17 Weeks & 1 Day

So this week I had two appointments.. my regular OB appointment on Tuesday, and my first cervix length check at the Perinatal Center on Wednesday. OB appointment went quick as usual, they took some blood, and I got to hear the heartbeat. The heartbeat was clear and strong! I made my appointment for 4 weeks from now, I will be 21 weeks. My OB also said the perinatalologist wants me to do the glucose tolerance test earlier than normal, so he gave me the nasty orange drink I have to drink 1 hour before my next OB appointment. That stuff is icky... it tastes like stale orange soda.

The Perinatal Center printed me a new ultrasound pic! Yay! They did a quick abdominal ultrasound before doing the cervix check. I wasn't too fond of the ultrasound tech I had... usually the ultrasound tech will talk to you and tell you what they are measuring... this girl stayed silent. I asked her what she was measuring, she said everything looks fine. Your cervix is closed (I'd hope so!). Not exactly what I was asking though... after the ultrasound she flipped through my file, mumbled to herself, and said she needed to check with the doctor, she would be right back. Way to make a pregnant lady worry, geez! She came back and said, "ok, see you in two weeks!" I asked again what did my cervix measure, and she said, "um, well, it was about 2.8cm." I thanked her and left. From research I've done, I know they wanted me to be over 3cm. between 2.5 and 3.0cm is a wait and see sort of zone... and below 2.5cm means bedrest and if before 21 weeks, a cervical cerclage. I hope to know more at my 19wk scan... including the baby's gender. :) Hoping for a nicer ultrasound tech next time!

I feel baby move every now and then, not everyday. One thing that makes me a little nervous is after being up and about all day, by the afternoon I start feeling light pressure in my lower abdomen. I go pee about every 45-60minutes to avoid putting pressure on my cervix, but I still feel pressure! It can get uncomfortable sometimes, like today. If it gets worse, I'll call my OB, if not I'll just mention it next time...

Now I just need to get someone to give me my p17 shot today!!!

17 Weeks: 190.0 lbs (+ 0.4lbs)





16 Weeks & 1 Day

Did you miss me last week? I've been posting every week, but skipped last week :) Anyway, 20 days until my gender/anatomy scan!!! Very excited!! 5 days until my next OB appointment, and 6 days until my first cervix measurement at the Perinatal Center. So much to look forward to!! The best part: I felt baby move for the first time last night <3 I was laying down, and first I felt a small jab, then a few minutes later I felt a few flutters. So exciting!! I felt Emoree for the first time at 15w5d, so this one was only 2 days later. Also because I remember dates and all like this and can be slightly superstitious about some things.... when I was 16w1d pregnant with Emoree I was in a car accident on my way home from work, I was taken to the hospital but obviously all was okay. So guess who isn't driving today? ME! Well, I did have to go out this morning, but home now with no plans of going anywhere else. Besides Emoree woke up with a bad cold and doesn't feel well.

This is why I had to go out this morning, to get my first weekly p17 (progesterone) shot. I wish I could do them myself, and may ask the doctor next week if I can give them to myself in my thigh rather than having a nurse at my mom's work give them to me in the buttox. This is a 10 week supply, it cost $146. I will need another 10 week supply too, with the hopes of making it to 36 weeks! The shot didn't hurt anymore than a normal intramuscular shot, no big deal! So far no side effects, I felt a little lightheaded and slightly nauseated right afterwards, but figured out that was because I hadn't eaten in 2-3hrs.

Just wanted to say, this is what I am enjoying while I type this today. My favorite: A Keylime Blendini with Vanilla custard and Nilla Wafers. It tastes just like a keylime pie!!!!

I had a pregnancy massage last week!!! It was FANTASTIC! I wish I could afford to go every 2-4 weeks, I would do it. My shoulder hurts minimally now, not all the time. The one thing bothering me now is sciatic nerve pain, and that isn't something likely to go away :o(

This is the diaper I ordered last month, and I had been waiting for it to come in!!!! I love it!! It is so soft :) I cannot wait to make a big cloth diaper purchase from alvababy.com after I find out the gender!!

I also bought baby's memory book in the last two weeks!! It is the same one that Emoree has, I LOVE it! Baby's is the new one on the left, and Emoree's is the covered one on the right. After I find out the gender of this one, I will make a padded cover for that book too! I also bought Emoree a new book (not pictured). She has mentioned "daddy" once or twice now, So I bought her two books that are geared for kids her age called "Why Don't I Have a Daddy?: A Story of Donor Conception" by George Anne Clay, and "The Family Book" by Todd Parr. They both basically teach kids that there are all different kinds of families.

Belly pic!!! Baby is growing! I still haven't gained any weight though... :o) And I have a confession... I love maternity clothes!

16 Weeks: 188.0 lbs (-0.6 lbs)

14 Weeks: Second Trimester!!

Yay for the second trimester, starting today! The second trimester is my favorite part of being pregnant. I can now officially have a pregnancy massage, which I may schedule for next week. I can find out the baby's gender in a few weeks too!

I had my consult appointment at the perinatal center yesterday. First thing was my ultrasound, I got to see my little bean moving around!! Baby was measuring at 13 weeks & 1 day, so only 5 days behind, which is in normal range. The heart rate was 163bpm, which is good!! My mom came with me to watch Emoree, and as soon as they put the ultrasound jelly on me Emoree freaked out and my mom had to take her out of the room :( After the ultrasound I talked with the doctor, and went over my whole medical and pregnancy history. I guess she was suprised at my medical knowledge, because she asked me if I was a nurse! After going through all the fertility treatment, I guess I know more than most! The doctor decided that the p17 shots (weekly progesterone shots to prevent pre-term labor) would be a benefit for me. I start those in two weeks, and I need to call my insurance company and the pharmacy to set that up and order them. I will take them every week until I deliver, or 36 weeks. I will also be going to the perinatal center every 2 weeks or so to check my cervix length, to make sure it isn't shortening prematurely (which could cause early labor). My first cervix check is at 17 weeks, April 4th. And the best part is, my anatomy/gender ultrasound is scheduled!!!! I will be 19 weeks, it is at 10AM in April 18th. YAY!!!

These are all of my baby purchases for the first trimester, minus one diaper that I haven't gotten in the mail yet. I think I behaved!! Considering, I got all of the items either on clearance or really really cheap. After April 18th though, and I find out this baby's gender... I don't know if I will be able to contain myself...

This is what the nursery looks like as of today. Since Emoree's room got a make over, a lot of furniture got shoved in here. The rocking chair will stay, and so will the white cabinets (minus the overhead ones, taking those down so I can use the countertop as a changing table). the table and chairs with stuff piled on them will be taken out. The bassinet will go next to my bed. This room needs paint and carpet too... A lot of work to be done!

This is Emoree's room partial makeover! She has slept in her own bed for one week straight, so yesterday her Poppy and I put together hew brand new big girl bed!!! It took 5 hours to do... She also got a new, taller wardrobe to hang up more of her clothes, and most of her floor is now covered in a fuzzy purple rug :) I am still looking to get a new border to cover up her baby one, and I will also eventually make her a new curtain. She LOVES it, and is VERY excited!! I spent over $500 on new stuff for her room so far... good thing for tax refunds :) She needed it though, and it is good timing since I will be starting to put together the nursery in about 2 months.

I am starting to feel pregnant now, and I love it :) I *think* I am starting to feel little flutters every now and then from the baby moving, but I am not sure yet. It is still a bit early!

14 Weeks: 189.2lbs (+0.6 lbs!)

12 Weeks & 1 Day



Tweleve weeks! Time is going fast. My next OB appointment is in 5 days, on March 6th. I am excited about that, because that is the first time my OB will use the doppler :) Not that I haven't used one already... considering I bought my own on eBay for $51.88 and have used it twice already this week! It calculates the baby's heart rate too, which if it is accurate is about 120-130. An old wives tale says that if baby's heart rate is above 140 it is a girl, below 140 is a boy. I don't know how much faith I would put into that method, so we still have a few weeks to wait and see!!

I had chicken for the first time in 6 weeks last night, I decided to get a chicken taco at El Saltos while I was out with my friends, because I couldn't decide on a veggie dish I wanted, and I LOVE their chicken soft tacos. It didn't make me sick, yay!!! I haven't really been nauseated at all, as long as I eat every 2-3 hours. Yay!!! My complaints are my upper back/shoulders  is so sore, and has been for weeks. I blame it on work, haha. I'm going to ask my OB if there is anything I can do/take, since tylenol doesn't help. I get a few uncomfortable twinges in my lower right belly (basically where baby/uterus is) when I stand or walk for a long time, and I am pretty sure it is just my uterus and previous scar tissue stretching. It may be more uncomfortable for me because I have a vertical scar on my uterus from my previous c-section.

I like to shop, I can't help it. These are my purchases in the last few weeks... I've bought 4 one size cloth pocket diapers (the last one hasn't been shipped to me yet). The yellow and blue I bought on eBay, the blue for $4.00 and the yellow for $3.45. They are Babyland brand. The green one I bought for $4.59 from Alvababy.com, which I will definitely be ordering from again, I plan on making a big order when I know if baby is a boy or girl! They are decent quality. I cloth diapered Emoree too, from birth until about 2-2.5 yrs old. I don't mind the laundry, and not having to buy diapers every week is a big plus. With Emoree, I used prefolds with covers until she was about a year old until I learned how to make my own pocket diapers! I've decided I didn't want to make them this time around, that I wanted to invest in one size diapers, and I like the price, considering "brand name" ones run $20-$30. I will use disposables for this baby until baby is 8-9lbs, then switch to cloth.

This is what I have crocheted this week, two hats that I plan on donating to the NICU. I also made a gift for a friend (not pictured). I actually haven't crocheted in a few days...

Today I took Emoree to Bounce Party N Play and she had tons of fun bouncing around. She made a friend and it was so cute they would run from one bouncy obstacle to the next holding hands. After open bounce I took her to the mall, she had her hair cut (bangs trimmed and 2" off of her hair), and we had lunch and went shopping. I was good, I didn't buy anything for baby, but I did look. I did buy Emoree a few things, including her cute hair clip from Gymboree on clearance!

HaHa, I don't feel like I look that "round". I guess I just picture well?

12 Weeks: 186.4lbs (-2.2 lbs)









11 Weeks

11 Weeks today!! Time is going quickly. Over the past two weeks, I had two days I felt awful with nausea, but now it has been a few days since and I am hungry ALL THE TIME! I'm not choosing the best snacks, considering starbursts, skittles, and ice cream sandwiches keep calling my name. I went to the grocery store to get chocolate syrup the other day and walked out with $10 of candy. On the other hand, I like that I can eat what I want and not worry about gaining weight.. since I haven't gained any :o) Anway, all I have to show this week are crochet projects, and I have kept myself busy!

This is the 3-6 month size Santa hat I was working on last week, I finished it the next day. The red yarn is soft, and the white yarn is VERY soft and VERY fuzzy. I love it!

I think this is the item I am most proud of so far. This took me only 2 hours and $6 to make!! It is a photography prop ONLY. It is called a hanging stork nest. The yarn is very chunky and durable, yet still soft. I am even considering making these to order and sell, because this worked up so nicely and headache free!

This adorable hat I am in love with! I made this in an hour or less one night this week. Pompoms are a hassle to make, but often necessary for hats like this :o) It is a small newborn size, but stretches considerably. I would estimate it to fit a 4lb-8lb baby. This hat inspires me to make many, many more to donate to the NICU. I love it!

I did a mini 11 week maternity photo shoot outside, since it was nice out... and Emoree decided to join in too!

11 Weeks: 187.2lbs (-1.4lbs)

10 Weeks & 1 Day

So I've made it to double digits, yay :o) The past week has been a little hard for me, and I guess I am "lucky" because I don't have any bad pregnancy symptoms, but I just want to feel something!! I feel like I was much more excited at this point when I was pregnant with Emoree. Crocheting makes me feel better, since I am crocheting for baby, I guess it helps make this whole pregnancy thing feel more "real" for me right now.

I am also a little nervous about this week. When I was in my 10th week when I was pregnant with Emoree I started having moderate bleeding, that lasted for weeks. It started while I was working and I rushed to the hopsital, thankfully Emoree & I were okay, but it was still traumatic. I couldn't work for 2-3 weeks. So now that I am in my 10th week I'm a little scared, but it could happen anytime, or not at all, right?

I don't really have too much to say this week, my next OB appointment is not until March at about 13 weeks. I am thinking about paying for a gender scan at a 3D/4D ultrasound place at 16 weeks, rather than waiting for my 18/20 week anatomy scan, I feel like that will help make this more "real" for me, but it is still 6 weeks away. Not that I am rushing this pregnancy, it is my last, and I just want to enjoy it!

I made this newborn cocoon/egg bowl a few days ago, it was my first project this week. I got it finished in 2 sittings, approximately 3 hours total. The "model" is an 18" doll of Emoree's that I use for sizing items for small newborns. Considering Emoree was born at 17", I really don't expect baby #2 to be more than 19". This project is a photography prop ONLY. It is not for everyday use by any means. These things sell for $20-$40 on etsy.com!! I made it for free with spare yarn I had leftover.

A friend of mine suggested that I make one of these fringe "blanket" photography props this week, and I am thankful for the idea!! Again, this is a prop only and not for everyday use. It took about 2-3 hours to make, I did it in two days. I bought the yarn at Walmart for a total of $10, and these props sell on etsy.com for $50-$80. I also have some left over yarn to make it fuller if I choose to do so. I also might cut 4" or so off of the ends, I haven't decided yet. I wanted a dull/darker rainbow color ideal, and I am happy with how it turned out :o) Hey photographer friends, after my baby outgrows these props... I might considering selling them next year after I am done with them!!! :o) :o)

I am also currently working on crocheting a 0-6 months Santa hat. I've made 3 of these before, I am about halfway done and an hour into it. I have a made a toddler size for Emoree, an infant one for a friend's baby, and the first one I made I was just testing the pattern and stuck it on one of Emoree's dolls. Most likely, I will have it finished and ready for next week's update. Next up is another photography prop, a hanging stork pouch. I bought a soft creamy white yarn that is really bulky and durable for $6 for two skeins!

10 Week (& 1 day) belly pic. Not entirely happy with how it turned out with the black shirt, but oh well. Different shirt next week. I don't see any difference from last week, though I did lose another half pound. My metabolism works best while pregnant, lol.

10 Weeks: 187.6 (-1. lb)

8 Weeks & 6 Days

I'm a little confused as to the exactly "what day" I am at, and with my OCD that bothers me a little, but my OB today confirmed my 40 week due date as September 12, 2012, but he said I am 9 weeks today? I updated all of my pregnancy tickers and they say for 9/12/12, I am 8 Weeks & 6 days today, so that is what I am going to stick with. It is still a day further than I thought!!

Yay for a 3rd ultrasound!!! Those who are ultrasound illiterate: The white blob in the center of the darker blob is the baby, the dark area is the amniotic sac. The top is the baby's head, sticking out to the left is an arm, the bottom is legs and feet, and I am pretty sure the placenta is the area on the bottom right area of the amniotic sac. My OB says baby is growing appropriately. I had a physical exam, and luckily the only blood draw I needed today was thyroid screening, since the fertility center had already done all of the infectious disease bloodwork. I go back in 4 weeks, on March 6th and at that point I will be able to finally hear the heartbeat!! Today I saw the heart beating on the sonogram monitor. Emoree told my OB that she wants a baby sister :o) We were at the office for nearly an hour and a half... Emoree was really good the whole time!

Sometime in the last week or so, I think my belly swelled and I am *just* starting to look preggo, or maybe just fat haha. Either way, my jeans/pants are no longer comfortable and I pulled the box of maternity clothes out of the attic. I thought I had 2 pairs of maternity jeans, but I could only find one pair of jeans, and a few other pairs of pants. I don't remember half the clothes that are in there! Some still have tags on them. It is fun to have *new* clothes...

No crochet pics to show this week, I am halfway through making a newborn photography prop, and I also made a cute little hat for a friend's baby this week.

Of course, Emoree wanted to say "hi"! She decided to color her nose today with marker, she wanted to be Minnie Mouse since she is wearing her Minnie shirt.

9 Weeks: 188.2 (-.4lbs) gained a pound this week..







8 Weeks



Today I am 8 weeks pregnant! Tomorrow will be one month since I first found out I am pregnant. I had my second ultrasound at the fertility clinic yesterday! Baby measured at 7 weeks & 5 days, which is only a day behind gestation so basically right on track. I was also "released" from the fertility center!!! Very excited :) They gave me copies of some of my blood tests and etc. to take to my OB. My first appointment with my OB is in 5 days, on Tuesday February 7th @ 1:15PM.

They actually printed 3 pictures for me yesterday, only because they had a sonographer tech at the office who was teaching the doctor 3D scans! The top picture of the 3D image, it is a little unclear but you can see one of the bright spots is the heartbeat, which I got to see on the monitor yesterday!!! The middle picture you can't see much, and the bottom is the same as the first I posted. Another interesting point: the cover sheet they gave me to give to my OB had my due date as 9/12/12, which is a day sooner than I originally thought!! So I guess technically today is 8 weeks & 1 day ?? I will update that next week :) Ooh the fertility nurse also told me yesterday I can stop taking the Prometrium now!!! WOOHOO!!!! I only have 4 days of capsules left, so they told me I could finish the bottle then I am done with it.



Here is my crochet project this week! I actually made this start to finish in about 1-2 hours. It does help I have made two of them before, one for a friend's baby two years ago and another toddler sized for Emoree. This one is about 0-3 months size, and I figure Baby #2 will be about 2 months old around Halloween. Next I am either going to make a 0-6 month size Santa hat, or a newborn photo prop :)

Today I took Emoree to Bounce Party N Play, a local bouncy house/inflatable slides party place for an open play session. We have been many times before too, and she loves it. I haven't taken her in awhile and was a little nervous about taking her today, since today was the first time I wouldn't be able to bounce and go through the obstacles with her, but she did fantastic!!!! She played non-stop and I just sat on the sidelines and watched, taking pictures of course. Before when we would go she would get nervous and didn't want me out of her sight, but that was not the case today! She ran around and played with the other kids.

Oh yes, sorry no belly pic today. I never got around to it. I will try to do one next week! When I actually have a baby belly, there will definitely be a pic every week :) I will try to update Tuesday, after my OB appointment!!

8 weeks: 187.2 (-1.4lbs) I lost 2lbs in the past week?







7 Weeks

I am 7 weeks pregnant today!!! According to my "Pregnancy Week by Week" book, baby is about 1/2" long. According to the ticker I just added to the top of my blog, baby is 5/8" long. Either way, baby is growing!

I have been eating vegetarian for 10 days now, and haven't had any morning sickness! This doesn't necessarily mean I won't eat seafood, because I really want some shrimp or scallops. :o)  Something terrible did happen this week, however. Taco Bell stopped selling Cheesy Bean & Rice Burritos. If you know me, this is a major tragedy. I've tried the 7 layer burrito (also no meat), but it just isn't the same. :(

My 2nd ultrasound with the fertility center is in 6 days; I am looking forward to seeing the heartbeat. At that point, they should "release" me to my OB, and I have my first OB appointment set up for Tuesday, February 7th @ 1:15pm. I will be 8 weeks & 5 days. Very exciting!

Emoree is very excited about becoming a big sister. She was looking at car seats with me online, and now whenever we get in the car she tells me that her "baby sister's" car seat will be right next to hers. Obviously, she wants baby to be a girl :) Yes, I'm already looking at car seats! I like the Safety 1st Comfy Carry, because it fits narrow spaces (good for small cars, I have a Toyota Yaris), and it fits small newborns and preemies well starting at 4lbs. Emoree came home from the hospital at 3lbs 10oz in a Graco SafeSeat, and I didn't know as much about carseats back then, but she did NOT fit in it well at all.



I feel like Emoree has been a little left out of this blog! Afterall, it has her name on it :) Emoree is 4 days short of 3 years & 8 months old. She loves "school", she attends preschool/daycare at Celebree 3 days a week while I work. In September (when I am going to be home with a newborn) Emoree is probably going to start Pre-K in the Balto. Co Public School system, it is 2.5hrs a day for 5 days a week. Emoree loves anything Disney. Mickey Mouse, Princesses, mostly Ariel & Rapunzel. She loves to climb and jump, and sing and dance, so I think I am going to put her in gymnastics or dance class in the fall. She also loves to watch youtube videos of babies playing and kids playing on water slides on her Grandaddy's iPad. She knows how to use the iPad better than I do! Right now she is going through a "monster" phase, this morning she wanted to go downstairs and our cat Tumbleweed was on the steps, Emoree started screaming, "Mommy its a cat monster!" I gave her a flashlight, because her flashlight "scares" the monsters away. She told me she was going to go look under the bed for monsters with her flashlight. :o)

Alright, here is the first belly pic! Not showing yet, this is my pre-existing fat :-) I need a picture to start from, right? I am going to try to do belly pictures every week. After all, this is going to be my last pregnancy and I want to enjoy and remember every bit of it!

7 Weeks: 189.6 (+.8lbs) I gained 1 pound this passed week!