Last week's appointment

It went well. Still measuring 2 weeks ahead. So I now have an ultrasound scheduled to make sure the Little One is okay and to try to pin point why I'm measuring ahead. They know exactly when he was conceived as they assisted so we aren't off on the dates.

I did pass the 1 hour glucose test, which I'm happy about. Although the glucola wasn't as bad as I was lead to believe. Kinda tasted like a sweeter version of the soda Crush.

He's definitely developing a bit of a personality. I had to laugh about a week and a half ago. I brought up the highlights from the Bruins game on my laptop as Mike missed most of the game. He was pretty quiet until I hit play on the video. He started moved around like crazy. I think his French-Canadian ancestry will be showing through.

He's also gotten more active and stronger lately with his kicks/flailing.

Anyways, I figured I should post an update. About 11 weeks left until my due date. It's hard to believe the time has just flown by.

Almost down to double digits!

We have about 102 days left before this Little One is born. It's exciting and scary at the same time.

My last doctor's appointment went well, more or less. His heart rate was in the 150s. He was kicking away like normal. I got to hear him kicking on the doppler at the same time as feeling him which was pretty neat. My blood pressure was really good. It looks like I've finally gotten my nerves under control. My weight gain is normal (about 10-13 pounds total so far).

The only thing my NP is concerned about is when she measured my belly/uterus is that I'm measuring about 2 weeks ahead. On Tuesday, I should have been measuring at 25 weeks but was measuring at 27 weeks. We'll see how I measure at my next appointment. If I'm still measuring ahead, I'll be getting another ultrasound to make sure that I don't have too much fluid. It explains why I've been feeling so big lately.

The good thing is that I'm starting to feel him a ton. I've even seen my belly move outwards when he kicks. Mike was able to see it happen this morning.

My next appointment is in just over 2 weeks (it was moved up a week). I'll have my glucose screening done at that appointment. I also have appointments scheduled through the end of May (also kinda scary).

I've also have a few Braxton Hicks contractions. I've been expecting to start experiencing them so they didn't me by surprise. It's a weird sensation. As long as I don't have 4 or more within a span of an hour, I'm good for the time being. I keep telling our Little One that he isn't done cooking yet and he needs to stay in there until at least the end of April so I can get 12 weeks at home with him.

We've reached V Day!

Also known as viability! I want him to stay in there for at least the next 14-16 weeks. I'm not quite ready for him to come out yet.

From one of my pregnancy website/emails that I get each week:

Your baby's the size of a cantaloupe!

At week 24, your baby's see-through skin is gradually becoming less translucent and is starting to look more opaque, like your own, but with the beauty of a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed. Plus, he's getting heavier and now weighs 12.7 to 20.8 ounces. He's 10.5- to 11.8 inches long now, too -- nearly an entire foot!

There's a lot happening inside baby as well, and while his lungs have developed, they couldn't work outside of the womb yet. But the fact that his lungs are fully formed means that he's closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world!

I think I'll continue posting these for the next few months. We'll see. Till next week.

Daycare has been figured out!

Mike and I went and toured our first (and only place I looked into online) daycare facility yesterday morning. We really like the facility and it helps that it is really close to our house. And I know a couple families that send/sent their kids there. I mailed in our registration form this morning, and we should get one of the few spots remaining for the fall. There is a very good chance that friends of ours will have their newest addition to their family with ours.

I've also started feeling him kick a lot more. It has been mostly on my sides or the lower part of my stomach. The problem with the placenta being in the way is it mutes many of the kick feelings. Orange Juice gets him moving a lot more. Mike was finally able to feel him this morning. I was feeling him kick in a few spots so I grabbed Mike's hand and put it on my side. Mike had a surprised look and asked me what was that. He then got to feel him kick a few more times. Mike told me that feeling him makes it feel a bit more real.

He's definitely starting to get stronger with his kicks (course I can't tell what is a foot and what is a hand). I did have to yell at him to stop kicking my bladder this morning. A few of those jabs hurt. I haven't really been able to figure out his waking/sleeping schedule. Hopefully as he gets bigger and stronger I'll be able to tell.

Well, not much else to report. My next appointment is in about a week and a half. It's amazing how quickly the time is passing. June will be here before I know it!

We're officially signed up for all the classes that we want to take as well as the hospital tour/meet the doctors. My OB is one of many potential doctors that could deliver our little one. They are on a rotating schedule so they have a night where you get to meet all of them. We're also taking a tour of the L&D area of Beth Israel after the meet the doctor's part of the evening. This way, we'll know where to go, where to park and have a little familiarity come June.

The classes that we are signed up for are:
-Prepared Childbirth (4 weeks, total of 12 hours of information)
-Caring for your Newborn (1 night, 3 hours). It's been awhile since I've helped take care of a newborn and even then, I was about 10 at the time that Cabe was born.

I also signed up for a Breast Feeding class (1 day, 2.5 hours).They also offer a class after you deliver but everything I've read or heard recommends taking a class before hand.

Everything is slowly coming together. June is going to be here before I know it.

20 week appointment

I had my 20 week appointment a few days ago. Everything is looking good and our little one is measuring right on track. I'm still not feeling him move that often, or if I am, I'm not attributing it to him. My OB told me not to worry as first time mom's tend to feel the baby move more towards 22-24 weeks. The heart beat was measuring in the 150s and he was being very active as I heard him moving around and kicking through the doppler.

It's hard to believe that I'm past the halfway mark. I'm definitely starting to show.

Here's me at 12 weeks (11/28), with just a tiny little bump and still being able to fit into regular clothes.

And here's me at 20 weeks (1/23), with a much more noticeable bump and definitely not fitting into regular clothes anymore.

It's amazing the difference in just 8 weeks.

School starts up again tomorrow with my last class before I get my paralegal certificate and in just 2 short months, I'll be going from monthly appointments to two times a month. June will be here before I know it!

It's a Boy!

We had our anatomy scan this morning and we found out that we are having a boy! Now comes the fun part of picking out names.

Heart rate was clocked at 142. And he weighs approximately 11 ounces.

I've been kinda selective up until now for the amount of pictures I've posted. Since this is most likely the last ultrasound we'll be getting for at least the foreseeable future. I'm posting all of them. I'll do my best to describe what you are looking at.

 Profile picture - upper body for the most part. His hands are more or less hidden.

He is definitely a boy. Mike was able to quickly guess what we are having based on this shot.

Foot! It's so cool to see all the tiny little bones.

Another foot. He had woken up by this point and was being a little difficult with his moving. So the picture is just a tad blury.

3D picture of his head, plus an arm and a foot. Not sure which is what anymore which is why I didn't label this picture.

Another semi-uncooperative picture. She was trying to get a 3D capture so we could see his whole face but he was having none of that. I labeled his hand which is covering his face. And you can see part of an eye next to his hand.

I find out the full results next week at my monthly OB appointment, which I'll be half baked at that point (20 weeks). But everything is looking good. Everything is where it is supposed to be. Which makes me happy. I still haven't been able to feel him unless we're both in the exact right position. I believe the tech said that the placenta is in front, which would explain why I can't feel him. Plus he still has a bunch of room.

It's hard to believe that in 5 short weeks, we'll hit viability. That will make me much less nervous, gotta love the infertility brain still playing with me.

Anyways, will post another update in a week or so. We are so excited, especially since we can start referring to him as a "him" and no longer as "it."

I received the results from the NT scan and related blood work and everything looks normal! I was pretty sure that would be the case but was still a little nervous till I got my results.

I finally broke down the other day and purchased a bunch of maternity clothes. Surprisingly enough shopping for maternity wear is 10x easier than regular clothes shopping. That kinda surprised me. I'm also officially out at work. So far only my manager know as I'm not going to be able to hide the little bump that I have for much longer.

Mike's and my "job" starting in the next few weeks is to start the researching process on items that we need for the little one. I started a registry on Amazon the other day but so far haven't added anything yet. I'm a little overwhelmed at all the choices and various options but know that once I get started it'll be a lot better. I just have to bit the bullet and take that first step.

I hope everyone has had a happy holidays. Mike and I wish all of you a Happy New Year!

My blood pressure yesterday was normal. So i think it is just nerves that is throwing it off. Also my lab work on Friday came back normal.

I'll finally get the results from the screening that i did a month ago this week as they put me down for the more extensive testing (less false positives) and i got the last blood work done yesterday. So I'm hoping to have that by the end of the week. The good news is that my NT scan looked very good.

A couple more weeks and we'll be having our anatomy scan. Provided the little one cooperates, we will know of we well be having a boy or a girl. Then Mike and I can start discussing names.

12/21 appointment

Went well other than my blood pressure being elevated. Got a bunch of lab work done and am now going back on Monday for a blood pressure check and more blood work. They are being overly cautious, which I'm fine with.

Heart rate sounded good. Heard the little one kicking away. I should be able to start feeling him/her in a few weeks. Still haven't gained any weight.

Now if I could only get rid of this cold/sinus thing that i have I'll be very happy. Have the list of approved drugs and I've been taking them.

More most likely on Monday.