The Baby Cove

Preggo Parasol Weekly Update - 11 Weeks

How Far Along: 11 Weeks

 

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a fig (I actually don’t know how big a fig is, lol)

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Down 2 lbs

 

Maternity Clothes: None, but I am favoring longer shirts to hide the itty bitty bump.

 

Gender: Unknown. I cannot wait to find out!

 

Movement: He/She is moved during my Ultrasound! So amazing!  But I can’t feel it yet.

 

Sleep: Still loving my early bedtime. But I am sleeping better though the night (I get to pee 1 or 2 times, but go right back to sleep).

 

What I miss: Tailgating at Football games with a cold beer.

 

Cravings: Nothing really. I was craving cookies on Sunday so I baked some. :)

 

Symptoms: Mainly sleepy and low energy. 

 

Body: I finally have a TINY bump. Very tiny, but noticeable to be. It’s super low.

 

Reading: Your Pregnancy Week by Week. Same Kind of Different as Me (I can’t read ALL baby books, can I?)

 

Purchases this week: Nothing, besides the usual organic fruits and veggies to eat.

 

Best Moment this week: Seeing the little baby move on the Ultrasound for the first time! It made it all seem so real! It was such an amazing moment.

 

What's happening next week: Nuchal Ultrasound and Mr. Parasol is coming with me to see Baby for the first time! So exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. Please pray for a healthy Baby P!

 

(I definitly "popped" a little bit! Just a teensy taste of what's to come!)

 

 

We Bonded!

On Friday I went to the Dr. for my monthly pregnancy checkup. She tried to listen to the Baby Parasol’s heartbeat on the Doppler, but she could not find it. She told me not to worry because lots of baby’s heartbeats can’t be found at 11 weeks. So she did a quick ultrasound and as soon as I saw the ultrasound screen, there was our baby! SO big! Well, big compared to our last ultrasound.

 

Here’s the sweet little guy or gal:

 

 

But by far the most amazing thing is that I got to see Baby Parasol move! He/she did a big wiggle dance in the middle of the ultrasound which made me laugh and in turn made him/her move even more! He/she interacted with my laugh. It was so incredible! I cried a little bit. It was the moment when I really felt like, “this is our baby!”

 

We totally bonded.

 

 

The First Trimester Fear

Friday (tomorrow) I have my first prenatal appointment since I first saw the bean at 6 weeks. I am now almost 11 weeks along. Almost out of the “scary” first trimester where chance of losing the baby goes from 20% to about 3%. I’m very anxious to see how the baby is doing.

 

I’ve felt pretty good in my first trimester. I’m extremely tired all the time (e.g. I slept 9.5 hours last night). But besides that I’ve had minimal nausea and very minimal other first trimester symptoms. I guess feeling as good as I do makes me nervous, like maybe the baby is not OK?  I can’t stop goggling missed miscarriage stories. I know it’s rare, but there are enough sad stories out there to freak me out. Note to self: STEP AWAY FROM THE GOOGLE.

 

I keep reminding myself that God is in control. This pregnancy is an unexpected blessing from God and if His will is for it to end, then His will will be done. I’ve eaten right, stayed away from booze, hot tubs, sushi, and more. I’ve done my part, now it’s in God’s hands.

 

Then in 10 days I have my Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound. This will help us to understand our chances of having a child with Trisomy 13, 18, Spina Bifida, Down’s Syndrome, and more.  That one makes me nervous too, because of the decisions we will have to make if anything is wrong with baby.

 

If these next two appointments go well and baby looks healthy, then in just about two weeks we can start broadly telling people about Baby Parasol!

 

But until then, I can’t help but worry. I guess it shows that I’m already a parent. And this is the first month of the next 50 years of worrying. :)

 

 

 

Preggo Parasol Weekly Update - 10 Weeks

How Far Along: 10 Weeks

 

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a prune (gross)

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Down 3 lbs

 

Maternity Clothes: None. In fact, somehow I lost weight this week.

 

Gender: Unknown. For some reason this week I am thinking girl. I even had a dream about it.

 

Movement: Nada

 

Sleep: Still so tired. But I have trouble sleeping through the night. I wake up about 4 times a night between 3 AM and 6 AM. Google says it could be progesterone related? Odd.

 

What I miss: My energy.

 

Cravings: Nothing. I’m back to that “everything sounds gross” feeling.

 

Symptoms: Sleepy. Sore boobs. Slight nausea here and there.

 

Body: I think my right boob grew?

 

Reading: Your Pregnancy Week by Week. Baby Bargains.

Purchases this week: A webcam so we can Skype with our families!

 

Best Moment this week: Seeing our friends who are having twin boys and talking babies with them! It's so nice to get to talk to someone else in real life who is pregnant.

What's happening next week:  My next doctor’s appointment is on Friday. I’m anxious to see how baby is doing!

 

2 things that are not fun at 9 weeks pregnant

1. College Football Games

 

The best part of a college football game is the tailgating. But tailgating with no beer is no tailgate at all. Enough said.

 

 

2. Clothes shopping

 

On Sunday I got a shopping bug, so I went out to the mall to look at some fun fall clothes. But it doesn't make much sense to buy new clothes that won't fit me in 1-3 months.

 

I did find an adorable wrap dress at Banana Republic that should carry me pretty far into the pregnancy

 

And I found some awesome boots at DSW!

These should look good with all of the leggings and tunics I plan to wear this winter. I also need to invest in some flat boots. 

 

But overall the shopping trip was a pretty big bust. So many pretty clothes... that I won't get to wear. Now I can't wait to buy maternity clothes, but I need to wait a few more months for that. Drat!

 

College football and shopping used to be two of my favorite fall hobbies. Now, not so much. I guess this fall I need some new hobbies. Maybe saving money can be my new hobby. Ha!

 

 

Preggo Parasol Weekly Update - 9 Weeks

How Far Along: 9 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a grape

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Down 1 lb

Maternity Clothes: None, but went to Target to reseach Bella Bands and other maternity tank tops. I have a feeling I'll live in those. I'm going to wait to purchase that stuff until I'm actually showing a bit more.

Gender: Unknown

Movement: Baby Center says he/she can move his/her limbs, but I can't feel it. Crazy!

Sleep: So tired. ALL the time. I seriously slept 10 hours last night and I am still tired.

What I miss: Having more than one cup of coffee a day.

Cravings: Umm, I bought two mango products at Trader Joe's this week, so maybe mangos.

Symptons: All I want to do is sleep all the time.

Body: Same as last week. Feeling a lil fat, but clothes all still fit fine. My favorite football shirt felt a little tight this week, which prompted me to get a new one for the game in two weeks.  

Reading: Your Pregnancy Week by Week.

Purchases this week: Several books -- Happiest Baby on the Block, Baby Bargains, Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child. A long t-shirt from my alma mater to start wearing to football games soon -- I tried it on and stuffed another shirt under to see how a "bump" would look. I'm hilariouse. And a black wrap dress from Banana Republic that looks great now and should work really well when I start showing.

Best Moment this week: Going out to dinner with one of my best friends and her giving me baby's first present! This little giraffe blanket lovie thing. So cute!

What's happening next week:  Having dinner with our friends who are pregnant with twins and telling them that we're next (not with twins, though)!

 

 

9 weeks! I think I look thinner in this week's picture than last weeks. I must have had a big meal before last week's photo. Ha!

 

Baby Parasol's first present!

 

 

Preggo Parasol Weekly Update - 8 Weeks

I am going to start doing these posts on Mondays from now on, so the 9 week post will be coming up soon!

 

How Far Along: 8 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a Raspberry

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Down 2 lbs (yay for not drinking!)

Maternity Clothes: None but already researching Gap, Old Navy, Love 21, and H&M maternity. I love me some cheap maternity clothes.

Gender: Won't find out for a long time

Movement: Not yet, duh

Sleep: Ugh, this is my worst symptom. I'm so tired all the time. To make matters worse for some reason I cannot sleep soundly between the hours of 2 AM and 6 AM. I read online that odd sleep patterns may be hormonal?

What I miss: Red wine. White wine. Wine.

Cravings: No food sounds very good at all. I particularly hate ham. And I get full very easily. Overall carbs taste the best. Baby is like his/her Momma, loves carbs.

Symptons: Very slight nausea that comes and goes (Praise God!) and sooooo sleepy. Afternoons are the worst.

Body: I feel like my tummy looks bigger -- but husband says I'm crazy and that I look the same. Oh and I think one of my boobs is a little bit bigger.

Reading: Your Pregnancy Week by Week.

Purchases/Presents this week: Flowers from my Mom. :)

Best Moment this week: Seeing my parents and feeling their excitement over baby. And going up to my Mom's attic to see my old baby stuff! So cute! Our baby is gonna get hooked up!

What's happening next week: Going to tell more friends about baby!

 

I call this the "before" picture -- Momma Parasol at 8 Weeks

 

 

That little "pooch" is not a baby -- it's just fat. Awesome. Oh and yes, I have small boobs. Always have. Maybe soon they will be bigger!

 

Baby Parasol's First Picture!

Last week I went to the doctor for my first appointment and ultrasound.The appointment was very long but worth it because I got to see the little heartbeat and see the little bean of a baby. It was so surreal, I couldn't even believe it.

 

So without further ado, here he or she is!

 

 

Our baby at 6 weeks, 3 days. Wow.

Note: the baby is the bean shapped thing in the middle part of the top of the black area.

 

 

After my Dr. appointment my Mom told me there was some danger in having too many ultrasounds and sent me this article. So I only plan on getting 2-3 more ultrasounds if all goes to plan. One for screening for Trisomy and Down's, one to see the sex, and potentially one more.

 

I am also seriously considering switching to a midwife. I'm all about less interventions and hospitals are SO intervention-happy in most cases. I just need to make sure that my insurance will cover the midwives I want and I want to complete the genetic testing at my regular doctor before I switch over. 

 

How many ultrasounds did you have in your pregnancys? Did you use a Doctor or Midwife?

 

 

 

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

I'm now more than 6 or 7 weeks pregnant (I'm hoping my Dr. can confirm at my appointment on Wednesday) and I still don't really FEEL pregnant.

 

I'm not extra tired.

 

I've only felt sick to my stomach a couple of times but that could have just been hunger. 

 

I don't have to pee all the time. Or have heartburn. Or feel bloated. In fact, I've actually LOST weight because I haven't had my usual wine or beer in two weeks. :)

 

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting to be exhausted and hugging the porcelain princess. But so far I feel great! Especially considering that I'm known among my friends and family as having a "weak stomach." Just about anything would make me nauseated -- car trips, vitamins, too many glasses of wine, etc. 

 

My only symptom so far is a strange adversion to ham. Ham has the STRANGEST aftertaste to me right now. It's pretty much disgusting. I joked around with my husband that maybe our baby is Jewish. I'm silly. :) 

 

Every morning I wake up feeling good, I take as a huge blessing. But on the other hand, I still don't "feel" pregnant; which is odd.

 

When did you start experiencing pregnancy symptoms?

 

 

The Shock and Stress of Pregnancy

One the of craziest things about an unplanned pregnancy when you’re 27 and happily married is that you only have one choice as to what to do with it – which is to keep it and love it.

 

 

But that doesn’t make the shock, panic, terror, fear, and more panic any less. I wish I could say there was a bunch of happiness mixed in those emotions there – but I think the “oh crap what the HECK are we gonna do!?!” feeling overrides much happiness at this point. I’m sure we will be happy soon. We're already getting there.

 

 

Yes, I know there are thousands of amazing couples out there who would die to have a baby, so I don’t want to seem ungrateful. It’s incredibly unfair that some people get pregnant without any trying and other people can try, pray, do fertility treatments, and STILL not have a baby. It’s on my list of questions to ask God about if I ever get a chance. What I do know is that I’d rather have this baby at the imperfect time than to struggle with infertility later. But even that doesn’t make my current situation any easier.

 

 

The biggest things causing us angst are (in this order):
- Money: Can we afford this ‘lil guy or gal?
- Housing: Do we need to move to a bigger house?
- Childcare: Who is going to take care of this child one it’s born? Daycare, nanny, family?
- Work: How will my career (that I love) be impacted?
- Life: How will we still do things we love like traveling, going to wine bars, eating a restaurants, etc.

 

 

Did anyone else struggle with stress over these items when you found out you were pregnant? If so, how did you deal?