More good news

Yesterday I got a call from Dr. Cone's office to discuss the blood results from Thursday. Everytime "Unavailable Number" pops up on my phone, I get nervous! I know it's results from the doctor. I especially don't enjoy answering it because I usually get the call when I am by myself. This blood test was called an AFP test. Not sure what it stands for, but it tests for neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Nurse Lynn said that the numbers all came back fine and we shouldn't have anything to worry about. We opted out of doing the other screens...for Downs, etc.

While we were at our appointment on Friday, I had another missed call from a Houston number. It was Baby's 1st telling us that the crib has arrived! I'm so excited about picking it up and putting it together. I think it will be another one of those moments where this all because more "real" to us. Tomorrow Wanda and I are going to run to Stafford to pick it up. She has several days off of school due to Swine Flu and other illnesses and Nick has to make hay. Last night we were talking about how weird it is going to be to have a baby bed up in one of the spare bedrooms. I feel sorry for him because tomorrow he is going to have a long night. I know I'll want that bed up before we go to sleep!

Last night was also a bit of an event for Nick. I'm always trying to make him feel the baby move. It kicks so hard and so much already that I just KNOW he has to be feeling it. There's no doubt that I do. I don't know if I can feel it with my hands or if I'm just feeling it in my belly and think my hands can feel it too. It's strange! Anyways, he always puts his hand on my belly and concentrates so hard on trying to feel it that he is never successful. He finally relaxed more last night and asked if it felt like a heartbeat (but not as consistent and a little harder). That's exactly how I should have described it to him and I actually thought about that one night while I was lying awake in bed, but forgot to tell him! So, I really do think that he is feeling it, which is even more exciting because I know it is just going to get stronger and he will definitely be able to feel it. There is only so much that a man gets to experience during pregnancy and I hope he is feeling a part of it all. All he keeps saying is that he wants it to be here already and that OVERJOYS me!

Wow....You have a BUSY BABY in there!!

The first thing I heard when we had our sonogram was "Wow....you have a busy baby in there!" This was not news to me. The baby has been VERY active for the past week and a half or longer. The sonogram was AMAZING to say the least. It made it so real for both of us, but more-so for Nick. When Nick was called into the room with me, they turned the monitor towards us and the baby raised its arm and waved at us! It was hilarious and brought tears to my eyes. We visited with Dr. Cone after we visited with the radiologist and he told us that everything looked great. On the paper the measurements show that the baby measures 5 days ahead of schedule. I would love for it to get here sooner! :)

We stuck to our guns and didn't find out the sex of the baby. We almost caved, but when we first told them we weren't going to find out they thought it was great and then told us they weren't going to ruin our surprise when we were contemplating finding out. They definitely know what it is though and I'm leaning towards boy...it's just so active that it makes me think boy. Nick always said that we could find out closer to the date, but Nurse Angela said she won't tell us. WE LOVE ANGELA and I would so love to party with her once we have this little babe
I'll post more later, but right now we are at Aunt Jamie's Bachelorette party on the River Walk. (Oh, and I soooooo want a XX!)

Fun stuff

Saturday I went to Shiner all by my lonesome for Jamie's shower. Mom and Jamie ended up being in Victoria when I got in, so it was me and the boys all day. (Dad, Jaace, Junior, and Matt) Which means you either lay around and watch TV all day, ride the mule, look at cows, or other boy stuff that didn't interest me. Unfortunately the pool is having issues so I opted for resting on the couch and watching The Suite Life with Matt for several hours.

When Mom and Jamie got home, I started talking to Mom about the baby bed we had picked out since day 1 of baby bed shopping. I pulled up the website and much to my surprise they were offering "Vacation from Taxation" on all baby stuff at Baby's 1st Furniture. I immediately called Nick and told him that Sunday we were headed to Houston to make the purchase. After several text messages from cousin Abby, I knew that this bed was completely fine for a boy or girl. We plan on using the bed for at least 2 or 3 babies so it will be a while until it is used as a full-size bed, if ever. If we end up with 3 boys, the baby bed will go into storage. We looked at sooooo many beds and we both ended up coming back to this one. We have another 3-5 weeks until it comes....I can hardly stand the wait! Nick's mom also was in love with it when we showed her the picture...so in love with it that she bought it for our babies! Wowwwwwwwww!!! I've said this a million times, but I have the best family and I married into an amazing family as well. Thank you soooo much, Grammy and Popsy!! ;) Last night Grammy gave us a pair of pink Wrangler's diaper cover. If it's a girl, she will be super cute in them when we take her to the Houston Livestock Show next year. Nick already has his eyes set on boots for a boy and a girl. She is already set with a pink, sparkly Daddy's Princess paci, rhinestone ballerina shoes, and so much more. No worries though, because if it's a boy he is set with the cutest Janie and Jack sportscoat, several button down shirts, cowboy onesies, etc. I've got pictures of this chaos that I'll download sooner or later.

Have a great weekend! We are headed to Shiner tonight. Nick is pumped about Jaace's steer tag-in tomorrow morning. We have 2 weddings Saturday and a wedding shower Sunday morning. So much to do on weekends, so little time!

Baby beds

I never would have thought that picking out baby beds is as hard as picking out baby names...boy names anyway! We have made several trips to Baby's 1st Furniture and a trip to USA Baby, among lots of browsing online.

We found one at Baby's 1st that we LOVE! It's a bit princess-ish, but I also say that it can pass for a little prince bed with the right bedding. We also love the bed because it has lots of detail and seems like an antique. I love a white or ivory baby bed...seems more innocent and baby-like to me. Nick seems to agree with that, especially since we already have a huge ivory Pottery Barn armoire that I'm not parting with anytime soon. The only dilemma is spending $800 on it! Jeez....I had no idea baby beds were so expensive. We're pretty much sold on it though since it does convert to a full size bed ANDDDDD because the one that we liked at USA Baby was just a tiny bit cheaper, but not nearly THE bed.

Soooo....now, I need your help. I couldn't get the picture big enough for my blog.
http://www.babys1stfurniture.com/products.php?idprod=1116&idcat=150
This link should work...let me know if you think it could be a boy bed too. Of course, this will be a bed we will use for another baby or two.

Another doctor's visit down!

Yesterday we had a regular check-up. Weight, blood pressure, and heartbeat. I can't wait until the day that we have an UNstressful appointment, which doesn't look like it will EVER be in our future. Our nurse, Angela, did the weight, bp, and then it was time for the heartbeat. She was having lots of trouble finding it with the first doppler because it was very static-y. She went and got an old dinosaur one and within a few seconds she found the heartbeat. It just scared us because she was not finding it with the other one. When she found the heartbeat, the baby would quickly move and she would have to find it in another spot. As she pointed out, baby is bouncing around all over the place. That's a great thing, but Lord, please don't give us a hyperactive child. :)

We waited (for quite a long time, which is unusual) for Dr. Cone to come and do his visit with us. We chatted for a little while and then he told us that my blood pressure is going to be an issue. WHAT?? I've never been told anything about my blood pressure before...at ANY doctor I went to. He said that it is a genetic issue since I have it so early and that your blood pressure goes up anyways during pregnancy so they have to monitor it closely so that they will be able to tell if they will need to induce pregnancy early. Just what I needed to hear!!! When you try to keep stress OUT of your life, it seems that's all that you are dealt. I very rarely had stress before this past year! Jeez! Anyway, Dr. Cone is an awesome doctor and made me feel very at ease with everything. There is no doubt in my mind that he will take care of all of us.

None of this surprises me though. Why, you ask. Well, a few years ago Jennifer Pekar and I went to a palm reader because we were bored in San Marcos. Usually I would think it is all a hoax, but this lady obviously hit the nail on the head more than one time. Nick and I had been dating for a few months at this point, and she said that I was in a very long, bad relationship and then I would have one shorter one then marriage. TRUE! She also said that I would have 3 children and that all of the pregnancies would be tough. She couldn't tell me exactly what would be "rough." She said that it could be anything like bed rest, etc. While we were leaving the doctor's office, I thought about this right away. Right as we got out of the door, Nick said, "Remember what that palm reader told you?" Crazy that he remembered too.

There's no doubt that everything will be fine, but it just scares ya. I'm really thinking we might adopt our next child. ;)

15 Weeks and Counting....

I'm definitely not sad that the time is going by quickly...I'm so ready to meet this little guy/girl. I think I'm finally getting over the days of morning sickness. It still comes and goes and I still dry-heave while brushing my teeth.

Nick and I are constantly having discussions about whether it is a boy or a girl. He has been calling it her name for a few weeks now. Neither one of us cares what it is, as long as it is healthy, but it's fun to guess! I know he would love to have a boy, but deep down, I think he wants a Daddy's girl. Either one will be perfect for me, but the poor baby if it's a boy...there is very little cute boy clothing out there.

~If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.

~The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception. If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl. If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way! According to this, we are having a girl.

~People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl. *All I want to eat are sweets!

~The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived. This tale tells me that I’ve having a girl.

~Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy. -I feel like I look horrible, even when I dress up and put makeup on!

~If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. -I had a dream that we were having our "big" sonogram and they showed us the boy's tee-tee! I was upset with them because we didn't want to know what it was!!!

~If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl. -Always on my right, but have been trying to sleep on my left as much as possible because I read you are supposed to due to oxygen getting to the baby.

~If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl. -Definitely had morning sickness.

~What color is your pee? If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl. -Finally...one that points to a boy!

My gut feeling is a girl, but only time will tell. What's your guess??

On another note, Monday we have another appointment. Blood work and listen to the heartbeat again. On September 4th we have our big appointment where we could find out what we are having. I can't wait to see what the baby looks like now that it looks more like a baby than a blob.

Telling everyone

Most people think that you should keep the pregnancy hush-hush until the 2nd trimester. I thought I would agree with it the 2nd time around, but there's no way for me to keep such wonderful news quiet! I was bursting at the seams the minute I found out. Nick and I agreed that we would tell our parents after the 1st ultrasound. I did have to tell a few very important people before that, just because I HAD too!! I told Jamie and Jill immediately via text message. (A picture of the PREGNANT pregnancy test!) Then I had to call my BFF Stephanie who has been there through all of the ups and downs with me. She also knew my "schedule" better than I did so she was waiting to hear if I would get a BFN or BFP this month. They were all very very excited about the news. I also had to tell Sarah Beth one evening while we were at the Popp's. After our first ultrasound, Dr. Cone said everything was looking great. We told the Popp's one evening when they came over for supper. Well, we had a Grandma and a Grandpa bib waiting at each of their seats. When they walked in, Wanda saw it right away and had a "What in the Heck?" look on her face. She had tears in her eyes and gave us big hugs. Wayne, well he caught on a few seconds later and was very happy too. That weekend we went to Shiner and I had a picture frame that said BABY on it for Mom and Dad. On the insided I had put Feb. 3 on a piece of scrapbook paper. They were THRILLED, but they didn't quite get the Feb. 3 part because the b looked sort of like a t and it kinda blended in with the paper. Mom thought it was Fetus 3........UM HECK NO!!!! Coming February 3rd, which is Mom's and her twin brother, Uncle Allen's birthday. It would be very neat to have the baby on their birthday, but I'm hoping he/she gets here sometimes in January. I'm so anxious to meet it already!