Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Bump!
Today was the first time a person I didn't know asked if I was pregnant, so I decided it was finally time to take one of those iconic profile bump photos. As of my last appointment, which was about two and a half weeks ago, I hadn't gained any weight. It really has only been in the past week that I think I've had any noticeable bump. It seemed normal that people who see me on a regular basis would notice, I was really surprised someone I didn't know noticed it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Weekends!
We have been very busy here the past couple of weekends. Two weekends ago, I went to New York to see my cousin Sara on Saturday and my friend Danielle on Sunday. I didn't take any photos on Saturday but we went shopping, walked through Central Park, and ate at an excellent Italian Restaurant on the Upper West Side. I also finally got to meet her boyfriend (he's great!) and hang out in her apartment. The only thing I didn't get to do was see her yarn bombs since they were gone but we did a lot of knitting talk.
Sunday Danielle and I went to Coney Island for a couple hours which was great. We walked along the boardwalk, listened to some awesomely bad karaoke, ate a lot of food, and went on two rides. Luckily we didn't go on the roller coasters, because I was unaware that they are one of the many things pregnant ladies are supposed to abstain from. The ferris wheel was definitely safe, and the second ride was ok, but I probably wouldn't go on it again pregnant. Here are some photos from the Wonder Wheel:
This past weekend we painted our bedroom and the den and probably some time next week we'll start painting the nursery. Friday we did the ceilings and primer in both rooms. Saturday we finished the bedroom completely and just had to do the second coat of cutting in on the den. Sunday Paul-John had a shooting match in the morning and afternoon, and I wanted him to do the final touch-ups on the edges just because he is so much better at it than I am. By Sunday night he was able to do the touch-ups in the den and we put the bedroom back together, but the den is still a little crazy looking.
Photo below is more color accurate than photo above.
In baby news, I had my follow-up ultrasound today and they were able to get the view of the heart they needed. I also found out that my placenta is anterior, which explains why I have been feeling some movement but not a lot.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Halfway
So today I am 20 weeks, or halfway through pregnancy! In the first couple weeks of my pregnancy, we both definitely felt a sense of urgency of needing to get stuff done, which dwindled once we realized how long nine months really is and because I was a lot more tired during those first three months. Now that I am in the easy trimester, with more energy and no baby belly yet, I am once again feeling that sense of urgency which I think is slowly starting to rub off on Paul-John.
Over the next three weeks or so we hope to get the majority of the work done upstairs that we will need to do, at least before we start getting baby stuff. Since we will be combining the den and craft room into one room, we need to figure out what will be staying upstairs and what will be going into the basement. Next weekend, we will be putting a bunch of stuff from both our bedroom and the den into the craft room so we can paint both rooms. The following weekend, once everything is put back into their respective rooms and the now nursery will be practically empty, we will paint that room.
I was telling Paul-John that I keep feeling conflicted about doing this. One of the reasons I think I have put it off until now was definitely because of cost - we will be painting all the trim and ceilings along with the walls because we know if we don't do it now, we never will and we want to do this right. We both use Mint on our phone to keep track of our bank accounts and it also keeps track of how much you earn and spend in a single month. While this is helpful because of course it is important to usually earn more than you spend, it can sometimes be misleading because one month is such a small timeframe. Several months ago we made a list of the major extra expenses we would have throughout the pregnancy and have been specifically setting aside money in savings in order to use it for these expenses, with painting the upstairs being one of them. So its funny, on the one hand I feel very anxious about making sure we get everything done in time, and on the other hand I want to wait until I feel we can afford it, which probably would be never.
I've also signed up for a childbirth preparation class, infant care class, and breastfeeding class at UCHC and have started to look into getting a doula. I also finally told another job, which honestly I was kind of nervous about. I had told SACS a while ago, which was easy, but I was a little more nervous since I was just hired at Lincoln. However, it doesn't seem to be a big deal so that is one less thing to worry about.
Over the next three weeks or so we hope to get the majority of the work done upstairs that we will need to do, at least before we start getting baby stuff. Since we will be combining the den and craft room into one room, we need to figure out what will be staying upstairs and what will be going into the basement. Next weekend, we will be putting a bunch of stuff from both our bedroom and the den into the craft room so we can paint both rooms. The following weekend, once everything is put back into their respective rooms and the now nursery will be practically empty, we will paint that room.
I was telling Paul-John that I keep feeling conflicted about doing this. One of the reasons I think I have put it off until now was definitely because of cost - we will be painting all the trim and ceilings along with the walls because we know if we don't do it now, we never will and we want to do this right. We both use Mint on our phone to keep track of our bank accounts and it also keeps track of how much you earn and spend in a single month. While this is helpful because of course it is important to usually earn more than you spend, it can sometimes be misleading because one month is such a small timeframe. Several months ago we made a list of the major extra expenses we would have throughout the pregnancy and have been specifically setting aside money in savings in order to use it for these expenses, with painting the upstairs being one of them. So its funny, on the one hand I feel very anxious about making sure we get everything done in time, and on the other hand I want to wait until I feel we can afford it, which probably would be never.
I've also signed up for a childbirth preparation class, infant care class, and breastfeeding class at UCHC and have started to look into getting a doula. I also finally told another job, which honestly I was kind of nervous about. I had told SACS a while ago, which was easy, but I was a little more nervous since I was just hired at Lincoln. However, it doesn't seem to be a big deal so that is one less thing to worry about.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Baby Names
On Monday we had our anatomy ultrasound and we found out that we will be having a baby girl! Of course, we are both very excited. Everything else looked good and we got to hear the heartbeat again (153) but there was one view of the heart they needed and weren't able to get, so I'll be going back in three weeks.
Interestingly enough, before the scan we were nearly 100% on the name we had picked out for a girl and had no ideas for a boy. That has since changed dramatically. The first possible name was Sophia Theresa. Theresa after Paul-John's grandmother, or meme, who died last year and to whom he was close. Personally I didn't actually like the name Theresa (and it turns out neither did Paul-John) but I liked why we chose it. Then Monday night, when we were driving to our celebratory dinner, Paul-John mentioned that his mom and had suggested Meme's middle name, Adrian.
Paul-John was first hesitant about Adrian because he didn't want everyone to pronounce it like Rocky when they said it. But considering that it is only a middle name, not to mention the age of her peers, this seems unlikely outside of situations of older adults. We both like the way Sophia Adrian sounds, and her initials would be SAM which we both like as well. So once again, we were nearly 100% on a name.
And then today I was reading through a forum on Rav for people due in Nov, and two other people had mentioned using the name Sophia. That in and of itself wouldn't bother me, but it made me curious so I decided to search how popular a name it is.
It turns out in 2010, Sophia was the 2nd most popular baby name, with Sofia at 26 and Sophie at 59. This was very unexpected. We like Sophia mostly for the meaning but also because we thought it was slightly unique. If not unique, maybe common, but certainly not the second most popular name given to baby girls last year. So now we are reconsidering the first name. At this point I have no idea if we'll keep it or change it, but luckily we have some time to figure it out!
If you have a lot of time you feel like wasting on the internet, I highly recommend looking stuff up here. For instance, it is interesting that the number of babies with the most common names have been decreasing. For example, in 1950 the most popular female baby name was Linda with 80,408 babies. In 2010, the number of Sophia, Sofia, and Sophie combined was only 31,139.
Interestingly enough, before the scan we were nearly 100% on the name we had picked out for a girl and had no ideas for a boy. That has since changed dramatically. The first possible name was Sophia Theresa. Theresa after Paul-John's grandmother, or meme, who died last year and to whom he was close. Personally I didn't actually like the name Theresa (and it turns out neither did Paul-John) but I liked why we chose it. Then Monday night, when we were driving to our celebratory dinner, Paul-John mentioned that his mom and had suggested Meme's middle name, Adrian.
Paul-John was first hesitant about Adrian because he didn't want everyone to pronounce it like Rocky when they said it. But considering that it is only a middle name, not to mention the age of her peers, this seems unlikely outside of situations of older adults. We both like the way Sophia Adrian sounds, and her initials would be SAM which we both like as well. So once again, we were nearly 100% on a name.
And then today I was reading through a forum on Rav for people due in Nov, and two other people had mentioned using the name Sophia. That in and of itself wouldn't bother me, but it made me curious so I decided to search how popular a name it is.
It turns out in 2010, Sophia was the 2nd most popular baby name, with Sofia at 26 and Sophie at 59. This was very unexpected. We like Sophia mostly for the meaning but also because we thought it was slightly unique. If not unique, maybe common, but certainly not the second most popular name given to baby girls last year. So now we are reconsidering the first name. At this point I have no idea if we'll keep it or change it, but luckily we have some time to figure it out!
If you have a lot of time you feel like wasting on the internet, I highly recommend looking stuff up here. For instance, it is interesting that the number of babies with the most common names have been decreasing. For example, in 1950 the most popular female baby name was Linda with 80,408 babies. In 2010, the number of Sophia, Sofia, and Sophie combined was only 31,139.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Reality setting in
Well I am finally posting like I have been telling Liz that I would. I have never had a blog so I kept telling her I was unsure how to start. Well after seeing the last ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat of our child I was inspired.
Even though the ultrasound was only a few weeks after the first one Liz had, the baby had grown so much and now it looks more like a baby. When the woman first started the ultrasound the baby was flipping and moving around like crazy and that was so exciting for me. It is still sinking in that Liz and I are going to be parents soon and I am excited for times that it becomes more real for me, and this last ultrasound was one of them. When Liz started to have some symptoms it started to be more real, but there is something about watching the ultrasound that is completely different. I have always wanted to be a Dad and looking at that ultrasound and seeing our child is something that I still am comprehending.
As we start to tell more people that also makes it seem more real to me and probably the reason that I have been more anxious to tell people than Liz has been. I have told a couple coworkers and one of them reacted in such a super excited way that it really made my day.
Some people have told me that it won't really sink in that we are parents till the day the baby is born. Until then I look forward to all the small and large events that will help me to realize that I am going to be a Dad, and I cannot wait.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Hello!
So apparently one of the drawbacks to having a blog that only one person knows about is it means you will probably forget you have it and thus, forget to update.
But my lack of updating was also partly due to the fact that up until about weeks 8 and 9, I really had very little pregnancy symptoms and had not yet been to the doctor, and so a part of me definitely wanted to play it safe after the initial excitement faded. (Of course once the food aversions, nausea, and constipation kicked in, I felt relieved but also pretty silly for wishing for symptoms.) Our first appointment was three weeks ago and despite what the receptionist told me on the phone, my doctor did do an ultrasound. After measuring, I came out to be exactly 9 weeks pregnant, which was the same as counting from LMP. We got to see (but not hear) the heartbeat which was really exciting. Even though most people wait until 12 weeks to start telling people about the pregnancy, we read that once you see a heartbeat the risk of miscarriage goes way down, and so we started telling some of our friends. He still set up an appointment for me to have an ultrasound in radiology, since those tend to be more high-tech than the one he used.
I had that appointment a couple days ago, and this time when the ultrasound tech measured she put me a few days later than before, now with an EDD of 11/6 instead of 11/3. When I asked which date was more accurate, she said hers was - not only are the machines more high-tech, but she's been doing ultrasounds longer than my doctor has been alive! This time we got to hear the heartbeat as well as see it - it was 154 beats per minute which is exactly where it should be at this point.
So stay tuned and maybe eventually I will be able to get Paul-John to follow through and actually post one of these days like he keeps saying he will!
But my lack of updating was also partly due to the fact that up until about weeks 8 and 9, I really had very little pregnancy symptoms and had not yet been to the doctor, and so a part of me definitely wanted to play it safe after the initial excitement faded. (Of course once the food aversions, nausea, and constipation kicked in, I felt relieved but also pretty silly for wishing for symptoms.) Our first appointment was three weeks ago and despite what the receptionist told me on the phone, my doctor did do an ultrasound. After measuring, I came out to be exactly 9 weeks pregnant, which was the same as counting from LMP. We got to see (but not hear) the heartbeat which was really exciting. Even though most people wait until 12 weeks to start telling people about the pregnancy, we read that once you see a heartbeat the risk of miscarriage goes way down, and so we started telling some of our friends. He still set up an appointment for me to have an ultrasound in radiology, since those tend to be more high-tech than the one he used.
I had that appointment a couple days ago, and this time when the ultrasound tech measured she put me a few days later than before, now with an EDD of 11/6 instead of 11/3. When I asked which date was more accurate, she said hers was - not only are the machines more high-tech, but she's been doing ultrasounds longer than my doctor has been alive! This time we got to hear the heartbeat as well as see it - it was 154 beats per minute which is exactly where it should be at this point.
So stay tuned and maybe eventually I will be able to get Paul-John to follow through and actually post one of these days like he keeps saying he will!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
So another week has gone by but there really isn't much to update. Aside from feeling a little extra sleepy and forgetful I don't really have any pregnancy symptoms and my first appointment still isn't until next week. I read somewhere that pregnancy hormones can make your nails grow faster so I have decided (for the umpteenth time) to grow out my nails.
Whenever I decide to do this I always start out super into it but I really do have a good feeling about it this time. I had just been applying a clear polish every day that is supposed to also help grow nails as well. However, whenever my nails get a certain amount of white I feel the need to but solid polish on because otherwise I want to clean them 5,000 times a day. Technically I know short nails get dirt under them but it just looks different. So I bought a shade today, since I don't actually own polish, that was I was hoping to be a pretty, pinkish nude tone but I don't like the way it looks on. I also bought some cuticle cream that I am really excited about.
Obviously my life is pretty boring if I am blogging about nail polish. Going to Rite Aid to buy it was super exciting and the highlight of my day. Even with two jobs I am only working 2 or 3 days a week and only for a couple hours at a time. I have been applying to jobs like crazy and am really hoping to get one asap. Initially I was hopin to get one before my first trimester ends, which gives me another 4 weeks or so. On top of that we haven't been too social becuase its just easier with us not telling friends. St. Patricks's Day was exhausting especially with having to lie about why I wasn't drinking. I think depending on how things go at my appt next week we may start telling friends even though we'll only be 9 weeks. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Whenever I decide to do this I always start out super into it but I really do have a good feeling about it this time. I had just been applying a clear polish every day that is supposed to also help grow nails as well. However, whenever my nails get a certain amount of white I feel the need to but solid polish on because otherwise I want to clean them 5,000 times a day. Technically I know short nails get dirt under them but it just looks different. So I bought a shade today, since I don't actually own polish, that was I was hoping to be a pretty, pinkish nude tone but I don't like the way it looks on. I also bought some cuticle cream that I am really excited about.
Obviously my life is pretty boring if I am blogging about nail polish. Going to Rite Aid to buy it was super exciting and the highlight of my day. Even with two jobs I am only working 2 or 3 days a week and only for a couple hours at a time. I have been applying to jobs like crazy and am really hoping to get one asap. Initially I was hopin to get one before my first trimester ends, which gives me another 4 weeks or so. On top of that we haven't been too social becuase its just easier with us not telling friends. St. Patricks's Day was exhausting especially with having to lie about why I wasn't drinking. I think depending on how things go at my appt next week we may start telling friends even though we'll only be 9 weeks. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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