Visit to Sedona

Yesterday was were in Sedona visiting Mama Sue and Daddy Lou. We love going up there as it reminds us of getting married there, not to mention it is truly a magical place. It was the most beautiful fall weather. We sat outside and played Euchre for hours. Mama Sue and Daddy Lou kicked my and Lou's butts the first match. Susie and Louie then snuck by Daddy Lou and I in the last tie breaker match to win. It was good fun. 

We continued to get some predictions on Baby Camp's sex. Both Lou's parents said they thought the baby was a boy. Mama Sue said she meditates and prays for the baby and she sees a boy when she meditates. Daddy Lou made his prediction using the family tree and history of boys and girls already in the family. Either way, we all decided we would be happy and hope our baby is healthy. 

On our hour and a half drive up to Sedona I was reading aloud from The Baby Bible. We learned some fascinating information about the pregnancy. We got a little refresher on how the sex of the baby is determined, how my body is changing and will continue to change, and on the growth of the baby. We are now are 12 weeks along and the baby is almost fully developed. All organs are functioning but continuing to grow- especially the brain. The baby has hair, nails, tooth buds, irises to protect it's eyes from light. The fingers and toes have separated and the pituitary gland is now producing hormones. The book says Baby Camp can smile, frown, suck it's thumb, and yawn. He or she is about the size of a plum or about two and a half inches long and weighs about a half of an ounce. It's pretty amazing to think about!

'Tis the season

Thanksgiving was very nice. It was so great to be with family and friends. Some family (Mom Grandma Josie) encouraged us to find out the sex of Baby Camp. Others say wait (Aunt Paula). We are still not sure what we will do yet. Lou is pushing toward finding out. I'm more up for the surprise. We will see. We were trying to get people to guess the sex. I just remember Paula saying boy, Nabeel's Dad saying girl. I'll ask my folks and brother tonight again at dinner. What do you think baby's sex is? 

The Christmas decorations are going up. Lou made me wait until after Thanksgiving to put them up. So, rather than going out shopping on black Friday, I'm about to put up our tree and many of the holiday decorations I've began to collect over the last few holidays. The lights on the house will be next. 

I also ran the idea of hosting a get-together pot luck after Christmas with our neighbors past Louie. He said he thought it was a good idea. I'm looking forward to it. We have cool neighbors and we haven't got to all hang out since my graduation party in July. Plus I love entertaining! 

Home alone again

Feeling lonely and emotional tonight. I've been sick for a week now and the doctor finally gave me some antibiotics that were safe for me to take while pregnant. I'm home trying to feel better. Plus I've found the bar scene I used to do is just not the place for me anymore. I'm feeling alone in this change of lifestyle. Maybe it is me feeling sick, maybe hormones, maybe something else, but I've been more emotional this week than ever and its no fun. 

I never had a fever so I was at work all week though I was not feeling a better.  One day this week I had a hot flash. I was reading a story to the students and all of the sudden I started to sweat profusely. I thought for sure it was a fever coming on. The kids suggested I see the nurse and I did just that to make sure I wasn't getting a temperature. They were cute- so concerned for their teacher. It wasn't a fever, but later I read that pregnant women can get hot flashes. 

I'm going to sleep for a few hours now. I told my brother I'd pick up Mom and Dad at the airport at midnight. I wanted to do something nice for Bill and distract myself from feeling sad. I have to get myself in a more positive mood swing here.  

Since we've been pregnant, here's what we've done...

Family

When I think of the holidays, I think about being with family. Thanksgiving is in a few days and Christmas is approaching soon. I'm excited to spend that time with our families. Lou and I agree that being with family seems to more important than ever. We both have been blesses with such awesome parents. We know we have big shoes to fill! I really trust their experience and wisdom. They have been there and done that. I know I am going to want and need their help when our baby is born. We really look forward to sharing this experience with family near and far! 

Sick Mama

I have been feeling sick since Wednesday. A few students in my class have been sick, one with strep throat. As soon as I found out strep was going around my school I went to see my doctor. The doctor said I don't appear to have strep but took a culture anyway. I have not heard back from the lab. Right now I think it is just a head cold, stuffy, sinus pressure, sneezy, sore throat from drainage, etc. The doctor told me even if I did have an infection, I shouldn't take antibiotics until the second trimester. I've just been trying to rest and get better. Dr. Hunt warned me that pregnant women can get sick easily because the baby takes all of the mother's immunity. Although I got a flu shot, I still need to be careful. I talked to my kiddos about germs and how we spread them. Before we left school on Friday we had a cleaning party and washed down everything in our classroom. I will be doing my best to stay healthy for me and baby. 

Ten weeks and going strong...

At ten weeks I'm feeling healthy and happy. The thought of growing a baby inside me amazes me. I went to sleep thinking about our little pea and fell asleep with a smile last night. Though my slumber was brief. I was soon woke up to pick up Daddy from Rosie's again. I have been officially filling the role of the designated driver. I don't mind though, I'd rather drop him off and pick him up than have him drink and drive or pay for a cab. It was tough to get out of bed at 2 am. I think I got a photo radar ticket last night too. I went to make a right hand turn on a red light and saw a flash. Just what I need! We will see what happens.

Ticket or no ticket, I'm way excited for baby. I got to feed and hold Tina and Brett's newborn baby Addison last night and they sure make parenting look easy. They have the best baby ever. In the 8 or 9 hours we were there she didn't cry once. She was so calm and cute! I want one! I could have looked at her and watched her all night.

Daddy Lou 2

Well we call my dad, your grandpa, Big Daddy Lou.  Guess that makes me, Lou IV, also Big Daddy Lou 2.  And I am pumped and looking forward to meeting you.

Saving for Baby Camp

I started a savings account online for Baby Camp yesterday. From what I know, babies can be expensive and I want to make sure we are prepared. I put half of my last pay check into an account earning about 3.2% interest- way more than local banks! I read babies cost more than $100,000 from birth to age 18- before college. It is somewhat unnerving to think about all of the costs ahead. Somehow we will make it work. I just hope we can afford for me to be a stay at home Mom until the kids go to school, then I can go back to teaching. Now that I have my real estate license, I could also earn some income while being a stay at home Mom by helping friends and family to buy and/or sell property. Never too early to start planning ahead!

Headaches!

The headaches I've had the last two days have not been fun, especially while teaching. Today the headache came at about 1:00 and I was desperately trying to think of how to keep the noise level down in my classroom. Needless to say, I teach Kindergarten and there is no such thing! As soon as I could I came home and took a nap and some Tylenol. It worked and I'm feeling way better but I did have to miss Girls Night Out tonight.

After talking to Lou, I think we figured out that I had my first migraine headache today. At lunchtime today I called him because I had felt like I looked at a bright light and it wasn't going away. There was a bright spot in my vision and it was tough to see around- it made me feel dizzy. It went away after half hour, but then I notice my left arm and hand go numb and tingly. That's when I called Lou. I was freaked out! Soon after I got a few hot flashes and then I got the headache. It was tough to teach and I went home right away to get some rest. I'm going to have to get some Tylenol to keep in my desk just in case it happens again.

Telling Daddy the News

As I was talking to a friend tonight I realized that I left out an important part of how we got to nine weeks: how I told Lou the big news. I had taken about four home pregnancy tests and I swore there was a faint line. Everything I read said a line was a line, so I put on the shirt that I had purchased in advance and waited for Lou to come home. When he came in he complimented me and said the shirt looked good on me, but he didn't read it. He went about the usual business, a hug and a kiss for the wife, then he stepped back and read it. "Daddy did it!" He asked me what that meant. I told him to think about it. Then, it dawned on him. He got a huge smile across his face and he asked me if I was serious. We hugged and kissed some more. I showed him the stash of tests and told him I thought we were but wanted a second opinion. He thought he saw a faint line too. We went to one of our favorite local restaurants to celebrate, Sierra Bonita Grill. Then next morning I woke up super early and bought a digital home pregnancy test. It said pregnant. There was no mistaking that! We were going to be parents!

Halloween fun

I carved a pumpkin and put it right in front of my belly around 6 weeks. It won't be long until the belly grows to look like the pumpkin I put out in front of me.  :)

Nine weeks pregnant today!

Mom and Dad to-be are getting more and more excited to meet you Baby Camp. You have already grown from the size of a poppyseed at week 3 and 4, apple seed at week 5, to the size of a sweet pea at week 6, blueberry at week 7, raspberry at week 8, and an olive at week 9! It's amazing how fast Baby Camp is growing each week. 

The photo to the right is me at four weeks pregnant.

The photo below shows the embryo at five weeks. Baby Camp measured .3 cm from crown to rump (head to bottom). 

On Halloween we went to Dr. Hunt's office for our second ultrasound. The first one we had at 5 weeks did not show us your heartbeat, but the last one at 7 weeks showed us your little flashing heartbeat. It was beating at 156 bpm. It brought a tear to my eye. This pregnancy now seems so much more real! Now I can stop worrying so much. 

Here is a photo taken at seven weeks on Halloween 2008. Baby Camp measured 1.3 cm crown to rump and had a heartbeat of 156 bpm. The heartbeat was a little flashing gray area. 

Mom has stayed about the same size with some bloat. No weight gain yet. Prenatal vitamins are tough on digestion and it slows down a lot. Going to the bathroom regularly is no longer a luxury. This last week gas has been god awful! I almost didn't want to go in public over the last weekend! Then there is peeing... I've become a pee factory and am constantly going. Dr. Hunt didn't help my shrinking bladder by instructing me to drink 100 ounces of water a day! I broke a record about a week and half ago and went five times during the night! Now there are some perks too. My chest has grown and I'm going to have to go bra shopping soon I think. My sense of smell is incredible! I can smell things from far away with amazing potency.  The best news is that I have zero morning sickness. Thank you, thank you, thank you God! I hear it is horrible. 

I am exercising regularly, mostly walking with Reese because running has started to pull on the joints in my knees. Still also playing competitive sand volleyball. Dr. Hunt gave me the okay to play until 20 weeks. Does teaching Kindergarten count as exercise too? I've been eating healthier too. Lots of fruits, veggies, and protein. I cut out caffeine, alcohol, and most transfat. I have also been trying to eat organic grown foods too.   

Lou and I both have been reading a lot about what to expect online and in books from the library. I'm on my second book and Lou finished the book I bought him in one day! It is quite amazing what the body does. I am a gestating goddess! 

We can't wait for Baby Camp. Preparing will be fun. Our office will eventually become a nursery. We are excited and ready as we will ever be to be parents. What a great adventure we anticipate ahead!

The picture to the left was taken on Lou's 33rd birthday at eight and a half weeks.