19 Weeks & Stuff!

Well, we went to the doc on Tuesday and unfortunately, Rik couldn't make it to this appointment.  It was the anatomy ultrasound so I decided to take my Mom with me.  She was so incredibly excited!  We saw the doctor first and did the ultrasound second.  Dr. N said I looked great, there wasn't any concern about the weight gain (or lack thereof) and then we got down to talking about some of the labor and delivery questions I had.  

She said we'd pow-wow about this a lot and in greater detail in the coming months but she still answered a lot of my questions and made me feel completely normal about it all.  

Epidurals: We talked about epidurals and she said she would put in my chart that this was not to be offered, but given upon request only.  

Episiotomy: I know what this is and enough about it, but I asked about episiotomies b/c honestly, my husband showed me a picture of one from one of his books and now I can't stop thinking about it.  I just wanted to her to explain when/why they are used.  Yikes!  She said she only does them when absolutely necessary and explained those necessary situations.  She explained it's a lot easier to suture up a straight cut than a very jagged tear. *shudder*  

Silver Nitrate/Antibiotic ointment for baby's eyes: She said it's the law so she has to do it regardless of if I test negative or positive for the strep B virus.  I may read up a bit more on this.

Skin to skin contact immediately after birth: She's 100% for it and supports that as long as there isn't an emergency w/ the baby (obviously).  She explained she had her daughter on her immediately, but her son was not breathing and they had to whisk him away to be worked on.  

Delayed cord clamping:  She said she used to always do it b/c studies showed it was better for the baby.  Now, she is a little more hesitant due to back flow of the blood while the placenta is still inside the mother.  There are reports of infant deaths from this as well as other complications.  She feels it's benefits and risks have to be weighed by the doctor and mother basically.  She said she is comfortable with a shorter delay in clamping but not a full delay till it stops pulsing.

We are going to take a birthing class at the hospital and I am going to take a breast-feeding course as well.  I'm trying to talk Rik into Daddy Boot Camp, but so far, he seems hesitant.  It's mostly a class on how to change a diaper, how to swaddle, how to feed, etc.  He probably does know most of this already from all our nieces and nephews, but I thought he might make some friends or just enjoy the experience.  I forget how different boys and girls are sometimes.  :)  

I have hit a stumbling block with the nursery.  We have picked out a crib and dresser from a dark brown furniture collection.  ALL the bedding I like for boys is shown in a WHITE crib.  I'm picky, I'm not going to fib to ya.  I don't want animals or trains or tractors or tools or any other type of theme really.  I want something with a design but not something w/ bright colors.  I don't want it to be too dark b/c I want the room to feel light, especially now that the furniture is darkish.  The problem is, everything I like really only looks good w/ a white crib and ours is dark brown.  I'm having a rough time matching something to our crib without actually seeing it in it.  It's a mess!  I found a really cute heirloom voile quilt that I ordered a swatch on from Restoration Hardware.  We'll see what it looks/feels like when it gets here.  I may just go the plain route and just mix n match the other pieces of the bedding to jazz it up a bit.  

We found a few gliders we love, but of course we both like different ones.  Go figure.  We are going to convert our front room/library into a play room or nursery for the first floor so maybe we'll put his in there and mine in the baby's actual room? haha.   I'm just excited to finally have this opportunity.  So far, it's been really fun shopping for his little room.

I will leave you now with some adorable pictures of my little scrip scrap!  Hope you think he's as sweet as I do!

Cutest profile in the business!!!

Doing his "Thriller" dance moves!!

(I told Rik he'd be a dancer!)

I don't know if he's yawning, smiling, or yelling at us to quit smooshing him....

Waving hello to his Daddy!

Sweetest Crib in the 'Hood.

We seriously have the sweetest crib in the neighborhood...and I don't mean our house.  We literally bought our baby boy the sweetest crib in town yesterday.  We love it!  I can't wait to officially get started on his nursery.  I'm almost finished cleaning that room out and thankfully, during my napping phase a few weeks ago, Rik got a head start and took down the bed and moved the heavy stuff out!  I love having a husband with initiative!  

I am planning on working up there all day today so I can't write for long.  I'm going to attempt to post a picture of the crib below, we'll see if blogger will let it stand.  If not, click on this link and you can view it that way.  We bought it in dark walnut.  I love it!

More on the nursery building soon!  

My sweet boy's new crib.

To all you Father's out there, both NEW and OLD, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!  I can't wait for our own little one to be here for next year's Father's Day.  :)  Rik is going to be the best.Dad.ever.  

Oh!  If you have any boy names you'd like to throw our way, I'm taking suggestions.  We have a dry erase mirror (our bathroom mirror) with a list of about three or four names we love but aren't sold on just yet.  Let's see what you guys can come up with!

XOXO,

Shannon

Pics from yesterday's post!

Here ya go. Me at 17 weeks. The bathing suit shot is free of charge, unless I blind you, then I guess I will compensate....

Hey-loooo there!

Well, wow.  What a few weeks we've had!


Vacation with the family (awesome pictures to come) and lots to update about the pregnancy.  I always dreamed of doing what I'm about to do so would all of you please stand and applaud the fact that I get to do my very own pregnancy update email/questionnaire!  THANK YOU!


How far along?  18 weeks today!
Total weight gain/loss? No weight gain yet!
Maternity clothes?  Yes, some times when I want to be uber comfy, otherwise, I'm still fitting into most low-rise things.  I am thinking though, that I have worn my favorite jeans for the last time (Sunday).
Stretch marks? None so far. I'm sure towards the end when my rear end explodes (from weight gain) and my tummy quadruples and then quadruples again, I'll be singing a different tune.
Sleep?  Annoying.  I wake up every morning at about 5:15 wide awake.  Always thinking of our little scrip scrap and what he's doing in there and what he'll look like and is this lack of weight gain a bad thing, etc.  It's like my psyche is training me for those early mornings just like my bladder and my constant tossing and turning are training me (as best they can) for waking up all night long w/ the little one.  Yeah right, this won't even compare...
Best moment last week? FEELING HIM MOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!!!
Movement?  Last Wednesday, I was laying in the bed on vacation, getting a little R&R between beach trips and the little rascal moved/kicked.  I jumped and then laid very still and waited....he did it again a few minutes later and I just KNEW that was him.  It was two more days before I could feel him again but since then, he's been a regular old show-off.  When I wake up, he is knotted up into a tiny little ball (or something) and he sticks way out - it's VERY weird looking/feeling.  It looks like a growth/tumor!  Anyway, Sunday, he was all bunched up and Rik had just served me breakfast in bed (YES!!!!) when I felt him punch or kick really hard.  Since he was all bunched up, I could feel it so much more.  I grabbed Rik's hand and put it on there and he thinks he felt it too.  :)  I have to say, this was the coolest thing thus far.  Gosh, I cannot believe I am going to have a baby.
Food cravings?  I wouldn't say I crave anything, but I reallllly want the things I cannot have.  Sushi (raw), oysters (I did break the rules on vacation and have a few which I feel HORRIBLE about), soft cheeses, etc.  The mind wants what the body can't have! Vino, anyone?
Gender? Baby boy!
Labor signs? I've got nothing but constant back pain - nothing labor related.  Too early.
Belly button in/out?  Still way in but looking more like a swimming hole than a belly button these days. 
What I miss:   Really just the foods I love and can't have.  Other than that, just being able to move about without having this severe back pain.  Beyond worth it, just annoying.
What I am looking forward to: Next week's ultrasound so I can see him again.  One week at a time, right?
Milestones: Feeling little man move.  It's something I never thought I'd be blessed enough to experience.  Oh, and finally starting to have a bump instead of a pudge.  :)  I'm finally showing and it's kind of sweet to look down and see it.  


Ok, when we found out what we were having, I posted this quick little update and then we were so busy getting ready for vacation, doing ball tournaments, etc that I haven't had a chance to even breathe for three weeks.  It's been chaos.


The ultrasound tech didn't make it super special or anything and was in a crappy mood (airing dirty work laundry with a co-worker kind of mood) and so it wasn't exactly as made for television as I had imagined in my mind, but still....we got the news and it was very exciting.  We didn't get to see him move as much this time b/c she was in a hurry but he was adorable and sweet and we got a great shot of his personal business so we know for sure he's a boy.  The other really cute thing is that in all of our ultrasounds, since he's had legs that is, he's had his legs crossed at the ankle for at least a portion of the show.  It's like he's all kicked back, doing his growing thing and doesn't have a care in the world, regardless of the fact that I'm in a constant state of worry and paranoia!  (he just bumped me to let me know he doesn't appreciate me talking about him like he's not here...hmmph!)  Anyway, this last visit was very adorable b/c he had his legs crossed and wouldn't let us see his business.  She had to poke me (too hard, I might add) with the wand thing to get him to move around and eventually, he opened them up for us.  It was really cute.  I know that's what they do, cross their legs and such, but it was just cute to imagine him being all chilled out and relaxed like his Daddy always is.  That's clearly all changed as much as I have felt him today.  :)


I hope you all are doing well, I have a ton of catching up to do and can't wait to get to it so here's a pic of me at 17 weeks to show you my little bump!  :)  

And because my sister in law is sadistic, here is another one with a tiny shield to hide me a little bit....yes, I'm whiter than the sun, leave me alone.  :)

**stupid blogger won't post the pics, sorry!**

Till next time, 

Shannon