2nd Doctor's Appointment

Well, I've completely slacked off. I've been battling a really bad sinus infection and school has started again, so things have been a little hectic. Our 2nd appointment was on the 3rd and it went really well. They measured the fluid in the spine (a marker for Down Syndrome) and said that baby was fine. The tech tried to get a good view of little one's nether regions, but baby would have nothing of that. He/she threw their arms down between it's legs and kept them down there until we gave up and continued on our way. They say with a really good tech and machine, they can give you a guess of the sex as early as 12 weeks. Our tech told us that she had an idea of what it was, but didn't want to tell us until she was 100% sure. She said that might be at the next appointment on 10/6.

I have to crop the ultrasound pics so my name isn't in them, but hopefully they'll be up sometime today!

Girl Bedding Fabric

So after searching through bedding and being very disappointed (why do I want to pay so much money for something I don't love?) and a discussion with my crafty mom, she agreed to make a quilt for the bedding. So, although I know it's really early, I've started looking at fabrics.

For a girl, I wanted something feminine, but not necessarily pink. I found this collection at our local fabric store and fell in love. It's exactly what I wanted, a romantic bird theme, but not in your face. So this is what I'm thinking:

The top 5 fabrics would be quilted in either a baby block or brick pattern. I'm thinking minky dots for the backing. The bottom pink fabric would be used for the curtains and some accents. The bird egg pattern would be a band at the bottom of the curtains and a pillow and perhaps a few other accesories throughout the room.

If it's a boy, we'll use the egg print as inspiration and pick out solid colors that coordinate. I figure this is probably the best bet to keep with the bird theme and still keep it somewhat masculine (hubby will not allow floral in a boys room, haha).

So that's what I'm thinking for bedding. I have a few more things figured out for the nursery, but I think I'll keep them a surprise for another day.

Week 12 Survey

How far along: 12 weeks
Total weight gain: +1 pound
How big is baby: the size of a plum
Maternity clothes: still wearing maternity work pants
Stretch marks: none so far
Sleep: I'm still tired all the time
Best moment this week: Friday... this week was entirely too long
Movement: none so far
Food cravings: Crab legs! Yum!
Belly button in or out: innie
What I miss: still beer. could really use one right about now =(
What I'm looking forward to: our blue and pink party we're planning!
Milestone: My bloat bump is starting to be replaced by the baby bump. Amazing!

Week 11 Survey

I apologize, I do not have a belly pic this week. After finding out abour my friend's passing, it kind of go lost in all the chaos.

How far along: 11 weeks

Total weight gain: Still at pre-pregnancy weight

How big is baby: the size of a lime

Maternity clothes: still wearing maternity work pants

Stretch marks: none so far.

Sleep: still going pretty strong, but not sleeping quite as much.

Best moment this week: a 2 hour nap I took on Wednesday... ah

Movement: none so far.

Food cravings: Chips and onion dip

Belly button in or out: innie

What I miss: beer.

What I'm looking forward to: finding out the sex! It's too far away!

Milestone: heard a strong heart beat (178) for quite a long time on the home doppler!

Saying goodbye to an old friend...

I just found out that one of my old friends passed away this week. He was only 29 years old. I've been thinking about our friendship all day. How it dwindled away after I got married, how it all but disappeared when I moved to another state. I feel so incredibly guilty that we weren't as close as we used to be. I used to look up to him as an older brother.

So after a day of guilt and sadness, I've decided that I will no longer dwell on the negatives. I will remember all the good times we shared (and there were a lot). I'll never forget watching the Superman movies in your basement. I'll always remember that it was you that introduced me to chinchillas (amongst your other exotic pets). I'll remember sitting in the back of your grandpa's station wagon looking out the back window pretending to drive. I'll never, ever forget you trying to teach me how to in-line skate and my balance not cooperating at all. I'll remember that week one summer where our families rented a beach house and we would stay up for hours playing cards. I'll remember all the summers spent in your pool in the backyard. I'll remember always the days you would drive us home from school in your fancy Black Mustang. I'll remember the only date we ever went on... my freshman semi-formal. I'll remember you later apologizing for not dancing with me enough... and admitting you always had a crush on me. I'll never, ever forget you sticking up for me when you thought a guy was treating me wrong. I'll always get teary eyed when someone calls me Miss Danielle. The last time I saw you, you walked out of your room and commented that if someone would have told you such a pretty girl was going to be there, you would have dressed up. That was so long ago.

You were the best big brother I never had, and my only regret at this point is that I never told you that. I don't think you would have known how much your passing has affected me. I did care. I still do.

An observation...

So I am 10 weeks pregnant. Not a big deal when you first look at it, really. 10 is such a low number, but it's still such a huge milestone.

10 weeks is obviously the first week where you're in the double digits. My first quarter of pregnancy is over. In these past 70 days, my baby has grown from the size of a poppyseed to the size of a prune. He/she has grown arm and leg buds, then webbed hands and feet, then viable fingers and toes, and now working joints and fingernails. The baby's heart has been beating away for more than 4 weeks. I am one week closer to moving on to 2nd trimester.

I'm not saying it's all roses. I still have that fear that I will somehow lose this pregnancy. I am not out of the woods yet. I actually had a dream the other night that I did miscarry. There's been a lot of loses on my board recently, and it's really bothered me. I've tried using my doppler to hear the heartbeat and last night I finally heard a few minutes of it. Every other time I've tried, I've either been unsuccessful or it was very, very short. So baby is ok, for now. I'm trying to keep positive, but it's extremely hard.

Week 10 Survey

First off, sorry this is a few days late. I went back to work on Wednesday and then the morning sickness made it's self known. So I am just now getting around to posting this week's survey. I am hoping that this tiredness goes away quickly because I just don't know how I'm going to function!

How far along: 10 weeks

Total weight gain: I am back down to my pre-pregnancy weight. My appetite just hasn't been as big as it was.

How big is baby: the size of a prune

Maternity clothes: wearing maternity work pants

Stretch marks: none so far.

Sleep: school started, so I'm back to being tired all the time.

Best moment this week: we got an ultrasound at our first appointment! Saw baby and got to see and hear the heartbeat!

Movement: none so far.

Food cravings: none really.

Belly button in or out: innie

What I miss: beer.

What I'm looking forward to: the next ultrasound in a couple of weeks

Milestone: seeing the baby and his/her heartbeat!