Full Term

This week marked 37 weeks- Peanut is full term!!  His organs are fully developed and he would need no assistance if he were born today.  At my check up this week everything looked good and he is surprisingly already getting ready for his big arrival.  In fact, the midwife seemed surprised by how much progress we've both made.  It could be any day now; and I believe that more and more as I am having lots of contractions.  Nothing too regular or painful yet but plenty that catch my attention and make me aware of just how close we are.  The baby pool is officially open; make your guess!!

36 Weeks

I'm still here.....been saying that a lot lately. Everyday my co-workers seem surprised to see me but peanut has to stay put at least until after this weekend. My parents are in Mexico and Cody and I have tickets to see the Avett Brothers Friday night. Plus, Monday I will be 37 weeks which means full term, so if he could just stay put til Monday that'd be perfect.

Cody and I spent this past weekend getting things ready. We cleaned the house, decorated for Halloween and packed the hospital bag. Here's the two outfits we picked out for peanut to wear home. We packed two because we don't know exactly how big he'll be.

We also took a trip up to the Smokies. We had planned on hiking Clingman's Dome but when we got to the parking lot we were surprised to find snow on the trees and the temperature holding steady at 41 degrees. So we just decided to take the lazy tourist route and drive around the park.

I went to the doctor today for my 36 week appointment. Peanut is 6 lbs, 1 ounce. This puts him in the 50th percentile...so he's perfect!! I won't go into any other details of the appointment but things are just as they should be; peanut's head down and locked into position. Hopefully he doesn't make us wait too much longer.

34 Weeks

I can't believe I finally get to say this but I'm in the home stretch. Only 6 weeks left!! Some people still like to tell me I still have a ways to go but compared to 34 weeks, 6 really doesn't sound like that long. Peanut is doing well, weighing in at 4 lbs 12 ounces; right on track! And the fluid in his kidneys has finally leveled off. He is perfect!! I on the other hand, still have low iron levels and regular sugar crashes, in addition to insomnia, heartburn, sciatic pain and now cankles. But its all worth it.

Work is finally slowing down and I'm trying desperately to stay on top of all my projects before I go on leave.   I can't imagine taking 3 months off of work; it'll be hard to let go. But I know I'll have bigger things to worry about and everything will be taken care of while I'm out. Before I go they are throwing me a baby shower, as if we didn't get enough stuff the first time. This kid is gonna be so spoiled!!  In fact, here are a few of my favorite things for Peanut.

A Delayed Update

This is long overdue but things have been crazy busy around here lately. This week marks 31 weeks....9 to go. Maybe. I found out at the doctor yesterday Peanut is already 4 lbs, 3 ounces. If he gets too big they might induce me early to prevent any complications. But we'll just have to wait and see.

I had my baby shower this past weekend in Memphis. We got LOTS of great stuff!!We're still not totally ready but we're getting close. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Hello 3rd Trimester!!

This week marks 28 weeks, officially in my third trimester. Last week, I had my glucose test to screen me for gestational diabetes, which I passed!! However, my blood work showed that my iron levels are low, so I have to start on iron supplements. We took a look at Peanut through an ultrasound, he s 2 lbs, 12 ounces already!! This puts him in the 85th percentile, hopefully weighing in around 7 1/2 to 8 pounds at birth. Now that I'm in the third tri, I will see the doctor every other week.
Last week while Cody was at the beach my mom came up and we got started on the nursery. We already had a crib and changing table, so we bought some shelves and a chest of drawers for a great price. We spruced things up with some bright paint and added some accents and things are really starting to come together. Here's what we've done so far....

There's lots more I'd like to do, especially if we end up moving (which we might), but a pretty good start!

25 Weeks!

We've had a busy couple of weeks. A weekend in Memphis, weekend on LeConte, a new car...lots to keep us busy. First lets start with LeConte, at 24 weeks I made the 5 mile hike to Mt. LeConte, and it was GREAT!! I drank lots of water and ate small snacks along the way, and with a few breaks I managed to make it to the top in 3 hours and 23 minutes. Then the next day, we managed to shave almost an hour off our time making it to the bottom in 2 1/2 hours. My knees hurt like hell but it was a proud moment for me!!

This past weekend we made a big leap and traded in my Honda Civic for our "family wagon"- a Subaru Outback. It's got plenty of room for Mom, Dad, baby and dogs!! And we got a great deal!

Back to baby: at 25 weeks, he is 13 1/2 inches (eggplant) and a pound a half. Everyday he's more and more active, kicking and hiccuping.

Hope this weekend we will be doing some work in the nursery, stay tuned for pictures!

23 Weeks

Yesterday marks 23 weeks!! Peanut is about 11.5 inches long (think papaya) and well over a  pound. He definitely feels bigger. Little things like bending over and putting on my shoes are becoming more difficult. As he gets bigger I feel him more and more. Around 17 weeks I felt little "flips" as he squirmed around, but now I feel his kicks and punches! Sometimes it feels like he's doing jumping jacks in there. In fact, he is so strong Cody can even feel him on the outside. We go this week for an ultrasound to get a closer look at his kidneys. Last time, the ultrasound showed a bit more fluid than normal so we want to make sure that everything looks normal now. They say around 24 weeks is when the 3D photos of their face look the best, so hopefully we'll get a good look and see what he looks like!!

And Peanut Is.......

A BOY!!! We found out on Friday that what we thought was a girl is actually a boy. Let me apologize for my lack of posts recently. Cody's mom Cindi has been very sick and we lost her on Friday right around the time of our ultrasound. It made for a very bittersweet day. We really have not been able to process, let alone celebrate. We will miss Cindi terribly and it breaks our hearts that she won't get to see her grandson. But somehow I like to think she had something to do with him being a boy. An ultrasound a few weeks back hinted it was a girl but Cody really really wanted a boy. So when it ended up being a boy it felt right; and it makes me smile to think that was Cindi's doing. Things are going to be very difficult for our family over the next few months but its nice to know we have something wonderful to look forward to that will ease the pain of all those close to Cindi. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”

It's a boy!!! 

20 weeks. Halfway there!!

16 weeks

Today I am 16 weeks. Baby is the size of an avocado: nearly 5 inches long, 3.5 ounces. The morning sickness is fading and the bump is beginning to take shape. I'm still adjusting to working while pregnant, so I'm sleeping whenever I can to catch up on my rest. Still very little weight gain; not complaining!! Next week I have my anatomy ultrasound where they make sure baby looks good and may even be able to determine the sex; hopefully peanut will cooperate so we don't have to wait anymore.....I am ready to start "nesting."

Here's me at 16 weeks. Stayed tuned....this baby's growing fast!!

Just Peachy

Let me start off by saying I'm alive and sorry for the post delays. I have survived my first week at work, my birthday, a trip to Florida, tornadoes and happily my first trimester. At 13 weeks I am now officially in my second trimester, with peanut now about the size of a peach. I had an unplanned trip to the doctor yesterday but everything is fine and both peanut and I are healthy and doing well. We will get to know more about little peanut in 4 weeks when we go for the anatomy ultrasound; we may even be able to find out if peanut is a boy or girl. In the meantime, I am feeling better each day; getting a little less nauseous and a little more energetic, and even starting to get a little bump. Time to switch to the elastic waistband!

11 Weeks

I'm 11 weeks which means baby is about the size of a lime. I can't believe how fast it is starting to grow; just last week it was about the size of a prune. Two more weeks and I am out of my first trimester!! Can't wait!!

The pictures below are just for fun to show you the size of peanut right now. Not a significant bump yet. Also- if I look exhausted its because I've started my training at the Boys and Girls Clubs and have spent the past two days with all the kids.

Back to Work

I got the call today that the Boys and Girls Club would like to hire me as their Resource Development Coordinator!! This is the one I have been waiting for. I'm really excited about the job and the company. I will be working with the marketing director and the annual giving director, which is right up my alley. Not sure exactly when I will begin, still got a hefty new hire process to go through.

Also we went to the doctor today for my 10 week check up. Everything looks good and we're right on schedule. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat again- 168. Perfect!!

Chinese Children

This is a silly post today but I think its a valid question: Will this baby take after me and bare an Asian-likeness??? This is a fun song by Devandra Banhart that made me laugh....and wonder.

Ultrasound- 8 weeks, 2 days

We had our first ultrasound today which was very exciting. There is just ONE baby and it is growing right on schedule. We could hear the heartbeat, 171 bpm, which is very strong. It is such a relief to know that there is an actual baby in there and that it is alive and growing. No bump yet, in fact I actually have lost weight which is not uncommon given my lack of appetite. I go back in two weeks to meet with my doctor and we'll have more to report about little peanut.

Weekend Update

Peanut had a lot going on this past weekend. Thursday we drove Cody and some friends out to Townsend to begin their weekend float trip along the Little River. To pass the time, Peanut and I enjoyed some down time relaxing at home with some yummy chinese food. Then on Friday we were joined by my parents who came in for the weekend. Mom and I mostly shopped. Got me some great maternity clothes- at 8 weeks my jeans are already snug on my hips!! While we were out we couldn't help but look at all the cute baby stuff. Whatever this baby is, it will be well dressed!! After a fun weekend we're back to a busy week. I have a phone interview today with the Boys & Girls Club and we have our first doctor's appointment Wednesday. Already shaping up to be a great week!

No Pills for this Mama

They say being pregnant weakens your immune system so its not uncommon for women to get sick during their pregnancy. That being said....I have one hell of a cold. Normally, I would pop my pills and sleep it off. Unfortunately, there is a long list of don'ts when it comes to what medicines you can take while you're preggers. And just about every cold/sinus/decongestant medicine is on that don't list. Cody and I have tried to research if any drugs are okay and we can't seem to get a straight answer anywhere. Some say its ok, some suggest that these drugs can lead to birth defects, so I just gotta take the high road and avoid these medicines so little peanut doesn't end up with a clubbed foot. So if you don't hear from me for a while its because I'm in hibernation til I can beat this nasty cold.

Pregnant Women Are Smug

A friend of mine showed me this video after we announced my pregnancy. It's pretty funny. But I promise I will never be a smug pregnant woman.

Lent

Fat Tuesday is over; let the 40 day countdown begin! Cody and I have talked with our friends recently about what to give up for Lent. We have some friends giving up meat, some giving up sweets, some giving up alcohol and the most extreme sacrifice- Cody going veagan. I started to feel a tad guilty for not declaring my own sacrifice, then I got on my pregnant pedestal and realized I would have my own "Lent" for the next 8 months: sacrificing alcohol, sushi & certain seafood, rest, my waistline and many more things to come. So, good luck to everyone over the next 40 days. And when it seems unbearable, think of me and the next 8 months of my Lent.

It's a Baby!!!

Cody and I both knew we wanted kids, but we had no idea we'd be pregnant just 4 short months after our wedding. So to clear up any confusion, this was an accident. But an accident we are completely thrilled about!!! They say women have a sense, an intuition about being pregnant. Well I definitely did. I just felt pregnant. So finally after the ninth day I decided to take a pregnancy test that looked positive. I was supposed to see two lines and I thought I did. So I took another, same thing, kinda looked like two. Well two eventually turned into three. So after waiting 2 hours, Cody finally came home and I showed him, and he thought the same thing. So on our way out to his parents' we stopped and bought a different one that showed a plus or minus, plus sign it was. Luckily, I was able to get into the doctor the next day to find out I am indeed pregnant and due on Halloween!! Today makes me 6 weeks. We realize how sudden this seems but when I hear how difficult it is for so may couples to get pregnant, I feel unbelievably lucky to get pregnant without even really trying. We can't wait to spend the next 8 months watching our little peanut grow!