Tuesday, April 27, 2010

You Ought to be in Pictures...



...you're wonderful to see! Yes, that was cheesy and you can all thank me later for having that song in your head. :)

I love going to the doctor and seeing the little bean squirming around on the screen. Recently (twice) I felt little baby flutters and it was indeed the coolest thing ever. I'm looking forward to the baby really moving around so Brent can feel it too!

Sadly, I've reached the stage in pregnancy where unless the midwife thinks there might be an issue, I won't be receiving another ultrasound until the gender scan during week 20 (unless of course you are like us and make an appointment with an outside imaging company at week 17). Seriously? I treated with a Reproductive Endocrinologist for the first 10 weeks and I was completely spoiled by seeing the bean every week. I suppose the Doppler and hearing the heartbeat will have to do.

Speaking of heartbeat, we experienced the joy of hearing our little one's heartbeat for the first time today. It was a solid 150 beats per minute. Best.sound.ever!

Only 3.5 more weeks until we (hopefully) find out if this bean is a boy or girl! I need to know so I can start calling this baby by his/her name and start working on the nursery. The wait won't be too agonizing as we'll be in Hawaii for 10 days of it.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Little and Growing

12 WEEKS!


Where has the time gone? When I first found out I was pregnant, I swore I wasn't going to tell anyone else until I got to week 12. Then week 12 seemed light-years away and well we all know how that went.

I get weekly baby growth updates from www.BabyCenter.com. It's fun keeping up with how the little bean is advancing and getting answers to the many questions I have each week. In 12 short weeks, baby Holloway has gained a heartbeat, tiny facial features (wonder who he/she will look like), little fingers and toes, a full set of internal organs (though they continue to grow and mature), the ability to suck and swallow, form a fist and wrinkle his/her little forehead. No wonder I'm so tired!

I have my 12 week appointment on Thursday and I'm praying we can detect a heartbeat through the Doppler this week!

Just for my records: To date, I've lost 6 pounds and gained 0. The midwife says she'd like to see me gain 25 to 30 pounds with this pregnancy and I need to start gaining in the next week or so. My morning sickness seems to be slacking off as the nausea is dwindling. Sleeping at night continues to be futile as I spend more time tossing and turning than I do sleeping. The food aversions seem to be improving but not so much that I see myself eating a piece of meat anytime soon.

Only 192 days to go!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

If Only You Could Read...

Dear Little Bean,

I wrote down my feelings the day I found out I was pregnant with you. It was very early on a Saturday morning (February 27 to be exact) and I just knew something was different. I climbed out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to take a pregnancy test and within what felt like 2 seconds the test read...PREGNANT. I did a little happy dance, much like that of Hugh Grant in Love Actually (you'll come to learn this is my favorite movie), and climbed back into bed. I woke your Father to tell him of the good news but sometimes men aren't overly keen on being woken by a barking dog, a giddy wife and bright lights all around. I laid there for what felt like 3 years trying to fall back asleep. But visions of you and all things baby were too much to allow my mind to sleep.

Leading up to taking the test, I had a very vivid dream of pacing the upstairs hallway from what will be your nursery to the office. In this dream I was holding the sweetest baby boy and in it I could feel how much I loved you even in my sleep. I will always cherish that dream.

It's hard for me to imagine all that will change when you finally arrive and yet I can't comprehend what things will remain the same. I've never experienced anything like pregnancy before. It brings about feelings of apprehension, elation and joy. I feel so blessed to have gotten pregnant so quickly and despite the sometimes endless nausea and exhaustion, it is the most exciting thing I've ever done in my life. I want you to know and always remember that we wanted a baby. We hoped and prayed for our lives to be forever changed by you. We are in awe of God's mercy and grace to allow us to play a very small role in creating your life. He's chosen your body as a place for His spirit to dwell and we are waiting to see all that He's created you to be. I daydream of holding you, what you will look like, the sound of your voice, and your good newborn smell.

So dear son or daughter, stay comfy and grow perfectly in God's image. We'll be here counting down the days until November 5 (or whatever day you choose to arrive).

Love Always,
Mom and Dad!