best moment this week: Attending the Black and White ball


Any Movement?: Nothing but light flutters here and there.


Food Cravings?: Hot dogs.

Food Aversions?: Nothing at the moment.


Gender:? Torin still thinks boy. I'm starting to get that feeling but we won't be finding out until delivery.


Belly Button in or out? In


What do you miss: Still seeing my husband...we're trying to make it work.


What are you looking forward to: A 3 day weekend...I need the rest.


What was the BEST part of this week? That it's finished...

What was the WORST part of this week? The way my feet felt after the ball.

Weekly Wisdom: Smile and Nod.

Milestones: 15 weeks!!

You have to indulge yourself some times right???

Here's my dinner from In-N-Out Burger. A Double Double (Animal Style), french fries (well-done) and a vanilla shake. I'm sure I will regret this in the morning but it will be oh so delicious. Definitely one of the best things about California.

14 weeks...

How far along are you? 14 weeks

How big is baby? According to the bump..a lemon. Making it right through the fruits! =)

Maternity clothes? Been wearing the the maternity pants 3 out of 5 days of working. But they are still a little too big.

Weight – Loss or Gain? Fluctuates +/- 2lbs from pre-pregnancy weight.

Stretch marks? Same ones from HS/college.

Sleep: Up at least 3 times a night to pee and having a hard time getting comfortable.

Best moment this week: Our second prenatal visit.

Any Movement?: I felt a definite vibration/flutter right where the babe was hanging out at
about 2 in the morning (it woke me up) but nothing but light flutters here and there since then.

Food Cravings?: Nothing at the moment. But I'm definitely enjoying this kettle corn we picked up at the mall.

Food Aversions?: Nothing at the moment.

Gender?: Torin still thinks boy. I'm starting to get that feeling but we won't be finding out until delivery.

Belly Button in or out? In

What do you miss: Seeing my husband...with my exhaustion and his work schedules we've been out of wack for the last couple of weeks.

What are you looking forward to: The Black and White Ball this weekend.

What was the BEST part of this week? Finding a dress for the Black and White ball that enhances and doesn't make me look fat.

What was the WORST part of this week? 1.) Getting outed at work. 2.)The endless questions. I hate talking about myself so all of the questions surrounding me, dh, and our baby are getting somewhat obnoxious. But I know it's because people care and/or are excited for us. 3.) Dress shopping for the Black and White Ball

Weekly Wisdom: People will be/are genuinely happy for you when you tell them you are pregnant. It's an exciting time and it allows them to be a part of your life. It also provides a point for people to reflect on their time being pregnant.

Milestones: 14 weeks!!

Prenatal Visit...

Our second monthly visit went well.

At check in I was asked for a urine sample. WTH?? I don't carry urine around with me and no I'm sorry I don't have to go to the bathroom right now. I just went 15 minutes ago before I came to the appointment. I know you're thinking well you should have known that they would want a sample since all the baby books mention that you will be screened to make sure your not spilling sugar and/or protein in your urine. I would have been well prepared for this moment but no one and I mean NO ONE told me I needed to A.) not use the bathroom before coming to the appointment or B.) if I were to use the bathroom to bring a urine sample in, at my last appointment or at my reminder call. The check in woman and a nurse were kind enough to remind me without questioning me and provide me with a specimen cup and bag just in case I could not wait until I come to the doctor for next time.

All of my visits are set up with nurse practitioners. We set it up that way at the first visit and I think I'm enjoying that decision. If you're wondering why I didn't opt to continue care with my OB/GYN, here's the reason. She's nice, don't get me wrong, but all of my visits with her are straight to the point, no real room for small talk or questions for that matter. I leave with the feeling of how it must be after a one night stand... you know...wham, bam, thank you ma'am, now can you leave because I have things to do. Anyhow, we met with a different nurse practitioner. I like her but not nearly as much as the first one but that is besides the point. She asked how we were both doing, explained what she was going to be doing in this 15 minute visit (really all I get is 15 minutes??). She did an ultrasound so we could see the babe (Hi Baby!!) and found the heart rate (159 bpm). The fluid level was a little low so she reminded me I needed to drink at least 4 ounces every hour. So...I guess that would be roughly 96 ounces of water per day. I definitely need to drink more then. I'm barely getting in 64 ounces of water a day.

It definitely is amazing to see the changes in development. Right before the NP finished with the ultrasound I asked her if she would be doing the measurements. She seemed kind of taken aback that I wanted measurements this far into the pregnancy. I had to explain to her that from the time we found out about this pregnancy they've been doing measurements and for you to just say hey look at the babe with no measurements is kind of a shock and provides us with no real context on how our child is doing and growing. I think she got the point and did measurements after that with no further questions. The babe is growing on track, just a couple of days ahead right now. I know genetics will kick in pretty soon and the measurements will be worthless but for right now I need the reassurance that everything is going smoothly.

I also had to ask her for her to find the heartbeat on the doppler so that we could actually hear the heartbeat. She wasn't as surprised by this request since she did only do the heartbeat on the ultrasound ( ala ekg style) and we couldn't hear it. She was nice enough to even suggest that we record it and waited patiently while we fumbled around for our cell phones to find a recorder. Now I can hear the whoosh whoosh sound of my baby's heartbeat any time I want. It's such a beautiful sound.

Our next prenatal appointment is in 4 weeks (6/15 the day before our anniversary) with the original NP.