Nov. 12, 2008 - Dr. Appt

I had another follow-up appt today. They were running behind, so they were 40 minutes late calling me back, for an appointment that literally took less than 5 minutes! It was interesting waiting out in the waiting room though. I counted 8 other pregnant women (most were very pregnant) in the waiting room, and thought it was funny that what the office had on the TV out there was the Food Network. I swear, the longer I sat there the hungrier I got.

Everything was fine on the tests. Gained another 4 pounds! Got to listen to the heartbeat again - 138. They said everything looked great and sounded like a nice healthy baby.

Scheduled to go back in on Dec. 11th for an ultrasound and a follow-up appt. Should hopefully be able to find out gender at that ultrasound! Good thing too because Thomas is dying already!

15 weeks

Ok, so everyone is contstantly asking me about crazy cravings, and haven't really had anything other than if I see something, I want it NOW. But, this week, it seems my first real craving has hit - Orange sode. Gotta have it, gotta have it, gotta have it NOW!!!

Oct. 18-21, 2008 - at the cabin

We had a nice visit with everyone. I spent most of Saturday in bed and stayed at the cabin. Ventured out Sunday for the afternoon with mom and dad to do some antiquing/shopping in downtown Blueridge and had a great time. Joe and Jen showed up with the boys Sunday and Eileen, Rich, and Stephanie made it up Monday.

Was a nice trip and had great food and company, with beautiful views!

Oct. 17th - Over the river and through the woods...

After spending much of the week baking, cooking, and getting food items together to take (as well as getting all the stuff together for all of the animals to leave for Kyle, who house-sit for us while we were gone). We got the rest of our stuff packed up and loaded in the car to head up to the mountains. Poor Max, he was absolutely traumatized that we left without him!

It's a nice short drive up, only takes about 50 minutes. But wouldn't it figure, I made it the whole way through the first trimester without getting sick, and I had to make Thomas pull off the side of the road when we were about a mile from the cabin! Oh well. I think I just overdid it during the week.

Got to the cabin around 6, which still gave us some time to enjoy the evening. Very nice cabin, and absolutely gorgeous views. At the top of a mountain with a nice view of the valley and other mountains on 2 sides.

Oct. 14, 2008

Since we officially "graduated" from the Specialists last week, I had to have my first visit with my midwife today, Kim Storey. She will be handling all of my prenatal care and delivery. It went just fine, they agree that everything looks perfectly normal and we spent most of the time reviewing my paperwork from the specialist. She did want to listen to the heart, so she used a little microphone device on my belly and we easily found the heartbeat. It was pretty cool because as we were listening we got to hear a kick too. She was saying "that's the heartbeat at 150, oh, and that's a kick." Next appt not for another 4 weeks, so things can slow back down a bit in regards to appointments (Good!).

Looking forward to joining Mom and Dad Starr up at the cabin in the mountains this weekend for some R&R (going up Friday after work through Tuesday morning).

Oct. 11, 2008 - Outlet shopping for the girls!

The long awaited shopping day finally arrived. Mom Starr, Catie, Berna, Katie Murtha, and myself took the day to head up to the N. Georgia outlets so we could say good bye to Katie before she left us for 3 months for Oklahoma. I had a wonderful time with everyone. We stopped and had lunch first and then worked our way through the outlets throughout the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Katie was able to find some nice outfits for work and I got a bunch of clothes to help handle my expanding waist line (definitely don't fit into my regular clothes anymore, although maternity stuff is still a bit loose for now). Catie got a few pair of her new love - Sberry shoes (look cute on her but make Katie and I look like grandpa material. yes, you got it right, grandpa, not grandma). Berna even found herself a few nice shirts for very good prices. And yes, we were finally able to convice Mom Starr to buy some pants and 2 shirts for herself. All in all I had an absolutely wonderful time. I was exhausted by the time I got into bed Saturday night and lounged most of the day Sunday, but it was wonderful. Thank you ladies!

Additional Sept. 25, 2008 (ultrasound picture)

Just wanted to go back and add the pictures from the second ultrasound.

October 7, 2008

Today we had our last OB follow-up visit with the specialist. So we got to "graduate." Had our third ultrasound. Fingers were more pronounced, could see the spine, eye sockets, etc. And again, lots of movement. Measured in just at 2 inches crown to rump. It's just amazing how quickly things develop and they grow/change!

Still feeling alright although definitely running out of clothes that fit in a hurry. Can't wait to go shopping with Berna, Katie M, Catie, and Mom Starr Saturday! Hopefully I can find some things that fit now during this in-between stage.

Thomas got to video some of the monitor this time around: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7774727878343435453

September 30, 2008

Any of you that really know me probably aren't surprised by my limited postings... ha! Since I'm starting to grow out of my clothes (can't fit into my jeans anymore and what's left is getting tight around the waist), Thomas has started taking pictures of my "baby bump."

First Picture - 10 Weeks

September 26, 2008 - 2nd Ultrasound video

Here's the link to the video we took of yesterday's ultrasound. Thomas video taped the monitor during the ultrasound...


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7915945255621541152

September 25, 2008

Today we had our second ultrasound, at 9 weeks 2 days. He/she was a lot bigger than last time. Got to hear the heart again and even got a little dance performance for mommy and daddy. He/she is moving on their own now and was in constant movement throughout most of the ultrasound. Was really neat and we got to video the monitor, so we'll post that as soon as we can. Unfortunately the still pictures (which I'll add to this post this weekend) aren't as good looking as it looked on the actual monitor, but was probably hard with all of the movement! Crown to rump length is right at 1 inch right now too. We got to see the arms, legs, brain, and even some fingers! So neat - a true miracle!

Next ultrasound is scheduled for Wed. Oct 8th (11 weeks).

September 22, 2008

Well, we officially hit week 9 today. Little baby should be about the size of a strawberry and already has fingers and toes.

Not a whole lot has changed lately. Except that last Thursday I finally pulled myself away from pizza and did a complete switch to craving salads/light sandwiches with lots of veggies.

Had a bit of a rough weekend. It seems that if I go any longer than 1 1/2 hours without eating something fairly substantial, I get pretty woozy feeling and nauseaus and just want to lie down. I have to force myself to eat something and then I feel better again. So LOTS of very small meals all throughout the day for me!

Had my first "fat" realization yesterday too. Put on one of my "larger" pairs of jeans to find out I can no longer button the button! Thomas looped a rubberband through the button hole and around the button for me so I could still wear them... setting a date to hopefully go shopping with Katie Murtha and Mom Starr Oct 11th to get a few pairs of pants!

September 19, 2008

Well, I FINALLY got myself over the pizza hurdle (after 5 days of eating nothing but pizza for lunch and dinner - of course, some of them weren't that bad since I at least made it at home, which cut out the grease, etc).

On the other side, I've been battling a horrible cough all week. I think it's allergies from the ragweed. Robitussin is the best I can do right now, at least it helps...

Got a really neat book from my manager yesterday - Your Pregnancy Week by Week. I started reading through it and it's very interesting. It has lots of information about food, what you're going through, what your baby is going through, tips for the week, size/development of the baby, and exercises for the week. 

At least it's Friday and I have the weekend to hopefully relax a bit and maybe catch a nap! ;)

September 15, 2008

We have reached 8 weeks today and have decided to start a blog so that our family far away can still be a part of the pregnancy. Read when you want/have time and enjoy!

This weekend was the first progression of "cravings" beyond bread (which seemed to be my food item of choice for the past week or 2). As of Saturday, I escalated to a severe aversion to chicken/pork (just the sight, smell, or mention makes me want to get sick!) as well as some vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower). Instead, all I seem to want is bread/cheese. Pizza anyone? So far, I'm going on 4 days that I'd be perfectly happy eating nothing but breadsticks dipped in marinara sauce and a good saucy pan pizza. We'll see how long this lasts!

So far, it's been a blissful pregnancy with very little nausea/heartburn and haven't gotten sick (knock on some major wood!). 

Got my prenatal "Fit Mama" DVD today, will have to put it in sometime and give it a try!

I'll try to post a few back-dated posts and include pics from the first ultrasound from last week.

September 9, 2008

Our first ultrasound, at 7 weeks, 1 day. Found out we are having 1 (cingular); which, is a slight disappointment (we would have been perfectly happy with twins), but we are thrilled just to be pregnant. Everything looked great and blood tests were all good. 

It was so amazing to see the little guy absolutely pulsing from the heartbeat. And we actually got to HEAR it too. It was so strong! Today is really that day of realization that there is someone growing inside of me, what a miracle!

September 16, 2008

My determination won today over my fear of trying out my new exercise DVD in front of Thomas at the risk of being laughed at. Here's the result: it was actually pretty fun (the "cardio" section used salsa dance steps and then did a couple of sections of stretching) but I did accomplish reinforcing the fact that I have no coordination... Oh well, it's still good exercise for me!

According to my WebMD weekly newsletter, he/she is now about the size of a grape (.56-.8 inches along the body). "Eyelid folds and ears are forming and even the tip of the nose is visible. The arms have grown longer and bend at the elbows. Places where fingers and toes eventually will grow are becoming notched." It's just too cool to see how far along they progress so early!