He has a face!

We had another MFM appointment today, and as I had hoped, it went well. The boy is weighing in at 3 lb 7 oz. That makes my 4lb weight gain this week not seem so dramatic. That being said, I still probably shouldn't have eaten a donut for breakfast this morning, but it's a surefire way to get the boy on full display for his screen time. And boy was he ever! He wouldn't cooperate for the tech, but as soon as she finished her measurements etc, and took the transducer off my belly, the boy flipped.

Literally, from facing my spine, to facing forward, and NZ stared at my belly in utter amazement and asked, " Does that happen all night?" LOL. Yes, sunshine...it does, hence my 2 a.m. words with friends games from the living room, until he chillaxes a little bit so I can actually lay down without feeling alien-like movement from my insides. I love every minute of it though. A moving baby is a living baby, and that's all that's important to us.

My fedora wearing MFM came in( again, what's with the hat?), and as soon as he put the transducer on my belly, there the boy was, showing his perfect little mugshot... a nose....lips..ears..chin..eyes..mouth...all there. All so baby-like, and REAL.

I have trouble wrapping my head around it some days, after the years we've wanted and tried, and lost, to see ourselves so close to being able to bring a baby home, it's almost surreal. I'm sure the surreal-ness will wear off by about the 3rd diaper change, but for now I am looking forward to continuing to bake this baby until he's ready to make his grand entrance into our family.

TWENTY NINE & ??? to go

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 24 lbs

Maternity clothes?I have mentioned in earlier posts that I was fortunate enough to be given TWO wardrobes from friends, and I have so many maternity clothes that they reside in two separate dressers. When I first started wearing maternity clothes, I split the wardrobe in half, since some of the stuff seemed like I'd never fill them out, and others fit just right.

Fat Guy in a Little Coat




Tommy Boy

— MOVIECLIPS.com

Fast forward to NOW--the stuff that fit just right?? Yeah---getting tight. Feeling like Chris Farley's character in Tommy Boy, and can hear " Fat man in a little cooo-at" every time I shove myself into a too small shirt. So, yesterday, I did a little rearranging, and tried on the rest of my once-too-big clothes, and to my surprise, I've surpassed the stretch capacity on some of those already! I did find a few non-midriff-exposing shirts, and a roomier pair of jeans, so I was a happy happy girl with my "new" clothes.

Stretch marks? None yet, but that dark line (linea negra) has now crossed the threshold of my belly button and is headed northbound. I am hoping that since I was once heavier then I am now ( back when I was first diagnosed with Graves disease during college, I gained 35 lbs in about 6 months time), that my skin remembers being stretched out, and hopefully we'll avoid the stretch marks. A girl can hope. But really, if I get them, and a healthy baby, then it's worth it.

Sleep: Terrible. Nightmares, peeing, and being karate chopped are all to blame. The positive side?? I sleep like a baby from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., so thank goodness for an open schedule! I am fortunate enough to be able to catch up on sleep when I can get it.

Best moment this week: Finding out that a couple of my girlfriends are flying in from the Bay Area to make it to the baby shower my sister, mom and sister in law are hosting. I didn't expect them to be able to come!

Miss Anything? The gym. Big time. My treadmill is just staring at me. We shall meet again, I promise!

Movement: Oh yes. He loves to party around 3 a.m.

Food cravings: Frozen lemonade from Wetzel's pretzels.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: Just a few Braxton-Hicks, if I find myself doing too much---anyone notice all the sewing projects I have posted?? I can't stop! But, after a while sitting at my machines and getting up and down from cutting pattern pieces out on the floor, I do start to feel tightening, so I make myself chill out for a while before going back to it.

Symptoms: Nothing new.

Belly Button in or out? Teetering. It wants to poke out, but it's pretty much flush with my belly for now.

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, but getting tight.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. Still trying to figure out "my place" now that I am not working--but it's a good thing. Excited to be close to my next short-term goal of 30 weeks. Feeling confident.

Looking forward to: An ultrasound next week with our MFM. Hoping the boy has plenty of room to keep growing, and that he is still on track. I'd like to hear that he's pushing 3 lbs, but anything over 2.5 lbs will put a smile on my face as well. Also looking forward to my OB visit to discuss my previous medical records, and decide how we're going to deliver this kid. Hopefully we'll get a better idea whether it's 8 more weeks till a c-section, or 11 till he comes on his own.

NINETEEN weeks..did they or didn't they?

How many weeks? 19 ( only 6 weeks from My next "milestone" of viability!)

How am I feeling? I had two days of headaches this week which put me in bed by 8:30 p.m. Other than that, I feel fine. I think a lack of hydration, low BP and a late night out on Monday night were the culprits.

Doctor’s Appointment? I had an appointment with my OB on Tuesday, where my belly was measured and we heard the heartbeat again (which eased my worry heading into Thursday's ultrasound with my MFM). We finished out the blood work for the quad screen this week, and also had an in depth ultrasound with my MFM to make sure il bambino is growing appropriately, and he was also able to tell us if we are having a boy or girl. We're happy to say, that so far, everything is going well, and we found out that we are expecting a HEALTHY baby weighing 9 oz. at 19 weeks..that's the same weight that Denise weighed due to restricted growth at birth at 26 weeks!.... And, it's a boy. ( Did you really think I could resist finding out?)

Workouts? I'm pretty sure I don't even own gym clothes that fit anymore.

Sleep? Back to the earlier bedtimes this week. I still haven't gotten that surge of energy so many talk about during the second trimester. I have felt tired and run down this entire time, but if it means we're growing a big healthy baby, I'm pretty sure NZ and I will put up with a few more months of un-exciting evenings of Jersey Shore and Top Gear till I pass out.

Weight Gain? 11 lbs since week four. 4 of those lbs being in the last 2 weeks. I say, grow baby grow!

Baby Preparation? Believe it or not, still nothing. However, I made a set of burp cloths for an extended family member who's expecting a boy just weeks before our baby is due. So, my sewing machines are once again OUT, and I might just start sewing some essentials for our baby soon. Maybe, Probably, Or not. Really trying to stick to my "buy nothing before 30 weeks rule" that I have in my head.

Likes/Dislikes?

Dislikes? Shopping online for maternity dresses/ evening attire. Is Motherhood really the only affordable option out there? I have a weeks worth of business-dinner appropriate attire to put together for the trip I am taking to Canada with NZ. So far, I have ONE outfit, sigh...maybe I will have to get over my anti-maternity store stance and head into that dreaded Motherhood store. I've got a few more weeks till I have to have my wardrobe ready, so if any one has any uncovered treasures (online stores) to share with me, shoot me a message!

Likes? We went to a Dodger game with some of NZ's cousins and their significant others on Monday night, and I got to rock the Dodger tank top I fashioned for myself out of a gray maternity tank and an upcycled Dodger shirt. I have been waiting to wear that tank top to a game for 2 whole years now! I had made it back in 2009 when a couple of my girls and I had plans to go to a game, and I never got to wear it. So, finally getting to wear my Dodger tank with a belly was a significant milestone for me ( I'm a dork, I know!).

THIRTEEN weeks..finally!

[July 19]

How many weeks? 13, phew..out of the first tri, but still a long way to go.

Showing? Those around me aren't shy in asking if I am expecting. So do I a) fib and tel them I'm just getting fat? or b) give in and tell the truth? I was hoping to just let people figure it out on their own.
How am I feeling? Stellar. This week has been one of happy moments, accepting that we might REALLY be bringing a breathing, living, full term baby into this world. Heartburn has subsided a little bit, and my appetite has increased. A few little aches and pains, but definitely nothing to complain about. Still nervous, but happy.

Doctor’s Appointment? I got to meet my MFM ( perinatologist/maternal fetal medicine) specialist this week. I walked into the office, to find it was standing room only, and they had a full length movie ("Hitch" for those who are interested) playing in the lobby...I thought it would go down as one of the longest waits in history, but to my surprise, I was in and out within an hour.

The tech that did my NT test was fabulous, and explained what she was looking for and what she saw every step of the way. The second sac has finally been reabsorbed, so that's a good thing..plus the MFM was very reassuring, letting me know that although I am still considered hi-risk, I am at a considerably lower risk of complications this time around due to the surgery I had last year, as well as the fact that our baby seems to be thriving with plenty of real estate in the newly remodeled uterus. Next check up with my MFM is in 6 weeks for an anatomy scan.

Workouts? I beged NZ to let me tag along to the gym one night (he rather I stay home and "bake" this baby), so he obliged and I did some light leg curls and extensions and some upper arm weights..then about 45 minutes on the treadmill. Apparently that was too much, as I was out cold on the couch about a half hour after we got home.

Sleep? I honestly think could sleep Anywhere. Anytime. Anyhow.

Weight Gain? Still just 1 lb. Hard to believe with the food I have been consuming and the drastic drop in my activity levels!

Baby Preparation? Discussed with my boss the proposed timeline to filter me out of the office. I will not be returning to my job ( more to come on that later) once the baby arrives, so it will be a big change for both the office and myself since I have been there for 6 years, and they will need to train someone to take over my position.

Likes/Dislikes? Still diggin' the sugar-free Slurpees. Fruit, carrot sticks ( yes, finally a vegetable I can stomach!) and anything cheese related have been my standbys this week. I dreamt of a Ruths' Chris Filet last night, but I doubt I can talk my ol man into driving to the Valley midweek to indulge with me..Perhaps the grill master himself can grill me a store bought filet some evening in the near future.