Saturday, October 28, 2006

By the way...

I fully expect everyone to be rooting for twins. Yup, that's right, I want twins. That's not to say I'll be disappointed otherwise, but rather that's my goal. So say it with me...

TWINS! TWINS! TWINS!

Does the baby look like an alien?


I found this picture online of an 8 week baby in utero. Wow!! That's amazing! Albeit... a little "other-worldly" if you ask me.









And here's the write-up of what a 9-week baby is like (since we are pretty close...):
  • Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!
  • Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
  • Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!
  • Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
  • Average size this week -- length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)

Our little "pac-man"

We had our first OB appointment on October 19th, at about 7.5 weeks, and it went really well! The doctor (Dr. Brennan) is AWESOME. She was bubbly, energetic, and really listened to what I had to say. She also struck me as really caring. She's one of those docs you'd want to be friends with after delivering. I'm actually upset that we won't be here for the birth!

I had dragged Sean to the appointment, even though neither of us really knew if he should come or not. We didn't want anyone to think we were weird ;) As it happens about half the women in the waiting room had someone with them, so apparently it was okay! I'm sure he's glad he brought a book though (what - those pregnancy magazines aren't entertaining enough??), since most of the time he was sitting out in the waiting room alone, surrounded by women with various bump sizes.

But, I'm so glad he did come - not only did it calm my nerves while waiting (no clue why I was nervous - what can I say, I am new to this!), but he also got to come back to the room while the doc did an ultrasound! I wasn't sure they would do one, with it being so early, so I asked the nurse - gave her those puppy dog eyes and said, "Oh, I was really hoping we'd get an ultrasound today...??" In the end all we could see was a screen full of snow, and then a blob of no snow. Not exactly the amazing ultrasound moment I had expected :) BUT - the doctor did confirm everything looked great and everything was in the right place. She said she could see "the tadpole" making a clipping motion in the bottom right of the sac - I guess that was the heartbeat. She said, if you look carefully, you can see it there, it looks like a little pac-man... lol Well I couldn't see that but I took her word for it - it all looked like snowy blobbiness to me.

When we were checking out and setting up our next appointments, I mentioned we would be moving in January. These people are so nice, the receptionist was even like "Oh no, you're not staying with us? That's too bad!" with this sad look on her face. Oh it just struck me now... they are losing a paying customer! LOL But I'm sure that's not what she meant ;)

Anyway it was very reassuring and a great experience. I did feel a bit out of place having no discernible evidence of belonging there (ie a baby bump) - but maybe by the next appointment I will. We go back on Nov. 22, right around American Thanksgiving! We definitely have more to be thankful for this year.

Belly pictures

I know, I know. It's waaay too early to be taking pictures of my belly, considering the baby is only ~2 cm long at 8 weeks! But, don't make fun of me... let's think of it as 'saying goodbye to my waist' ;)

So without further ado, here they are!

4 weeks:                   6 weeks:                    8 weeks:

                                          maybe a little bump?          starting to grow a little


Monday, October 23, 2006

Oops.

Oopsie! I had previously had the setting on this blog to only allow 'registered users' to post comments. Sorry about that! I've fixed that, so you don't need to sign up for a blogger account just to add a comment.

My bad! We'll call that 'pregnancy brain'. :)

So for Dee and Dad, thanks for signing up, and oops! ;)

Saturday, October 21, 2006

How this all began...

It was a chilly Saturday morning, the wind was blowing outside. Sean and I were doing chores around the house, and we had just ordered subs from Jimmy John's.

** fast forward 12 days **

You didn't think I would go into detail there, did you??

Anyway, 12 days later on the way home from work, I stop at Walgreen's and head down the 'family planning' aisle. My heart was racing - I'd never done this before and don't know what posessed me to buy a test on this particular day, but here we are. I grabbed the closest box I could find (FactPlus, sounds good to me) and run away from that aisle. Pick up a few other items, so I could sortof hide the pregnancy test among the other, more innocuous things, pay and get the heck out of there. I am a 29-year-old woman and yet I am as giddy as a kid playing hookey.

When I get home I head straight to the bathroom, coat on, with the bag of stuff. Sean asks for the bag, so he can put the other stuff away.

Um. okay. hee hee! Look what's inside!! (~giddy~)

Sean being the direction reader that he is, wants to read through the entire packet before I take the test. We want to make sure we follow the directions exactly, lest we get a false result and waste a stick. Good idea, but I am bursting here. He reads the entire thing - I think even the Spanish parts to make sure we're not missing anything - and then leaves me to it.

Having placed the completed test on the counter (laid flat, exactly as the directions said) I stand there, staring at the clock. Hang on, is time actually going BACKWARDS? No, my imagination. It's been ten seconds. COME ON!! Alright let me check the stick. Nothing. Okay it's been 30 seconds, maybe needs more time.

** fast forward 60 seconds **

Woah. Um, that's a second line. When it makes a "+" sign, that means...? Wait, let me check the directions... Hmm. So, plus means... yeah, it's what I thought.

Sean!! Uhh. C'mere.


***

About a week later, just to be sure, we got another test. It came up positive in about ten seconds.

So... due date is June 1. Thank goodness we have 9 long months to get used to the idea of being parents.

Er... wait, we're nearly at 8 weeks already!! We only have 32 weeks to get used to the idea. Eep!