Hi Daddy!

Sweet Poppy, I am so excited to see you in a couple days! I really cannot wait!! A tiny little part of me is sad that you will lose the nickname we've come to love, because we can then start calling you by your real name... but that's okay. I'll be thrilled to know what to really call you, and thrilled to be able to move forward with our preparations for you! :)

As of yesterday, your little flutters and tickles and movements have progressed to pokes or jabs or kicks. Instead of a little tickle or a funny shifting feeling.. I can feel a quick jab here, and poke there and I LOVE IT! Last night, after eating a big bowl of oatmeal with quite a bit of brown sugar on it, you got to kicking me like crazy! At one point I put my hand on my belly just hoping I'd be able to feel you on the outside and share this with your daddy, and I could!!! You kicked my fingers!!! Daddy rushed over and put his hand on my belly, then you got stage fright. Daddy gave up after a couple minutes and went back in the kitchen, and not 20 seconds later you started poking me again.. Daddy ran back and waiting again. Nothing. Finally, he just sat down next to me and held his hand there, and when I kinda pressed his hand down a little harder, you poked him!!! He got all wide-eyed and asked if that was you or me (your daddy is silly like that sometimes) and when I told him it was you, I could tell he was so proud. I am so glad you finally invited your daddy in on this adventure! I can't wait til we both can feel you everyday. I haven't felt you poking around yet today (but I have been really busy with your cousin), so I am about to eat something sweet to see if I can get ya dancin' in there! :)

We love you baby. Happy 18 weeks in there. 

See you in just a couple days, love bug. 

17 weeks, 1 day

Isn't that crazy? I remember when saying "7 weeks" sounded like a big deal! Saying 17 weeks makes me sound so... pregnant! :)

The most exciting update I have to share is that I can now sporadically feel Poppy wiggling around. I say wiggling around, but really it just feels like I'm being flicked from time to time. The first movement I felt was last Monday (right around 16 weeks) while I was sitting on the couch, hunched over the laptop. I felt what I thought must be the "flutters" everyone talks about and it definitely made me stop what I was doing and stare at my bellly, willing Poppy to move again. After a minute I felt it again... and a few minutes later I felt it one more time. It was so strange, but so exciting, and its hard to describe the feeling. I get why people say "flutters", but I don't feel like that accurately describes the sensation.. I felt like I was being tickled with a feather duster for a second. It didn't feel like a kick or punch, it didn't feel like bubbles popping, it didn't feel like a lava lamp (as I've heard these first movements described)... it was just a quick, fluttery tickle with a feather duster that wasn't soon followed by gas - so we were convinced it was Poppy letting his existence be known in a way that doesn't involve me perched on the bathroom floor, finally! Yay!

I didn't feel any other definitive movement again until Saturday, when I was laying in bed reading at my sister's house. I had just downed a glass of Pineapple-Orange-Banana juice and I guess Poppy was on a bit of a sugar high. I was feeling pokes and tickles and movement for a good 15 minutes. I was convinced A would be able to feel from the outside so I called him in there, but sadly he could not. He looked like he had really gotten his hopes up about it, and then when I told him Poppy wasn't moving anymore - he looked pretty disappointed. But this is about the time my BIL could feel movements with their baby, so I keep telling A it will happen soon!

Then the last time I felt Poppy move around was last night as I was making some envelopes for my sister's baby shower invitations... either Poppy really likes Arby's Roast Beef Sandwiches, or he really doesn't like it when I lean against my craft tables for hours at a time. I don't know if I should tell him 'I'm Sorry' or 'You're Welcome'.. but I do know I so enjoyed feeling him wiggle. And I really hope I soon start feeling him on a regular basis.. not only when I sit just right or consume crazy amounts of sugary beverages. 

In other (not-at-all-exciting) news, we are very impatiently waiting for some blood work results to come in! Last Thursday I was informed by my previous employer that one of the twins had just been diagnosed with Fifth's Disease, and that the first question from their pediatrician was if G had been around any pregnant women. She had in fact.. me! I had just kept them that Saturday afternoon/evening. I was told to promptly call my OB and tell them I was exposed, so I did. My OB wanted me to come in immediately for a blood test to detect whether or not I am already immune, and whether or not I've been infected. Apparently if you are before 20 weeks pregnant, you and baby are at a much greater risk of not only being infected with the disease, but also suffering what can be very severe complications (ie, fetal heart failure). I was told that if I came back positive for Fifth's Disease, I would be referred to a perinatologist for close monitoring for the duration of the pregnancy. Of course, all the information I was given sent me into total panic mode.. but a lovely woman on my local baby message board told me that even if I was infected, there was only about a 30% chance the fetus would be infected as well. So that's a 70% chance that IF I got the disease, the baby would be perfectly fine. I was also told by the lab tech that most adults are immune from prior exposure and don't even know it... so we are really hoping I am immune! And if not, we are going to pray that Poppy is in that strong 70% category! 

I had the blood test on Thursday and was told to expect the results Monday -- here it is WEDNESDAY and they still don't have my results in. I have called twice this week with no luck, and if I don't find out by tomorrow, someone will get an earful from this worried, pregnant mama!!! 

I'd like to end this on a happy note - so for one, I made a huge online order for some Old Navy Maternity clothes! Can't wait for that glorious package to arrive. And lastly, we find out if Poppy is a Landon or an Emmeline one week from tomorrow!!! YAY!!!

Lots of Baby Progress, baby.

Well Poppy.. you've been at it again. Making Mommy sick. 

I struggled through the week, feeling nauseous every day but managing to breathe through it and convince myself I-Would-Not-Get-Sick-Again. Then it hit me today... and hard. 

I don't know if I let myself get a little dehydrated during the week, or if I ate something that just set off my tummy... but today has been awful.

I feel okay right now, but certainly don't feel like tackling the endless list of to-do's we've created for ourselves by me being lazy and nauseous all week long. 

Guess the laundry can wait yet another day. Its not like I fit into anything anymore, anyway.

Today was a particularly bad day for me to get sick. 

Yesterday would have been okay  - I didn't have any real obligations.

But today we had a Cloth Diaper Consult scheduled with the amazing owner of diaperlicious.com (Mar). 

I managed to make it through the consult, but  not without needing to sit down a few times and not without 2 instances where I really thought I was going to pass out. Both times my heart started racing, my hearing got a little fuzzy, and I broke into a sweat - but I didn't want to make a scene and I really wanted to learn about the cloth diapers, so I didn't say a word other than "I'm going to sit down for a minute, keep going...". 

I survived though, and walked away with a wealth of knowledge on this whole CD concept. 

I'm really glad I made myself go to the appointment, and I am so glad Mar is such a CD Genius!!

So, that's a step in the right direction for planning for Poppy - getting an idea on where to start with his/her little heiny.

Some other exciting baby progress is the nursery. We are finally (fiiiiinally) done with the brown paint and white chair rail. It looks GREAT, if I do say so myself. And I think this is the first painting project with Andy and I (between our 4 residences and many painting adventures) that didn't end in disaster AND didn't involve and whining and complaining about how much we both hate to paint. 

For some reason, knowing that we were painting to prepare a special room for our long-prayed-for baby made a world of difference. We worked together (where as I usually try to weasel out of painting!) and we had such a good time. We talked about where the crib will go ("honey, our little babe will be sleeping right here by Christmas!!") and where the rocker go ("Babe, can you imagine sitting in this corner reading Landon/Emmeline a story or rocking him/her to sleep?"), where the dresser will go, how we will decorate the walls, etc. It was really a great experience. I loved seeing Andy take so much pride in his work, and hearing him talk about what lies ahead. :)

This picture was taken before the chair rail was painted white.. here it just has primer. It stands out much more now, really pops beautifully against the brown. :)

All we need now is to know if we are growing a Landon or an Emmeline.. then we can keep trucking on with the nursery setup. Bedding is picked for either/or, furniture is picked, decor is decided on - we are just in a holding pattern until April 2nd when we should be able to get a peek at the goods!! I cannot wait!!!

And the last bit of progress to report is the growth of Mommy's belly. 

Eek. 15w4d belly. 

This was during the painting adventure.. ie, no shower yet for the day, and no makeup - hence the below-the-shoulder shot!!!

We love you Poppy, more and more each day. Can't wait to visit with you in 18 short days!!!

Post 2 of 2...

Oh, sweet Poppy.. I love getting to hear your heart beating. 

I don't know why I still become a ball of nerves before each of my appointments, but I do.. and every time I get to hear or see your healthy little heart beating away, all those nerves are washed away. 

Today we heard your heart on the doppler for the first time, as opposed to on the ultrasound. While I certainly miss getting to actually hear and see it beating, it was reassuring none the less when she put that doppler to my tummy and found you right away!

The doctor showed us your NT Scan results, and I was (we were) so happy to learn that you are as healthy as we have hoped! She showed us where your risk was without the scan, and just how far down your risk was after we learned your NT measurements and checked Mommy's blood! You now have less than a 1 in 10,000 chance for Downs or Trisomy 13 or 18. We are so happy, Poppy.. really, over the moon! Those results are just what we have been praying for!!

The best part of the day, though, was getting to schedule our anatomy scan. Me and Daddy are so eager to know more about you (mainly whether you're a Landon or an Emmaline!!), so we can't wait until April 2nd when we get to see you again!  I hope you decide to wake up for us that day, and wiggle around enough for the tech to get some great pictures of you! Do us that favor, okay baby, and cooperate for just that hour! :) 

In other pregnancy news, Mommy is back up to her pre-PG weight, which is great! I lost 18 pounds during that few weeks when I thought you must hate me, Poppy.. but luckily you've changed your mind since then and now allow me to eat! 

Daddy was sad to miss this appointment, even though it was pretty anticlimactic compared to the last few. But he can't wait til April 2nd - he's already requested the afternoon off to spend it with you!

Hope you're cozy in there sweet Poppy, and developing well!

We love you very, very much. 

Can't wait to see you again, sweet baby.

Kisses from Mommy! (and Daddy, too!)

Interesting...

I have an OB appt later this morning, so this may be a 2-post-day. Brace yourselves. 

I keep seeing these "birth horoscopes" floating around the boards, so I finally answered the questions myself to see what mine would say...

Here it is folks... 

"The day you deliver, outside will be foggy. Your baby will arrive in the mid morning. After a labor lasting approximately 25 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 9 pounds, 14 ounces, and will be 18-1/2 inches long. This child will have medium amber eyes and a lot of auburn hair. "

WOW. 

Um, 25 hours of labor? My SIL delivered her first baby in 3 hours, start to finish, water breaking to delivery.. 3 hours. According to this horoscope, I won't be so lucky.

A boy? YAY! (Note: I would have the same reaction to see "a girl".. but I have had a feeling its a boy, so thats fun to see!)

9 pounds 14 ounces... sweet mother of pearl, thats a big baby. My niece was 9lbs11oz, and I know my mom delivered 4 rather large babies.. so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. And lets not forget, Poppy has already proven to be an over-achiever. 

Amber eyes.. very possible. Auburn hair.. very possible.

Guess we'll see in about 6 months just how accurate this online clairvoyant was/is.

NT Scan Update...

After a little scheduling drama, we had to bump our appointment from Tuesday morning to Wednesday afternoon. I was a little bummed about it because I had literally been counting down the days/hours for 4 weeks. But everything worked out, and I only had to wait one extra day. I survived, believe it or not. ;)

The scan was wonderful. Poppy slept the entire time, only moving in protest to being prodded by the tech. But it was still absolutely amazing to see how much s/he has grown in just 4 short weeks. Not only grown lenth-wise, but developed into an actual little person! S/he went from 2.32 cm at our 9wk scan to 7.37 cm yesterday!! And from looking like a kidney bean with tiny waving arm and leg buds, to a PERSON. A little tiny baby.. with long legs and arms with elbows and hands and fingers. We could see his/her toes, the profile of his/her sweet face, with that cute little nose. We could the spine and the brain and the stomach, and of course that miraculous little flicker of the heartbeat. It was just incredible.
What was funny was that this little baby of ours slept completely stretched out the entire time - legs extended, feet crossed (just how his mommy likes to sleep, FYI!). The tech mentioned that we will be in trouble if this baby always likes to kick back that way.. I can't imagine what that will be like when s/he's running out of room in there and attempting to sprawl out that way! Yikes!
Towards the end of the scan, it looked like Poppy was stretching his hands out for a minute - but I like to think he was waving at us!
His/her heartbeat was a little lower this time (though still completely normal). It was in the 170s for our first 2 ultrasounds around 9 weeks, but yesterday it was in the 140s. Perhaps my ease in saying he/him all this time actually means something, if you go by that old wive's tale about heartbeats and gender (above 150 = girl, below = boy).

In other news, Mommy had been feeling phenomenal for a couple weeks. I was able to eat (mostly) normal foods, acutally get up and get ready in the mornings, get out and about from time to time.. it was great. Then I woke up yesterday sick again, out of nowhere. It was very disappointing to go from thinking we were beyond that yuck-stage, to dashing to the bathroom once again - but today is going much better so maybe yesterday was a fluke?

Poppy, it was so wonderful to "visit" with you yesterday. Me and Daddy were talking about you all afternoon/evening and we are so so grateful to know you are still thriving in there. We love you so much and can't wait for all the exciting things to come in the next few months/weeks/forever.

13w2d

What was I afraid of?

Maternity Pants are wonderful!!!

I was so dreading shopping in the maternity section. I tried both "the rubber band trick" and using a Bella Band in order to cling to my final days of pre-pregnancy pants. That worked for a solid, oh, 4 days. 

I wasn't so much a fan of the rubber band trick... cuz this mama has to pee all.the.time and I got sick of wrestling with the rubber band around my button each time nature called! I loved wearing the Bella Band, even though it did feel a little funny at first walking around knowing my pants were not buttoned. Eek. The only downside of the Bella Band was that I ordered one in brown.. and not many things I wear to work matched it. Oh well.. I'm a nanny. I am judged by 2 year olds all day, who really could care less if my "under shirt" matches my tee-shirt. Thank goodness!

However, by the end of this week, my tricks just weren't cutting it. 

I had to do it.. I had to give in a invest in some maternity pants.

This early in the game, I didn't want to spend a small fortune on clothes I may only wear a couple months, so A and I headed to Target. I was surprised with their selection, as I've heard mostly negative reviews.. and we went home with 2 pairs of capris: one denim, one khaki. 

Today was day one in the new pants, and man oh man - they are soooo comfortable!!!!

Why was I afraid of this? This is awesome!! 

And much to my surprise, they don't even look very "maternity"-y. :)

As if this admission didn't spell it out clearly enough.. Poppy is definitely becoming more and more obvious around my middle these days. And I really have a hard time convincing myself its just bloat.. its there all the time, morning - noon - night. No matter what I eat, how often I use the restroom, how much water I drink..  there's no mistaking it, I have a belly. 

At just over 12 weeks. I never would have guessed it would start popping out this soon! 

But I guess thats what I get for not working on my abs for the last, um, 3 years. :::blushes::: Nothing to hold me in, I guess. ;)

As far as our dreadful morning sickness goes, I am now going on a week and a half vomit-free. 

Hallelujah!!!!!!

I still take my meds like clockwork, and I'm still afraid not to.. but I have been eating much more, and feeling pretty good throughout the day. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you Poppy!!!

I am so glad I can now just focus on our little babe in there, and enjoying this pregnancy.. rather than always mentally noting where the nearest toilet or trash can is!

This side of pregnancy is much more pleasant!!! :)

We see Poppy again in 4 days and we can-not-wait!!!!

Hope all is well out there with everyone.

Love you Poppy-Babe! :)

12w3d

Happy Valentine's Day, Poppy!

Its been a while since my last post.. so let's catch up.
I missed that entire week of work last week (not this past week, the week before, when I posted from bed). That Monday the twins had a stomach bug, so I kept my distance. Then Tuesday I got sick again, and that continued through Wednesday. Thursday I could have gone in, but big sister Mac started showing signs of the flu so again, I kept my distance. And Friday nobody was feeling well. What a miserable week.
I was, however, able to work this last week and it was certainly a challenge. I think being in preschool half the day, with new teachers and new rules and new activities, has really thrown the girls out of whack. They are far more mischievous than they ever have been, and far more whiney. Those don't go well with my fatigue/exhaustion and frequent headaches! But we managed to make it through the week.
As for the nausea/vomitting, I've done really well. I know it seems like every time I say that, I jinx myself - but I really think we're coming to the end of the yuck-phase. The meds seem to have been helping consistently, and I've thought about skipping a dose to see how I do without them, but I haven't quite mustered up the courage for that yet. We've also reached a point where eating every 1-2 hours seems to help as well. Finally. I had always heard to keep something in your stomach at all times to keep the nausea at bay - but that never did work for me in the beginning. Just in the last week or so it seems to help. Hooray! We also (accidentally) discovered that eating cantelope works wonders for my stomach!! I do believe I am single-handedly keeping cantelope farmers across the country in business. You're welcome.
Aside from cantelope, about the only other things I want to eat these days are Hot Pockets (which I never really cared for before the pregnancy!) or some combination of carbs+cheese. Usually a cheese sandwich (not grilled), a kolache (yes, my craving was satisfied last week, courtesy of my little sister!), potato and cheese pierogies, pasta... almost anything thats just carbs and cheese. Healthy, huh?
Another of my cravings has been iced oatmeal cookies, but I can't seem to find them anywhere!!! I checked at 2 different HEB's, Randall's and Target.. where have all the iced oatmeal cookies gone??? Surely they're still being made, right? I don't think its too much to ask for.. and I get seriously emotional when yet another trip ends in me going home without these precious cookies. :(

A and I have had a wonderful time reading up on all of Poppy's developmental stages, and perusing websites for nursery ideas, and daydreaming about what it will be like to have our sweet little one in this home with us. We've also had quite a time watching my midsection get a little thicker with each passing week. In the early weeks, we were both aware that any belly changes were just bloat.. but I don't know anymore. My clothes are consistently feeling snugger, and it doesn't seem to go away overnight like it used to (when it was just a 'food baby'). I wake up with a thicker middle these days, and I really am enjoying it! Its uncomfortable to finagle myself into pre-PG pants (and even some shirts!), but I am not quite ready to shop in the maternity section! It is getting increasingly difficult to get comfortable at night (or even sleep for more than a 2 hour stretch at a time), but I can't get enough of my growing belly! :) And A loves to rub on it to greet our little Poppy.

To celebrate Valentine's Day today, we decided to forgo the fancy dinner out, or date night at the movies - and instead we agreed we'd both rather relax at home and spend our free time working on the nursery. Okay, so that's not really "relaxing"... but we can do so in our PJ's, so to me, that's good enough! We hope to have the brown section (that will be below the chair rail) painted by the end of the weekend.
We thought about making big plans for VDay this year, aware that this will be our last Valentine's Day without children... but whats important to us is being together and readying ourselves for our little bundle of joy. :) I can't think of a better way to spend our day.

Now, its time for me to go wake Daddy from his midday nap and head out to Lowe's.
Pics to come soon!

Poppy, we love you so much. We love knowing you are squirming away in there, sharing this very special Valentine's Day with us. You are the best gift we could have ever hoped for, and we can't wait to "visit" with you soon! Just 9 more days, baby.. til we finally get to see your sweet little self again.

anemia - insomnia - kolache cravings

Its 6am.. I'm laying in bed, posting from my phone, exhausted.
I've been awake, tossing and turning, since 345.

I've been sick the last day and a half or so. Shortly after my -hooray 10 weeks- post, I got sick out.of.nowhere, without any warning, and have been struggling since. I missed work AGAIN yesterday (haven't gone since last Thursday for one reason or another, not always my fault!) and I'm starting to think I should just call and give my notice via phone and see what they say. I mean, this is getting ridiculous and I'm sure they feel the same way. :(

In other pregnancy news, I got my bloodwork results yesterday and was told I'm anemic. No real shocker, I've always tread the fine line of iron-deficiency. I had just hoped my PNV's prior to conception would have helped, at least longer than 10 weeks. I'm bummed to already be dealing with this, and worried about the ferrous sulfate supplements I need to take.
For one, 2 of the first 3 side effects listed are nausea and vomiting. Fantastic.
And two, its rare lately that I am able to take and keep my PNVs down. Now I have yet another pill to wrestle with, and strategically time for some point in the day that holds some chance of me not getting sick. :(

I made the mistake of reading about early onset anemia in pregnancy, and now I can't stop thinking about "poor fetal growth" and "preterm labor" and "low birth weight". Ugh. Why do I ever google anything other than the nearest donut shop with kolaches??

I have seriously been jonesing for some kolaches! Which is strange considering most food commercials leave me dashing to the closest toilet (even when I cover my eyed!). Wonder if I could sweet talk my loving mother into bringing me some this morning? Mmmm.. Kolaches.

Double Digits, Baby!!!

Today we are 10 weeks into this adventure, Poppy!
I can't believe it. 8 weeks felt like a big milestone to me, but being 10 weeks feels great!
We are 1/4 of the way there.. 25% done.
Crazy!
The time has flown by, and I guess it helps that you are growing at a crazy pace - allowing us to jump ahead 6 days! haha
Your Aunt Katie said the same thing happened a few times with your cousin Syd.. growing faster and having dates rearranged. I am hoping you go a little easier on me than Syd did on her, though. I don't know if I can handle delivering a 10lb baby! ;)

According to my weekly emails about your growth and development, today is the day you graduate from embryo to fetus.. when the critical portion of your development is complete, and now your tissues and organs will rapidly grow and mature. We made it baby.
They say you're the size of a kumquat now, though it wouldn't surprise me or your Daddy if you were a little larger. You are an over-achiever, after all. :)
Its amazing to me to learn that your kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver are all in place and functioning. You are only about an inch and 1/4 long, and you have all these vital organs already working to help you continue to grow. Babies truly are little miracles. Poppy, you are our little miracle.
Your limbs can bend, and your fingers and toes aren't webbed anymore. You have real fingers and toes, and you are starting to grow little fingernails. Cute, teeny-tiny, little fingernails.
I love reading about your development each week, and Daddy loves to hear about it. We are amazed by you each and every day already, and I can only imagine how our amazement will grow as you continue to do so!

Some things we have noticed the last week or so? Well, for one, Mommy's midsection is getting a little thicker! Daddy is always surprised when he catches sight of just much my belly can bulge by the end of the day! We know that's not all you, Poppy, but its still fun for us to see all the ways your existence is already changing me.
We also noticed that you get Mommy into trouble at HEB. We had to make a quick trip on Sunday to pick up some Super Bowl essentials.. and apparently, having you in my tummy makes me revert back to my childhood a little. We just had to buy ice-cream sandwiches and creamsicles, shoestring potato sticks, nestle chocolate milk mix, and jello mix. None of these items were on the list, and its been years since I have had any of them... but seeing them made me need them! I like having you around, baby. Daddy wasn't as pleased, but he doesn't argue with what Poppy wants. He's a good man! :)
Its getting more and more uncomfortable for me to sleep on my tummy, as I always have. I think it is in large part just my mind preparing me for 2nd Tri, when I won't really be "allowed" to sleep on my tummy anymore. At that point, it will be high time to invest in a maternity pillow or body pillow! I can't wait for the day! Another nighttime observation, that I find odd, is that I now seem to be a mouth breather when I sleep. I hate breathing through my mouth at night, but I can't help it anymore! I wake up several times in the night needing a drink of water because my mouth gets so dry! Its the strangest thing.

As far as our sickness goes, we have been doing well. As I said before, last Friday was a rough day.. but it was isolated to that one day, and it didn't get half as bad as its been before. So for that we are very grateful! We are holding out hope that the sickness will become a thing of the past in, oh, about 2 weeks!!! Come on 2nd Tri.. here we come!

Poppy, we cannot wait to see you again in a few weeks. 3 to be exact. We've missed you and look at your pictures many times a day. We hope you know, that you can feel, just how loved you are.

Happy 10 weeks ( and fetus day! ), baby!!