Stretching and tugging and pulling – OH MY! July 28, 2008

Last night was definitely a night to remember. Throughout this pregnancy I”ve felt the occasional tugs down in my uterus but it was nothing compared to the full on stretching going on last night. How to best describe it. Well, imagine being back in 6th grade gym class, its 8am and the coach is making you do sets of situps and those stretches that force you to feel all those muscles you haven’t used all summer. And it burns. Like Hell. And it won’t stop.

If i could have safely taken a whole bottle of tylenol I would have. I ended up curled on the couch, with pillows surrounding me completely in a fetal position (ironic huh) rocking like I was having the worst menstrual cramps ever. And then it hit me. THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO LABOR.

I’m more determined now than ever to become best friends with my future epidural-administering tech. Better yet, I may even bake him/her brownies for ..you guessed it…brownie points.

In other news, Chelle and I finally had a garage sale and cleaned up pretty well. The garage is spacious enough now to give us the temporary space we need to hold the nursery furniture that’s coming soon until we paint the nursery and bring it in.  In turn, of course we went shopping and I scored some goodies. Don’t worry , there is PLENTY of stuff on the future baby registry of things to get. hehe.

One of the things that I did get got a test run tonight by none other than the Princess of the house. I’m not sure she’s going to let mijo use this once he comes…she’s going to think its all hers.

ISN’T SHE SO FREAKIN CUTE!

It’s the Great pumpkin Charlie Brown July 25, 2008

I definitely should have taken the time to draw a pumpkin face on my belly for this photo, but it was taken at 7am so my drawing skills at that time aren’t so great. But here is my 5 month pumpkin belly. And literally the LAST pair of jeans in my house that fit me at a size 7 and I’m pushing it here for sure. I do have maternity jeans but they are still a wee bit too big for me at the xsmall size.

The belly ring is still very loose. It must be due to the placement of the piercing although now its MUCH easier to give my navel a swab to clean it since I can see all of it. hehe. Since my belly tanned while in Cabo I also have a white spot behind the round barbel at the top which in some pics looks like stretch marks, but its not. I’m anticipating those anyday….don’t want them, but just anticipating. The scar you see on the left if from my appendix being removed when I was 19.

Baby goes bump in the night July 24, 2008

Sorry the video is so dark..it doesn’t help that I’m really tanned right now either hehe

 

I also remember attending this  concert w/ my brother Steven and crying through this song. This was almost 6 yrs ago, many years before I ever knew whether I would have a family, specifically now a son.  I adored this song and read that she wrote it for her son.

Now I plan to sing this to my own.

Godspeed little man. 

July 24, 2008

Along with the expanding belly comes other visual changes – my skin tanned a bit too fast this time around and I’m peeling (ick), my feet are gradually starting to “fill out” (ok yes, swell) and I’m definitely waddling (that counts as a funny visual change right?)

This weekend we were pretty busy. I had spent a good amount of time perusing online nursery furniture when I thought I”d found THE perfect set (months ago) only to discover its no longer for sale. Instead I ended up at babiesrus where its really the equivalent of a fat kid in a candystore for expectant mothers. OF COURSE I need everything in there (minus that diaper genie thing – I can’t stomach the thought of storing poop in a bucket for extended periods of time). After speaking to a very experienced manager of the store who has six kids of his own, I decided on a nursery set. Normally I’d post pics of it, but I think I’m going to wait to reveal what it is until after its delivered and we’ve got the nursery started. I will reveal that its dark furniture and it fits a baby :p

While Ray went to the store to order everything he couldn’t resist purchasing the travel system. I look at the carseat and try to picture him in there. EEEEEEEEEEEE !

This is by Chicco and apparently Sheryl Crow uses the same system for her adopted son.

I’ve been working 10-12 hour days lately to bring in extra funds knowing that by Nov 5th I’ll be gone from Apple. Woo hoo, but oh man, that type of schedule is HORRIBLE for a pregnant woman! Imagine how happy I was when Ray surprised me with a Skin & Body Spa package that contains the following:

30 minute relaxation massage

30 minute rejuvenating facial

Anti-Aging Hand /Face Peel

Three 60 or Two 90 minute massages

Two Facials

and a Prenatal Massage

which I can combine in several visits or do one at a time as I’d like …..AAAAAAAAAH. Just thinking about it makes me so lazy! This was so sweet of him!

I promise to update with a new belly pic at the end of the week. Suddenly there is a big distinction between my pelvic area and my stomach. It’s just amazing to see my body change this way, to feel the kicks, to know that life is growing inside of me. Nothing can top this. Ever.

Another month… July 18, 2008

I first took this shot at 4 months and it was suggested by some that I should take a progression series so I’ll always remember this journey since I can confirm its flying by SO fast. When you rub on your belly everyday and night, you don’t come to realize the changes that others might be seeing until you capture it in a photo. I love it!

16wks (4months)

and a new photo at 5 months (20wks3d)

at least my feet still appear the same size!

From a Father to the Father-to-be July 18, 2008

Below is an email my father in law sent to Ray after we learned we’re having a boy:

I bet that you are the most happiest man in the world. And the fact that it’s a BOY, well that tells me that you had your boots on, way to go son. I know that in my heart you will be a great father. I have all the confidence in the world. Smoke a cigar, fix those pants up by the belt, walk around and dish out some SHIT!!! Be proud, you’re number 1 in my book. LOVE YOU!!!

Did you guess correctly? July 17, 2008

 

What a crazy two weeks! At 18wks I started feeling a pattern of kicks, usually after eating chocolate pudding and between 11-11:30pm religiously. It’s comforting that now I can play with the baby and get a response and get that affirmation that everything is ok. While we were in Cabo, I decided to test out the theory that a baby will respond to music. I chose Bendita la Luz by Mana for obvious reasons and got this clip. Sorry its so short, but Youtube wouldn’t let me upload anything longer than this.

 

 

Here’s a photo of us at 19wks and I feel like I”m in good competitions with the mountains in the back

 

I know you’re probably wondering : BOY OR GIRL?

Today was the big ultrasound. The one that would either confirm Ray’s prediction that it was a girl or mine that it’s a boy. For the record, I’ve dreamt 4x of the baby gender and its always a girl with pigtails and teeth.

Ray recorded the video and we had to get creative by playing it on our home TV and using my little digital camera to make a digital video of it. yes, I know, we need to catch up to video technology here! haha hey, but it works right? Again, we had to really shorten the video because of Youtube limits so here we share with you the most important part of the scan…..boy or girl? I’ve gained 4lbs since my last Dr visit.

*note…for whatever reason I can’t get this to play for me, but others have confirmed it’s working all 40 something seconds of it…so if you can’t see it either, please post a comment and let me know*

 

 

and the photos which show more detail of news!

 

 

Texas baby July 4, 2008

Before we leave to Cabo tomorrow morning for our family vacation I went out and took some photos of Courtney, my youngest sister in law and a few of myself with my belly. I don’t think this top does the belly justice at all! I”ve certainly got more of a bump than this photo reveals, but I wanted to share anyway

One day short of starting our 19th week!

I’d die for that July 2, 2008

If you scroll back a few entries you’ll find a post titled “Thoughts on Becoming a Mother”. I can never read that post without crying nor can I read it aloud to someone because my lip quivers when I do.

I came across this video today and I remember not long ago feeling this way: “I’d die for that.”

At the same time, I read Footprints in the Sand and am reminded of God’s neverending love.

One night I dreamed of walking along the shores of different lands.
I could tell that You were with me by the footprints in the sand.
As I gazed upon the heavens, I saw pages of my life.
It was then I realized that You remained there by my side.
When the clouds began to gather and the rains came falling down,
I looked to only find one set of footprints on the ground.
I said, “Lord, why did You leave me in the troubled times of life?
I believed that You would always walk beside me day and night.”
Then I heard:
“My precious child, I’d never leave you.
I have carved you on the hollow of My hand.
It’s then I carried you in My arms,
When you see one set of footprints in the sand”
Dear Lord, will You be with me as I travel through the years?
Will You be there in the struggles? Will You wipe away the tears?
As my eyes turn toward the ocean and the shores of distant lands,
I’m still thinking of the single set of footprints in the sand.
I heard Him say:
“My precious child, I’d never leave you.
I have carved you on the hollow of My hand.
It’s then I carried you in My arms,
When you see one set of footprints in the sand.”
Will I hear the angels singing, as my life comes to an end.
Oh Lord, I long to see You. Will You be there once again?
My eyes turn toward the heavens, along the path of foreign lands,
Once more, I’m thinking of the set of footprints in the sand.
Jesus said:
“My precious child, I’d never leave you.
See your name carved on the hollow of My hand.
I’m here to carry you to your home.
You will see one set of footprints in the sand

Let’s dance July 2, 2008

We’ve got thumping! At 18wk3d I officially felt the first REAL thump while sitting at work.

At first, I thought it was just my tummy rumbling from hunger, but I felt it in one spot and then seconds later in another. I was wearing a skirt so I was able to maneuver my hand easily to wait and see whether baby was ready to play and sure enough “thump”. So I thumped back..and baby replied. We played this game for a few minutes and it was just the moment I realized “wow, there is life in there, not just a beating heart!” Later that night when I got home, Ray was sitting on the couch with me and we watched my uterus thump. I must have some really thin walls of muscles to be able to see this already but I didn’t want this to be a “power of suggestion” so I didn’t tell him where I was feeling it nor seeing it, I waited for him to point and he confirmed it each and every time. woo hoo! Ever since then I”m feeling the bouncing around more often. Seems like the baby loves it when I”m eating jello pudding snacks and is especially active around 11pm. I think its just digging the music mama listens to all the time. I can only imagine how active he/she will be when we’re in Cabo this coming week dancing to all that spanish music.

According to the pregnancy books, my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe right now and the baby is approximately 5-7 inches like the size of a can of soup.
So insert B into A and this is what I’ve got going on right now