IT'S A GIRL!!!

Teirney and I are thrilled! We both thought she was a he, as did most of our family, but we are so excited to add another girl to the family (on my side, it's 10 to 1...poor Jackson)! The ultrasound went extremely well and the tech (later confirmed by the midwife) said everything looks great and perfectly normal. She is measuring right on time and weighs 12 ounces, which the tech said was excellent. Her heart rate was 150 bpm.

She was extremely active very early this morning (she is obviously a daddy's girl since it appears she is a morning person just like him). I felt her more than I ever had, so today was a very big day for her. And to make it even more special, she decided she would let daddy be able to feel her kick this morning. Yep, Teirney felt her for the first time this morning. That was very exciting!

All the morning activity must have tuckered her out because she was sleeping during the ultrasound, so we didn't get to see too much activity. We did see her have the hiccups and she was putting her hand in her mouth. At the beginning of the ultrasound, she had her feet above her head so the tech was able to check the gender, but shortly thereafter she curled up into a ball for the rest of the ultrasound, so we wouldn't have been able to see what we were having had the tech not checked right away (thank goodness).

Teirney ended up having to work this afternoon, so we didn't get to go shopping together for her like we had planned, but we intend to do some this weekend together. Now, I need to find girl bedding I like. :-)

I know you're probably wondering if we've picked a name yet. We have, however, we're not sharing until she is born -- we had to keep some element of surprise alive. :-) So until then, she will now be referred to as "Bebita," instead of Bebito (so sorry for the confusion -- Teirney insists we be technical).

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Public Service Announcement from Teirney himself:

In spanish, words that end with "o" are either masculine or gender-neutral. Words that end with "a" are feminine. There are some exceptions, but I won't get into those. Because we did not know the gender of our baby until now, Bebito was the appropriate name. However, now that we know the gender, it would be very strange to continue to call our baby "Bebito" - it would essentially be like calling our little girl "little baby boy." So, by changing one letter, we are now appropriately referring to our child as "little baby girl." Please keep in mind that I will not be very happy if I ever hear my daughter being referred to as "Bebito." Thank you.

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Here are some pictures from the ultrasound of our sweet little angel baby.






Dear sweet Bebita, thank you so much for cooperating for mommy and daddy today. You did such a good job and I think I will reward you with an ice cream cone tonight...mmmm. You are so beautiful and we cannot wait until we can hold you in our arms...but please stay cozy and warm in there for several more months because we want you to stay healthy. You are our precious baby girl and we love you so, so much! Daddy is very excited to be having his daddy's girl. :-) We love you. xoxo


Week 20: "Banana"

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery). (http://www.babycenter.com/)

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Mmmm...banana...I actually had one of those today. So sorry, Bebito.

Well, I've officially reached the halfway point -- woohoo! It's quite surreal and will probably feel even more surreal on Thursday when we get to see the little munchkin. Yep, just 2 more days until the big ultrasound. I can barely think about anything else. But I'm trying my best not to get overly excited in the event Bebito doesn't show us what he/she is made of. Teirney is hoping to be able to take Thursday afternoon off work. The ultrasound is at 11:00 a.m., so we'll probably have a celebratory lunch and hopefully do a little shopping for Bebito afterward (can't wait for that). I have to admit though, I'm a little nervous about the ultrasound. It's the 20 weeks scan so they check the baby to make sure it is growing normally and on schedule, as well as make sure there are no signs of abnormalities. We just pray for a healthy baby, but no matter what Bebito will have all of our love!

I've been feeling a little better this week. Although, I did get sick twice this morning...hard to believe that is still happening -- I'm more than ready to be done with that part of the pregnancy. Here is the usual 20 week picture -- one in "uniform" and one in "normal" attire.






I had an appointment with the endocrinologist for my thyroid yesterday. He was very confused with the recent lab results that came back. He said my TSH was normal but there was another thyroid test he did (which I'm not sure the name of) that showed low numbers. He said that could just be normal for me, but there is no way of knowing if it is "normal" or "too low." So he did another round of labs and sent it out to an outside lab this time to see what comes back. Unfortunately, I did not ask what the actual results were, but he said they were in the range that told him I will most likely have problems with an under active thyroid in the future, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is a problem now. He didn't know what to do with me. He said he didn't want to put me on meds because it could be normal for me, but at the same time if it isn't normal for me, it's not healthy for the baby. So that was why he decided to do another round of labs. I'm supposed to call for the results on Thursday. I go back for another appointment on December 8.

Today was my first day of volunteering at City on a Hill. They needed me to work on a project that involved Excel. I do okay on Excel, but this involved lists, charts, and graphs, which I'm not familiar with at all. I felt like it took me forever to do a simple project, but I had to figure out how to do it first. I missed Foley this morning...I used to always be able to just call the Help Desk or Val for a quick lesson, but not today. I had to actually use the "Help" feature on Excel (I was so spoiled at Foley). I finally figured it out, but I don't think I got as much done this morning as they were hoping. I have my own office that I'll be working out of and it's nice and quiet. I'm supposed to attend a staff meeting next week so I can make some edits to a document they'll be discussing. I just hope that I'll be able to be a help to them.

This afternoon I met up with Jen, one of the mommies-to-be who I got together with last week, and we went to the Milwaukee Art Museum. It was my first time there and I loved it! We saw the feature exhibit, Act/React Interactive Art, which was really cool. However, being pregnant, we both got a little dizzy with some of the pieces. It was really incredible though to walk around the maze of hallways thinking about all the amazing artists and how each piece is an actual piece of themselves -- there was so much "time" represented in that place. It is mind boggling to think about the hours upon hours that some of those artists probably spent on one piece and then if you added all those hours together, what astonishing number it would amount to? I'm looking forward to going back sometime. It was a fun day, but I think we were both ready for a nap by the end of it.

I go to the chiropractor for the first time tomorrow morning. I've never been to a chiropractor so I'm a little nervous about it. I'm sure it will go fine.

Dear Bebito, please cooperate for us on Thursday, okay? Mommy wants to decorate your cute nursery and buy you some cute clothes, so we must know if we need to buy blue or pink. We can't wait to see you on Thursday!!! We only wish we had you in our arms, but that will come soon enough. First, you have lots of growing left to do. Did you enjoy daddy reading you to you last night? I know he enjoyed it -- there will be lots of that to come. We're still praying for you everyday -- you're our sweet baby! Love you mucho! xoxo





NBR: Update

I had my "blind date" yesterday and it went great! Both of the ladies that showed up were wonderful and we all got along really well. I'm so glad we got together and look forward to getting together again soon. AND...one of the ladies goes to a female chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy and children's chiropractics and she really likes her. She gave me her name and number and I'm going to make an appointment -- yay, problem solved!

I had my interview (not much of an interview, but that's what they called it) today for volunteering at City on a Hill. It went really well and I think I'm going to really enjoy it. I'll be working two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from 9:30-Noon. It will probably be more project-based and since it is a volunteer position it will be very flexible, so if there are days I can't come in it will be no problem. I'm really looking forward to it.

Here is a 19 week belly picture without the ugly tank top. :-)






NBR: In Other News

Tomorrow I have a blind date. Well, sort of. I posted on a forum at www.milwaukeemoms.com inquiring as to whether there were any pregnant ladies who would like to get together so that once our babies are born and grow we could start a playgroup. There were four ladies interested, two of which I'll be meeting with tomorrow afternoon. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into, but I'm looking forward to it and hoping we all click well. If all goes well, we'll make it a weekly or bi-weekly event.

I'm going to be volunteering at City on a Hill three days a week. I've been wanting to volunteer at a mission for quite some time. Linda Hendrickson had been talking with the assistant to the director and she mentioned a need for administrative help. Linda thought of me and mentioned it while I was home visiting one Sunday. I'm going in on Thursday for an "interview." I'm really excited about it and hope that I'll be able to meet a need, at least until the baby is born.

I finally have our living room put together. I thought I would post some pictures for those of you who are unable to visit. Lots of white, but I tried to make up for it by adding some color in other places. It is feeling a little more homey now. We still have some boxes in the dining room, but I'm not sure those are going anywhere anytime soon (we don't have many more nooks to stash them in, and since this is "temporary" housing...).

In the second photo, you will notice the beautiful leaves outside the window -- this is the second apartment we've lived in where the outdoors compliment our indoor decor. There are vines that crawl on the outside of our building and now that those leaves have changed they are absolutely beautiful!

I think that is enough news for now.
















Week 19: "Heirloom Tomato"

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid. (http://www.babycenter.com/)

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Yay -- Bebito is growing lots and lots and (less of a "yay") mommy is too, as you'll notice from my 19 week picture below.

I always wanted to be one of those cute little pregnant peeps who walk around looking like they swallowed a basketball. But I'm facing the harsh reality that I'm becoming "round" in more areas than just my belly. I guess the fact that I'm on the fringe of 30 has helped me accept it a little more, but it is a hard pill to swallow. And yes, I'm only 19 weeks...and yes, I have 21 more weeks to go...and yes, I'm going to get huge! It became even more real to me when I put away all my size 0 jeans today and shuddered at the fact that they most likely will never again see the light of day...at least on this body. Enough said.

My bonding with our toilet has resumed. I felt great for a couple weeks -- I think it was weeks 14.5-16 . But come week 17 I felt like I was in the first trimester all over again. My theory is that the baby has been in a growth spurt the last couple weeks so maybe it's the hormone surges. I don't know, but I have this fear that I'm going to be one of those women who get sick until the very end. Oh well...it's well worth it! Bebito must be responding with a "that's right mommy" because I feel him/her right now. I still feel Bebito sporadically -- not consistently yet -- and they're not kicks yet either, just some flutters here and there. I love it, it's so reassuring!

My tailbone has been hurting me in the worst way. It started awhile ago, but it is getting worse it seems as I get bigger. I'm also getting lots of pressure down there. I'm sure because everything is stretching and growing. I'm contemplating going to a chiropractor. I've never been to one in my life so I'm a little scared, but this pain is quite awful. It hurts whenever I stand up from sitting and whenever I'm walking around. And sometimes if I move a certain way while lying down it is excruciating and feels like something is misaligned. Actually, even when I walk it feels like my body is misaligned sometimes. Teirney makes fun of me when I moan and groan as I stand up, but it is oh so painful. I look and sound like an 85 year, which scares me a little. I definitely need to go to a chiropractor, I just need to find one.

NINE MORE DAYS...until we get see the wee one!!! We can't wait!

Bebito, stay strong and keep growing for us -- we love you sooo much! You are a much awaited blessing and already we can't imagine our lives without you. We continue to pray God's blessings on you daily -- not only for where you are at now, but where God will bring you in the future. May you love God with your whole heart -- making you beautiful on the inside. That is our prayer. Much love, Mommy and Daddy. xoxo

Oh yes...

...and I forgot to mention that I got the adorable little bear bunting (mentioned in a prior post) delivered today. It is so cute -- I love it (and Teirney does too)! Bebito and I will be two little peas in a pod with our matching outerwear after he/she is born.

Week 18: "Bell Pepper"

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (http://www.babycenter.com/)

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Well, I've begun the countdown -- 16 days until the BIG ultrasound! Within the last few days, I've really noticed that my belly has grown...or it could just be in my imagination. But it has even started to itch a little -- not too badly yet, but just little tickles here and there. I bought a couple maternity shirts this weekend, one of which is pictured below.
























I've noticed that I usually feel Bebito moving around when I'm eating or after I'm done eating. It's almost like he/she sleeps until it's time to eat and then that's when I feel the little cutie. I'm hoping I'll start feeling Bebito a little more consistently in the next couple weeks. It's always so reassuring to feel something. I'm actually having some slight cramping right now. Bebito is probably just trying to stretch out in there, but it is always nerve-racking. I am trying to drink some water right now since I know I haven't drank enough today, which is also another reason I could be cramping.

I'm sometimes concerned I'm not eating enough. I don't really have this tremendous desire to eat everything in sight, so I try to snack on things that sound good, but it usually ends up being an apple or watermelon (not your typical junk food snacks that you think of when you think "pregnant"). Which I guess can be good, but at the same time I worry that I'm not getting enough calories with just snacking on fruit. I will ask at my next appointment.

Dear Bebito -- you are loved by your mommy and daddy so much! Please be strong and hang on tight. You are our little blessing and we're so excited to meet you face to face. Mommy and daddy pray for you daily that you grow strong and that you will be a blessing to everyone you meet throughout your life. God be with you, little one. xoxo

Poll Anyone???

Want to guess if Bebito is a boy or a girl??? Take the anonymous poll to the right. We'll see which percentage wins on October 3o.

Dancing Bebito

I'm almost positive now that I'm feeling the baby! Our little one is so sweet dancing around in there! I first felt some "twitches" the other night and I've felt them again since. Not regularly, but if I'm sitting still I'll usually feel something. There is usually two in a row, which makes me think it must be baby. It's so exciting and can't wait to start feeling Bebito even more.

I woke up in the middle of the night the other night with RLP (round ligament pain). I turned over in bed and actually moaned in pain, which woke me up completely. It's not the first RLP I've experienced, but it was the most painful. My frequent trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night has greatly reduced my z's. I find myself very tired during the day.

Not feeling great today. I got sick this morning, but even after eating lunch I don't feel fantastic. Also just feeling very tired and lazy today.

Happy Friday everyone!

First splurge...

I made our first baby purchase last night! I came across this adorable bear bunting at Baby Gap and couldn't resist. Teirney's mom had mentioned, quite awhile back, that she had seen a baby in something similar to this -- it matches a coat I have. Ever since then, I've kept my eye out for something like that. This is what we'll bring Bebito home from the hospital in...I'm sure we'll still need it in March. I love it because you can use it as a bunting or as a one piece with legs. Adorable!


Week 17: "Turnip"

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. (http://www.babycenter.com/)


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Three more weeks until the halfway mark! Here is my 17 week pic.





Biggest news this week is that I've been doing tons of research on cribs, bedding, strollers, car seats, and other baby necessities. My new addiction is the book Baby Bargains, which you can purchase here. It's a book that rates baby brands based on safety, cost, and the author's and consumer's reviews. Its been really helpful in pointing me in the right direction and giving me an idea of what I should be looking for in a certain product. It has been a lifesaver and has narrowed the plethora of options for me.



I found some boy bedding that I love. I reserve the right to change my mind, but at least for now, this is what it will be if we're having a boy (which I think we are).





I haven't found any girl bedding that I love yet, but I'm sure I will. Although, I love the boy bedding so much I kind of hope we're having a boy...well, not just for that reason. Of course, I'll be happy either way.


Still no movement yet. I thought I felt something last night -- some flicking going on -- but I haven't felt it since, so I'm not sure if that was the baby or not. I'll be posting the minute I know it's baby. Hopefully soon.


Bebito -- kick away, kick away!

Teirney's child...

I just had do a quick post to declare that I believe our baby is already choosing sides...or at least has evident characteristics of his/her father. I planned to have leftovers for dinner tonight. Teirney will be home late and I'm starving so I decided to eat. I had a choice between corn dogs, pizza, and yummy pot roast with potatoes and carrots (or at least it was yummy before it became a leftover). I opened the container that the pot roast was in and noticed all the grease and couldn't stomach it. So what do I do? No, I don't eat pizza...which is shocking. I make myself a huge lettuce salad with broccoli, mushrooms, cottage cheese and fat free cheddar cheese, and Catalina dressing. Never in a million years would I have chosen a homemade salad over those other choices or even if there wasn't anything else to eat, until now...until Bebito started deciding. What does this tell you? Bebito is a daddy's girl/boy. Oh great, now they'll start ganging up on me and speaking in Spanish to each other without me knowing what they're saying. At least these signs are preparing me now. LOL! I just had to share.

And while I'm posting, I might as well document that I signed up for our birthing classes today. Woohoo! They will be every Monday night beginning January 5-26. I'm also waiting to hear back on a prenatal exercise class.

Now, back to my salad...

Alive and Well!

I had my appointment this morning and all went well -- it was quick and easy. They just weighed me, took my blood pressure, listened to Bebito's hearbeat, and asked if I had any questions. No belly measurement yet -- not big enough. My blood pressure was 118/64 and Bebito's heartrate was 153 bpm. Cheri said everything looks good and she will see me in 4 weeks. My next appointment is the big 20 week ultrasound on October 30 - yay!

Grow, Bebito, grow!

Week 16: "Avocado"



Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop. (http://www.babycenter.com/)

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Some of you may have wondered where my 16 week post was, since I'm a day late. Yesterday was a busy day and today our electricity was out all afternoon (which meant our internet was also out). Funny side note, today of all days I decided to make pot roast in a crock pot -- needless to say, we won't be eating until 9:30 tonight since we had no electricity for 3 hours today.

Anyway, even though it's a day late, here is my 16 week picture.




I couldn't really tell much of a difference between this week and last week. Although, the picture is at a slightly different angle. It's a little hard to get it exactly the same way each week -- especially when you're using books to prop up the camera.

Not much new this week -- I still have my good days and bad days, but I can certainly tell I'm starting to feel more like myself again. I have an appointment with the midwife tomorrow, so I'm hoping that will go well. Oh, as an update to my venting/ranting a couple posts back, I finally hung some pictures on the wall. It's a work in progress.

Enough for now, I will post tomorrow after my appointment.

Love you sweet Bebito!