Hello...my name will be...

Feeling the Baby Move

So I have felt those little kicks and flutters for a few weeks now. I mostly feel them when I am sitting on the couch or at my desk at work. They are those little movements that make you think - OK, she's doing fine, she's awake, etc. A dad though rarely gets to feel those same things.

Well yesterday we were lying in bed and she was kicking pretty frequently and pretty hard. So despite J's snoring I rolled over and asked him if he was awake and did he want to feel his daughter kicking. J, loving every moment of this baby thing said sure and so I positioned his hand and within just a few seconds he said "there"? Sure enough, he felt a kick. He got about 4-5 of these in and it was fun. It was our topic of discussion for the rest of the day.

Teaching Bear

So J and I have been told by many how our lives will change forever and that there is nothing we can do to prepare for this change. At least we know of this unknown. We know approximately when this change will take place and that we need to mentally prepare for this unexpected change. Its Bear though I feel sorry for. There is nothing we can do to explain to him how much his world is going to change. We can't really prepare him for the change that will come to his life. He will not be the only thing we care about besides each other. I feel so bad that I can't do more for him. :(

Tre is a SHE

Today we went to the doctor and found out that Tre is a SHE. As much as J had said he didn't want to know, when it came down to it, he did. So we took a close look and determined that our little Blackie is a girl. Her are some pics of our little beauty :)

These are her hands and her arms and that is her body and the right side of the photo.

That is her butt on the right side of the picture and her legs extend to the left side of the picture. If you look close you can see her toes on the far left of the picture.

Those are just her little feet and toes wiggling hello at us.

That is her head and her body. You can fully see her eyes and her ribs. In case you still don't know what you are looking at, the round part on the left is her head and the right is her abdomen and body.

Now we just have to wait another 20 weeks to meet her...so sad.

Week 11 thoughts - warning a very borning post!

So I am 11w5d (11 weeks, 5 days) for those that don't know pregnancy shorthand. I have chronicled much about the past six weeks because this has been the most uneventful pregnancy I've ever heard of. I've had no morning sickness, I've no real moodiness (other than my normal moodiness), and no real cravings. All in all I am having a wonderful pregnancy.

J is also enjoying the pregnancy (I think). He is extremely excited and embracing it all. He started reading his baby books that he lost for a few weeks. He also keeps me in check about any paranoia that I might have. He takes the time out to help out more around the house, etc.

St. Patrick's Day this year will mark a different milestone than any before. It will be the first day of my second trimester. Yea - only 2 weeks away. But, we will still go out for St. Patrick's Day because when have we not? I will just be drinking green lemonade, not green beer - haha!

Unoffical Baby Registry - The Playard

So I've begun reading the book Best Baby Gear and I am happy to say that the stroller I want was featured in the book. I was skipping around and I somehow came across chapter 16 - playards and read the chapter (I've been skipping around since they are organized alphabetically, not based on importance) and I found the playard I think would be perfect for our future little man (or woman):
I love the fact that it has the built in storage compartment in the front and the way that it folds then has a pull up handle and it drags, similar to a pull behind suitcase. I think that it is just what we need for travel to and from both grandmas' houses and our home...wherever that may be once our little baby is born.

Chinese Gender Chart

According to this Chinese gender predictor chart...we are having a girl. We will see in September!

Unoffical Baby Registry - Diaper Clutch

So I love Etsy, but I've never bought anything from it. I love all the beautiful things that are on it for babies and mommies. I particularly like this diaper clutch:

Unoffical Baby Registry - Crib sheets

J loves monkeys and thus that love has rubbed off a bit on me. We have agreed that we want a monkey themed nursery. If that is indeed the case, then this set is ideal:

Unofficial Baby Registry - Stroller

Ok, so I am not going to begin an official registry until the first trimester is over (half way there :) ), but I began some baby wants a long time ago. The first thing on this list is something that I fell in love with the moment I saw it.

I think I like the green one best, but I like the blue, the red and the orange as well. I for sure don't like the yellow or the cream. And I like the concept of the "mood" patterns but when looking at them up close, I am not a fan!

Today I told my coworkers and everyone else...

So I sat there and debated and debated during our development meeting today about whether to tell my team about being pregnant. After thinking about the pros and cons of telling them, I finally decided to tell the team. Then were more than excited.

J took this as a sign that it was time to tell everyone, so J proceeded to call family, friends, and any facebook friend. Needless to say, its out there. We are pregnant. Now we just need to cross our fingers and hope that all is OK.

The issues and the joys of Week 5

So I am quite happy that I don't seem to have the bad symptom of the first trimester yet (knock on wood) - nausea. But, I do have the frequent need to pee - perhaps because of my diligence with drinking 2 liters of water while at work. My sense of smell is incredibly heightened - I can smell everything and it all seems to be annoying, not nauseating, just annoying.

I also have one rather odd symptom, that maybe I am just exaggerating in my mind or its actually because I am pregnant - I am farting a lot. I hope its just because of the soup I made, but it needs to stop.

Other than that, little Blackie (as we like to call the fetus, because last week he was the size of a poppy seed and a poppy seed is black - I don't know, ask my sister) reminds me all day long that he is around. I feel the pains of his growth and the exhaustion that his growth brings to me.

No celebration yet with J. I think he doesn't want to embrace the idea completely until he feels confident in the pregnancy and can share it with others. He does refer and talk about Blackie often, which is cute.

Oh and BTW, my nurse appointment was changed to the 4th - ugh - I have to wait another week!

So we found out we are pregnant!

After just three months of trying, J and I found out on Friday during lunch that we are pregnant! I couldn't be happier. I wished Joe had seemed a bit more excited, but I guess it was a lot to take in. There is a difference between saying we are ready and actually having the facts face us straight in the eye sitting on the sink pedestal. Hopefully when he gets home tonight, his excitement will be a bit more obvious.

I spent the weekend of the news with my sister and mother. They both seemed happy, but not the way I am...jumping from the mountain tops and shouting that I am pregnant. I have been told since I was 15 that I will be a great mother. I am just so excited and I want the few people that know to be just as excited.

We have our first appointment with the nurse practitioner on the 29th and our first ultra sound on the 19th. I am excited for both and glad that J will be coming with me. I want to be involved at every step of the way.

As for things that are happening to my body - my breasts are tender, my sense of smell is crazy high and I am hungry - all the time. I am already bored with what to drink though. Its going to be a long many months!