Week 19

Hello everyone!
Time again for the next installment of my updates.

Dave and I went to check out strollers and car seats and found the one we liked. The car seat is rather expensive so we might ask if a different car seat can attach to the stroller but if you want to take a peak here is the link for the stroller http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2668020 and one for the car seat http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3156650. They both rated great on consumer reports and the car seat ratings on Babies R Us were fabulous. The stroller's main issue, according to people's ratings is that the sunshade isn't sufficient but there is a $15 extender canopy purchasable through another company. Anywho, this is the most fun I've seen Dave have baby shopping yet; he was testing it out with the same enthusiasm as car shopping :)

The changing table came in the mail a few days ago and I got that all set up--it looks great; the wood matches the crib wood even though they're totally different companies. On the subject of purchases, I got a bunch of maternity clothes hand-me-downs but most were XL or L and I'm a small so that was a bummer but I was inspired to get some comfy clothes and went to Old Navy's maternity section and bought 3 pairs of pants and 3 shirts all for $103.

In the way of the baby, I think the movements are becoming stronger but not too much so. Unfortunately, Dave still can't feel them from the outside. I've been forgetting to include this but here is the edible comparison for the week: Your baby equals a large heirloom tomato in size and weighs 8 1/2 ounces. (length: 6 inches, head to bottom). I am feeling good in general although I did have a sad day yesterday for no apparent reason--darn hormones! This was only my 2nd sad day though and in almost 5 months I'd say that is a pretty good track record. My belly button is getting very shallow and I really hope it pops, that sounds like fun for some reason!

As usual, my belly pictures are attached and the 19 week article can be accessed from the links below. Only 11 more days until our 20 week ultrasound!!!!

Week 18

Due to popular demand I have added my cousin Denise to this weekly email and consequently thought that maybe my cousin Jami and Aunt Gee Gee might like to receive it. Remember, unsubscribing is as simple as replying and saying, "hey, I don't need to know every single detail; just tell me when he/she arrives". . . okay well maybe you could be a little nicer but you get the point right? :)
As has been the case for the last week or so, there really isn't anything new to report on. Dave and I bought the crib http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012706#ReviewHeader and crib mattress yesterday. The crib got great reviews and should be able to be assembled in 20 minutes. We are currently in the process of purging our house of unnecessary junk/clutter. We rearranged our family room a bit yesterday and it looks great!

Week 17

There really isn't much to update you all on since I just sent out an email after our last prenatal appointment. We are working on cleaning up the 4th floor room, which is now the office/guest room, for the future nursery. It is our plan to get some of the major furniture purchased this month (crib, dresser/changing table, rocking chair). I think mom is going to contribute to the crib/dresser as her early baby shower gift so that will be nice. Also sometime this month we will go to Babies R Us to start the registering process. That's about it!

This is Dave and I on the couch watching TV:

week 16 prenatal appt

It went great! We loved this midwife, Jolene. We kind of felt bad but we had a battery of questions we wanted to ask her to know if she was going to be right for us and she took so much time with us and all of her answers were perfect and she just has such a sweet and calm demeanor. As for the details: my weight has increased only 1 pound from my last appointment (4 pounds total = 129). I was surprised at this but she said that meant I was gaining only baby weight and that was perfectly normal and healthy. My blood pressure was 112/74. My uterus length is 16 cm (they say it should be about the same length in cm as the # of weeks you are and we are 16 weeks along). The baby's heartbeat was 160 bpm, which she said was perfect. We found out that she delivers at 2 different hospitals so we have a choice but she can't do homebirths. We aren't sure whether we want a homebirth or not yet so she gave us the name of a lady not too far from us who can do homebirths. She said the baby movements I am feeling (tiny tickles under my skin) will soon feel like real kicks but the baby's bones are still ossifying (sp?) so they aren't hard enough yet for me to feel very strongly. Our 20 week appointment (and the one we will find the sex out at) is set for September the 11th at 8am. It will be nice to know the sex before we go to Alex's 4th b-day party because then we can tell him whether he will have be a boy or a girl cousin.

Week 16

Well I think those pesky headaches are finally going away (thank goodness!). Furthermore, I think those very light internal baby tickles are increasing in frequency (yay!). Dave and I will be going to our midwife for the first time this Thursday so you can expect an update phone call sometime after that. We will probably just do the usual: heartbeat, urine analysis for protein/sugars, question/answers, weigh in etc. I do not believe we will be getting an ultrasound until week 20 (the one to determine sex). Our little one will certainly look much different at that ultrasound than it did at 7.5 weeks. Attached are my belly shots for the week though I think last weeks pictures were more impressive for some reason. As usual, click on the link "full article" below to read up on what is going on with our amazing fetus.

How can I forget? Our baby is about the size of an avocado this week (weighs 3 1/2 ounces. (Length: 4 1/2 inches, head to bottom.))
Stacie

Week 15

Dear friends/family,

I'm still having consistent mild headaches but my back doesn't hurt as bad. I've been told that the headaches are the result of my blood volume increasing for the baby. I haven't felt much more of the baby move, if what I felt before was in fact the baby moving. But hopefully that will occur more frequently soon.

Matt, Harold, Dave and I went maternity clothes shopping in Boston recently and got some nice stuff for decent prices. I bet I am the only woman escorted by 3 men in a maternity section, I was so happy! These clothes are definitely starting to come in handy as my belly is certainly popping out more and more. I have to admit, I am a little obsessed with my new belly. I look at it all the time! As usual, I will attach my belly pictures to this email.

As many of you know, Dave and I visited our nephew Alex who is almost 4 years old and I'd like to report that he was ecstatic about his new baby cousin. He kept asking questions randomly throughout our visit, "do you think the baby will like to dance?", "is the baby swimming right now" (he said when we were in the ocean), etc. etc. When asked what we should name the baby if it is a boy he suggested "Alex". Cute huh?

OK well to hear more about what is going on to your grandson/daughter, niece/nephew just click on the "full article" link below. As always, here are the new edible comparisons of the week: The baby has grown to the size of an apple and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. (Length: 4 inches, head to bottom.)

mmmmm apples are delicious!