7 weeks to go!!

I don't really have too much to update on this week so far! I have a shower tomorrow evening, so I'll make a post about that after! I'm really excited to see some of my former coworkers and some of our friends/family friends from this area. I'll be having an open house shower up in Hallock once the baby is born, so really looking forward to that, too!

This week, baby is the size of a pineapple! On average, over 17 inches long and about 4 1/2 pounds. I'm really curious to see where we stack up in these measurements, but I guess I just have to wait. Now that I know baby is head down, I can start figuring out what I'm feeling when (s)he is moving around! I get a cute little butt in my ribs quite often! I do find myself cringing when I feel a big "rolling" movement coming on....never know if it's going to hurt or not. Sleep has been hit or miss lately, mostly because I find myself thinking about what we still need to do and get. My hips and lower back are really excited for their massage next Tuesday, too!

We had our second childbirth class last night, and I am really starting to get more comfortable with everything. The nurse teaching the class is so awesome and I am glad I'm learning about all of the different things that can/do happen, so that I am mentally prepared. Tim has been really supportive and positive that things are going to go just perfectly, so I'm taking that as him trying to reassure me! :)

Since we're getting closer and closer, I thought it would be fun to post this poll again! Take your guesses!! :)

http://www.expectnet.com/games/CaillierBaby
I'll post again after my shower tomorrow night!

8 Weeks to go!

Time is flying!! I feel like I say that every week, but it's so true! It's also weird to say that NEXT MONTH my baby is due....Ah!

By this week, baby weighs almost 4lb and is about 17" long on average. It's crazy to think that I was 5lb 10 oz when I was born--my baby is almost there!! Baby will typically put on a 1/2 lb a week at this point, and lucky for me, my weight gain over the last couple weeks was only a pound, so it was nice to know that it was literally just baby weight gained this time! :) I'm also right in the healthy weight gain amount and my dr is happy with how that is all going. I had a dr appointment yesterday and everything is looking great! Baby is measuring right on time, and my dr could tell that baby is officially head down! Let's hope things stay that way! He's gone in 2 weeks when I'm supposed to have my next appointment, so I have to wait til the following week to go back.

We also had our first childbirth classes last night! Lots of people told me they would be lame, but I didn't mind it. I'd rather be prepared knowing exactly what different things to expect during labor, the hospital's typical policies and procedures, and we got to tour a birth suite last night! Just another step in making this all more real. I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions off and on lately, been getting more winded and find that I can't be on my feet as long as I used to. Wouldn't trade it for the world, though!

We hung some pictures and things on the walls in our nursery, folded my first load of baby clothes, and starting to organize things! Here are a few pictures:

These bottom 2 pictures have been photoshopped to help me get a better idea of how those walls will look once they're done!

 

Here we are at 31w and 5 days!

 

I've recently been reminded again how much of a miracle this baby is that I'm carrying. Just as I was starting to almost get annoyed by the lack of sleep I've been getting (because (s)he thinks bedtime means party time EVERY NIGHT), I am reminded just how fortunate I am to have this healthy pregnancy.

Love you, baby!

9 Weeks to go--single digits!! :)

Can't believe we're down to 9 weeks! Well, 8 weeks and 6 days as of today technically! Baby is busy as ever, but movements have been fewer and farther between with longer sleeping patterns being developed and just running out of room. I did get to experience baby 'hiccups' yesterday, so that was pretty cool! I also got all signed up for child birth classes that start next Tuesday. Is it weird that I'm excited about these?? I'm really excited for the tour of the hospital and just hearing all the different topics we'll learn over the next 4 weeks!

I figured I would just make this blog answering all the common questions I've been asked:

1. How are you feeling??
     ~Pretty good, actually! I know a lot of people ask this just to be friendly, so I hate to go into details. I've been having heartburn throughout the day and at night. Tums usually takes care of that. My hips are starting to tell me that it's time for another massage...shoot! ;) I have my times of exhaustion, usually toward the end of the day, but nothing to really complain about there. Those are pretty much the only complaints I have, so I'm considering myself really lucky at this point!

2. Are you getting excited??
    ~Well, obviously!! I get a kick out of people asking this question. A little nervous, yes--more and more every day, but so excited to meet this little person that's been growing in me!

3. How much longer??
   ~8 weeks, 6 days. 62 days!

4. Is the summer heat getting to you?
   ~I spend 90% of my time during the week indoors, so no. Am I warmer than everyone else, typically, yes. Everyone around the office complains that it's so cold in here, but I think it's perfect. This week when we had 90 degrees and 80% humidity, I chose to stay inside instead of putting myself and my body through being out in that and doing physical activity. Being pregnant in the summer just takes common sense if you ask me!

5. Are you sure you aren't having twins?? or, Wow, you look like you're ready to go any time!
   ~Typically not a compliment at this stage in the game...there's definitely only one baby in there and we're going through growth spurts now through the next few weeks. I already feel large and in charge, but still have 8 weeks to go and am not entirely sure where there's room for this baby to grow!

Those are the most common questions I've been getting so figured I could answer them all at once!

Old Wive's Tales--gender prediction

Thought it would be fun to see how what these Old Wive's Tales say about this baby's gender! My comments are in RED!

Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Linea Negra

Latin for ‘black line’, a linea negra may appear on your belly during pregnancy (some women wont get it). The old wives tale is this – if you get a línea negra and it runs from your pubic area to your belly button only, it’s a girl, and if it goes all the way up from your pubic area to the bottom-most part of you rib cage, then it’s a boy. Runs all the way up to my rib cage--Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #2 – Carrying High or Low?

As the tale goes, if you are carrying low, it’s a boy; if you’re carrying high, it’s a girl.  I feel like I'm carrying low, but I've never heard from anyone else what they think--Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #3 – The Draino Thingo

There is an old wives tale that involves mixing your urine with Draino but not only is Draino dangerous and bad for you, it’s bad for the environment too. I won't do this one - yuck!

Old Wives’ Tale #4 – Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?

If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way. Super dry skin!--Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #5 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?

They say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm. A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm. A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine (1996) has dismissed this theory, as has other research. Your baby’s heart rate will change often during a pregnancy, depending on the baby’s age and it’s movement. Anything from 120-160bpm is normal for an unborn baby.  Baby's heartrate has steadily been right at 150!--Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Your Flowing Locks

Has your hair become thinner and dull? Or full-bodied and glossy? Thin and dull says girl, gorgeous and glossy says a boy.  I don't think my hair has become thinner, but it's not exactly gorgeous and glossy, either!---Inconclusive?

Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?

If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you are carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!  I feel like I've been carrying extra weight at the front, and Tim hasn't put on any weight--Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Numbers…

If you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.  Age=25+Month-December (12)=37 (ODD)--Girl!

Old Wives’ Tale #9 – Sweet, Salty or Sour?

Another well known old wives tale!!! Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? If so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy. It’s also said that if you are having a boy, you will crave protein like meat and dairy. I have trouble believing this one because I think we’d be overrun by a population of females – we all love chocolate pregnant or not!  Definitely sweet foods--FRUIT especially!--Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Wedding Ring Test

Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl. Tried this and it moved from side to side, then like stopped, then moved in a big circle--I'm taking that as first kid is girl, second a boy?

Old Wives’ Tale #11 – Got Morning Sickness?

Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.  I'm counting my extreme nauseau as morning sickness even though I didn't actually "get sick." I thought about it several times--Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #12 – How About Those Cold Feet?

If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!  My feet are the same, probably warmer--Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #13 – How Do You Look?

Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favours? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too flash, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks! Definitely girl on this one

Old Wives’ Tale #14 – The Breast Test!

If you look in the mirror at your breasts, which one is larger? If it’s the right one, you’re carrying a boy and for a larger left breast, then it’s a girl. Which only leaves one question… if your breasts are both the same size, does that mean one of each?  I think they're pretty comparable--inconclusive!

Old Wives’ Tale #15 – North or South?

When you sleep, is your pillow north or south? If it’s north, then expect a boy, or south means a girl is on the way.  I'm not really sure what this one means...

Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Pimples, Schimiples…

If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.  I've had more breakouts than usual--girl

Old Wives’ Tale #17 – Are You A Lefty or a Righty?

When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.  I flip a lot, but I'd say typically I favor the left side--Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Check Out Your Wee!

Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl.  I think this probably has to do with water intake, but most of the time it's dull/clear--Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #19 -What Does Your Belly Look Like?

A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.  Wish I had a little basketball, but it doesn't look that cute!--Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #20 – Hairy Legs?

Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy. It's grown faster than it did, which means I should shave my legs more often, but it's just so much work!! :) --Boy



Total: 6 for Boy, 9 for Girl, and a few that didn't have enough of an answer either way!! Of all the random people who've told me what they think baby is, only 2 have told me boy. The rest have said girl! Since I really have no feelings one way or another, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if these wive's tales are true!

10 weeks left!!!

CRAZY!!!!!

Last week was kind of a blur and I didn't update. Then by the time I remembered to, I just decided that I would make this post extra good. haha

In approximately 70 days (give or take a few) our little kickboxer will be joining us! Talk about feeling unprepared excited! I had a doctor appointment yesterday and baby is measuring exactly on time, heartrate is about 150, and my blood pressure is perfect. We start every other week visits now, too--time is really going to fly! We discussed starting to do fetal kick counts. My doctor asked if "the kid" (that's what he calls baby) was still being busy. I assured him that definitely when I lay down to go to sleep at night it takes a good 20 minutes before the punching is done! I also feel kicks to my right ribs and it gets a little sore up there when I touch. When I can feel baby starting to move around I just kinda close my eyes and keep thinking "please don't hurt me!!!" :)

I'm starting a list of things to buy before baby is born. I'm having a small shower this weekend with college friends and a shower that my mother-in-law is putting on for me with Crookston-area people at her house on July 11th. I'll be crossing things off my list as I get them, but I want to be prepared so that I can go and do my shopping right after the showers so I have time to get everything organized. I'll be having a shower up in Hallock after the baby is born, so I'm not going to go overboard on stuff that I don't need/want right away until after that! I'm just so anxious to get things organized it's starting to drive me crazy!!

NAMES: this has been our biggest struggle! We've had a boy name narrowed down for quite a while now. After we pretty much had that decided, I was so convinced this baby was going to be a boy. (no other reason besides loving the name!). WELL, last night I had an epiphany on a girl's name and have fallen completely in love with it. Tim and I haven't really talked too much about it yet, other than me mentioning the first name and him saying he thought that was a really nice name. The more I sit and think about it, the more I think that it's definitely the one!! So much so, that now I'm pretty convinced baby is a girl. haha! Hopefully he agrees to it!!

Other than my heartburn coming back with a vengance the last couple weeks, my hormones are about the only other thing to really complain about. I have some aches and pains if I sit for too long or stand for too long, but those are just normal. The hormones are ridiculous and my mood swings from one end of the pendulum to the other in a matter of minutes. It definitely doesn't take much to make me cry--which I get so frustrated about, then just laugh because I can't stop! Oh well, it's all for a good cause!

Here's a little comparison of how much we've grown! When I put them side by side, I was shocked at the progress! Not sure where baby is going to grow for 10 more weeks......

Nursery Progress!!

Tim got the dresser put together in the nursery yesterday, so I thought I'd post a couple of the pics of progress so far! Still have a long ways to go, and all of the decor/art work to hang up, but you get the general idea for now!!

(The sign sitting on top of the crib will be hung above it!)

Jers had to photobomb! :)

Finding Nemo sign :)

Pics to hang and the sign to cover up a hole in our door!

Can't wait to see the finished product...but it's helping that most of the furniture is there now!!

3rd Trimester!

We're officially in the 3rd trimester on every site/app I look at! The 3rd tri has been welcoming me with not so open arms, but it's just a sign we're getting closer to the end!

I've been definitely feeling some aches and pains lately. It basically feels like someone has been repeatedly kicking me in the groin when I sit too long and then get up to walk. My hips have felt amazing (except for when I walk too far) since I went to get a prenatal massage, so am going to schedule another one in a couple weeks, just to keep on top of that! (sounds like a good excuse, right?!?!) There are days when I've been so exhausted I don't know how I'm going to make it through the day, and other days I feel pretty energized until I get home...then I just want to crash. I also have these times of super bad nausea, but they have just ended up going away eventually--just never know when they are going to hit! I've noticed that I definitely can't do everything like I used to. I was busy getting things ready for the lake last week, but had to sit down and rest because I started feeling super dizzy. I'm slowly learning my ever-changing limits!

Ok, so not everything has been negative! I have been feeling the baby way more and seems like every time I think about him/her, (s)he moves :) I've been trying to get a video of my stomach rolling around because it just fascinates me! I waddle pretty bad when I first stand up, just to get things loosened up, and Tim finds it funny and decided to mock me the other day when we were out walking around...such a sweetheart! :)

Now that we're all settled in our camper at the lake, it's time to get back to the nursery! I've got a few things to put up on the walls, but I am waiting to have the dresser set up and just ordered a glider and ottoman for the room. Once those things get in place, I feel like I can finally add the finishing touches. I'll be having a couple showers before the baby comes, but am making my list of things I for sure need to get in case I don't get them at the showers. That way I'm not scrambling to prepare when I'm 9 months pregnant!

I just had to take a picture today at work because I feel extra large today...I know I've only got more days of feeling like that ahead!

Yay for "regular" shirts that are really long and can double as maternity clothes!

My view as I sit at my desk all day....

Not to leave my other baby out, here she is hanging out at the lake this last weekend! :)