Two more

Each of the last two weeks (before today), I had gained one pound, for a total of two pounds. Today, when I weighed, I had gained two more! So, I'm up four pounds since I last posted, right on track. Yea!!!! (Overall, I'm up six pounds since the very beginning.)

Sidenote: I need to clarify the pounds issue. My doctor was comparing my pre-pregnancy (at home, in the morning, just out of the shower) weight to my current (at the doctor's office--scales measure the exact same as home, by the way--in the afternoon, with clothes). So, according to her calculations, I had gained five pounds. According to reality, I had only gained two pounds at my last visit.

Pretty cool!

Something pretty cool happened last Tuesday, but I didn't post about it because I just wasn't sure. But, I started feeling the baby move! That first time, I was sitting on the couch, after walking, eating my ice cream and I felt three taps coming from inside me. It was a "what was that?" kind of thing. But since then, on and off, I've felt some little kicks and movement. It is the coolest thing. I can't wait (or can I?) for it to be stronger so Phillip can feel it too!

Fun stuff

I've been meaning to post these pictures all week, but I've been too busy to get out the camera! Last weekend, while with Phillip's parents, we went to San Angelo and looked at some antique stores. We found this sign that will be perfect for the nursery!



Also last weekend, we went shopping with my parents and bought the baby book--"The Big Story of Little Me"!

Today was a busy day. Phillip and I went to Babies R Us to register! We picked out all kinds of fun stuff, mostly the big ticket items, because, honestly, I don't really care what blankets, onesies & socks people buy for us! We did add a few things once we got home, but we had a good time.

Thanks to my good friend, Cara, we have a glider and ottoman. Today we also picked out paint for the changing table that matched the glider.

16 Weeks

We went to the doctor again today. We finally got to hear the heartbeat! It was so cool! However, Dr. Jarrett was not very happy with my weight gain so far...5 pounds! She said I'm about 10 pounds behind so I need to gain at least 4 pounds in the next 4 weeks. I've never had to gain or lose weight before so this may be tough, but it's worth it! (If you had a hard time gaining weight while pregnant and have any tips, I'm open to suggestions!)

I was told last night that it had been a while since I posted. And it's true. I didn't realize how long it had been! However, there really hasn't been too much going on. My parents are in town so we've been spending a lot of time with family and starting new traditions. After watching The Nativity Story last night, Phillip and I decided we want that to be part of our Christmas tradition with our children. I guess we need to get a copy of our own for next year!

And it's done!

The party was a success. We had 15 people, which is more than last year, but it was too late last night to think about counting how many we had last year. We have leftovers of all the good stuff...oh wait, that's everything! Anyway, on to the rest of the busy week, where someone else gets to do all the work and I can just enjoy it!

Busy, busy, busy

This past weekend was busy. Not terribly busy, but busy enough. Friday night, Phillip cooked hamburger & sausage for me so I could make stuff when I got home. We made the sausage balls together (that was fun!), then I spent another hour or so in the kitchen making sausage dip, hamburger dip, and crab dip. Fortunately, all together, it only took about 2 hours to get all that done.

Saturday morning, we went and picked up Jenni to meet my parents for brunch at Waffle House before the Abilene High/Hebron football game. What a game!!! It was a 20-yard line to 20-yard line game. So, Abilene High will play Pflugerville at Texas Stadium on Saturday...I don't think we'll make this one, but I'm sure it will be a great game! Then after we got home, I made zucchini bread.

Yesterday, I worked for about four and a half hours without a break. (Yes, I know I should have taken a break and put my feet up, but I didn't even realize that much time had passed!) But, I got the banana bread, almond tea and strawberry bread made, after a few phone calls to Mom & Jenni! (No party planning is complete without them!) I also got the table set and ready for Tuesday night.

Tonight we have a school board meeting at which Phillip will receive his Apple Corps award. Then we're on to Jenni's Christmas party for what usually amounts to a preview of our own party! While not all the food is the same, much of it is! After all, we grew up in the same family and have the same holiday favorites!

Wednesday is church, Thursday is Life Group (with a white elephant gift exchange). Then, Friday my office is having a Christmas party at the Gaylord Texan! I am really excited about this because I've never been there and I hear we're having a great meal.

Saturday, Phillip and Jenni are going car shopping because her car is literally wearing out. It's time! So, I'll be at home wrapping presents (maybe buying a few on the way home!), ironing, cleaning up from the week. Hmmm....I might even put my feet up and rest!

Test results--GREAT news!!!

I'm not 100% sure what "before the test" means, but I guess it's just factoring in my age, race, etc., and the baby's age. And, I guess "after the test" also factors in the amount of fluid at the base of the neck (from the ultrasound) and the blood results.

Before the test, our risk of Downs syndrome was 1 in 590. After the test, our risk is 1 in 3,500.
Before the test, our risk of Trisomy 18 was 1 in 2,000. After the test, our risk is 1 in 10,000.

It would appear, then, that we have a healthy baby!!!!

It was bound to happen and it finally has. I have a cold. Being sick is bad enough, but knowing that there's probably not much you can do about it is worse. (No, I haven't checked with my doctor about any medicines, but I don't normally take anything for colds because they don't last too long anyway.) But, I can say that Tylenol works wonders for the aches that a cold brings!

Here's the picture we got on Friday.

Thank you!

The test went well. It was just an ultrasound (where we got to see the baby jumping a little!) and a fingerprick for blood. We should have the results next Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks for your prayers!!

12 weeks

Yea!!!

I just have to brag on Phillip a little. Mesquite ISD (where he works, for those who don't know) has an award called Apple Corps. It's only given to a few teachers and it's a really big deal. The honorees are nominated by their peers. Well, Phillip just found out that he is an Apple Corps teacher! For those of you who know, this has been a hard year for Phillip, so this should be quite a boost to him.

Congrats, honey!

Sara W was closest in the weight gain contest. But, actually I gained 0 pounds since my last visit on October 17!

In other news, tomorrow at 9:00 I will have a nuchal translucency screening. It's a routine test and I don't expect anything will be wrong, but I'm still a little nervous. Thankfully, Aunt Jenni will be there with me so at least I won't be alone. If you would, please say a little prayer for me then that I will be calm and not too nervous!

Our second appointment

Today's our second doctor appointment. Anyone want to hazard a guess on how much weight I've gained since the last visit? I'll post the answer later, but there's no prizes this time. Sorry! I'll have to think up something for a big prize at the end if you can correctly guess when we have the baby!

Start spreading the news!

Okay, we've told family now, so it's time to start sharing with the world.

We went to Bronte for Thanksgiving and made our announcement on Thursday at lunch. Everyone was excited. Phillip called his grandpa since he couldn't be with us for lunch (he's had shingles and didn't want to get anyone sick).

Friday we came to Abilene and told my granddad at dinner. He was excited, but got very emotional, saying, "Mommy (Grandmommy) sure would be proud!"

In other news, we have a crib and changing table!

We climbed up in the attic and looked at the crib that Jenni and I used as babies and it follows enough of the safety guidlines for me. Mom and I put together enough to figure out how it works and see that it needs some repair work before we can actually use it. We'll work on getting that done, but all we'll need to buy in that respect is a new mattress. (I figured the one that's 30 years old and been in the attic or outside storeroom could really use replacing!)

The changing table has been consistently in use for the last 31 years, mostly as shelves or an entertainment center. But it is time, once again, to be used for its rightful purpose. My grandpa built this for my sister in 1976 so I figure it will work for our baby as well.

Quick update

So far, the baby has been pretty nice to me. I haven't really been sick, though there are moments when my stomach just isn't "right." But, I've made it this far. I suppose I can make it seven more months!

In other news, I had my first baby dream last night. In the dream we had a little...well, we had a baby!

Off to work...I've got a lot to do today.

The long-awaited picture

Or, at least, it was for us! (If you can't interpret, let me help....the black spot in the lower left part of the circle is the brain. The body goes up and to the right from the head. When this was taken, the baby was about 1" long.)

I'm so sick of crackers!! But, it's either eat crackers (or Pop Tarts, which have WAY more calories, fat, etc., than saltines) or get sick. I guess I'll keep buying saltines! Gotta keep something in my stomach. :-)

An eventful day...

Last Friday was one of the more eventful days since I've been pregnant. I was in a car wreck! Fortunately, I was not in my car and it was not my fault. My car was at the dealership for the 45,000 service so I was in a loaner car. I was on my way back to the dealership to pick up my car when a lady turned in front of me. I hit her and she says she was hurt so the ambulance & fire truck came to treat her. The police showed up to take our statements. She admitted that it was her fault and since she has insurance, her insurance will take care of getting the dealership's car fixed. I was not hurt, but I think I'll call my doctor today just to see if she wants to see me.

Update: I found out this morning, however, that the other driver is not insured after all. While she had a valid insurance card that didn't expire until next February, the collision center called her insurance company and found out that the customer cancelled the policy last May. (Yes, the card was valid for one year!) So, it looks like we'll get to pay our $250 uninsured motorist deductible (at least initially). We may take her to small claims court to try to get that reimbursed. We'll see what happens!