Miles Wants A ...

Tonight while getting ready for bed we asked Miles if he wanted a Baby brother or sister.  He very proudly said "Sister!"  We then ready a bunch of books, and as I was rocking him to sleep, he looked up at me and said, "Momma, I want a Brother!"

Getting Ready for Christmas

Yea!  It's the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to kick off the season than putting up the tree?  Miles had a great time trying to figure out what in the world we were doing as we pulled out this mysterious item out of a big red bag.  It was so fun to watch all of his facials throughout the evening.

Miles proving he is going to be a wonderful big brother... Just look at what a helper he can be!

Taking a much needed break

Mommy, the tree "fluffing" expert hard at work

Daddy "showing off" how tall he is... We get it... We are ALL jealous!

Miles excited to have a friend to help out next year

Mommy and Baby, "We did it!"

19 Week Photos

Miles loves is Baby Brother/Sister!

19 Weeks

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats Baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) We might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

How far along: 19 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +4.5 lbs

Pregnancy Symptoms: Back pain, growing bump, headaches, tender stomach, pregnancy brain, sciatic pain - yikes, already?
Maternity clothes: All the way!
Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: 5-7 hours, depending on the night
Best moment last week: Watching Baby play on the research study ultrasound
Movement: Getting a little bit stronger, but mostly at night still
Food cravings: pretzels with velveta and rotell
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button (in or out): In, but really stretching... I was almost the Thanksgiving turkey! 
What I miss: Memory
What I am looking forward to: Feeling Baby kick more frequently
Milestones: Baby and I successfully made it through our first research study session

All Night Shopping Spree

I was not sure if I would be able to make it all night for the annual Black Friday shopping trip.

Miles helping us plan our Black Friday strategy

For a brief second I thought about calling it off, after all, we had cooked and cleaned from Thanksgiving all day, but luckily around 10 I got my second wind.  At 11:15PM, Nana, Nonni and I loaded up the car and we were off to Kohl's.  After conquering Kohl's, we hit up Target, Arundel Mills, Michael's and Macy's all before arriving home at 7:30AM.

The damage completed by the 3 musketeers 

We then took a short 1 hour nap, we sent Nonni and Poppi on their way back to Ohio and Nana and I headed back out... This time to Toys R Us, Towson Mall, Best Buy, Michael's and another Kohl's, all before heading home to heat up left overs for dinner.  We made it, Baby, Nana, Nonni and I!

The damage at the end of the day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  We cannot wait for you to be with us next year!!!

Research Study Day #1

Today was the first day that Baby and I had the opportunity to participate in the Fetal Research Study at Hopkins.  Baby and I had such a good time.  Today's visit was very exciting.  Today we had an absolutely wonderful ultrasound.  Baby was very active during the ultrasound and kept looking straight at ultrasound wand, so we were able to really see Baby's eyes.  Baby was also in the perfect position to reveal their sex.  It was so hard to look away, luckily I was able to.  After all, how could I possibly find out if Baby is a girl or a boy without Daddy being there.  The woman running the study went ahead and printed off a picture of Baby and put it in an envelope for us.  Needless to say, I went skipping out, all excited after having seen Baby and knowing that Baby's sex was in the envelope if Daddy and I really want to find out at some point.

18 Week Belly Photos

18 Weeks

Our fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to me), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, Baby's finally big enough that I'll be able to feel those movements more consistently.

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +3.5 lbs

Pregnancy Symptoms: Cramping, back pain, fatigue, growing bump, headaches, tender chest and stomach, pregnancy brain, sciatic pain - yikes, already?
Maternity clothes: All the way!
Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: 6ish hours a night
Best moment last week: Finding out that Baby is going great at our big ultrasound!
Movement: When I am laying on my back
Food cravings:
Gender: Boy?
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button (in or out): In, but really stretching. 
What I miss: My normal concentration ability
What I am looking forward to: The research study starting next week.. AKA ultrasound!
Milestones: We made it through our ultrasound without giving into temptation and finding out Baby's gender

Tears, Tears, Oh the Tears

After such a wonderful morning with Baby kicking and Miles being an absolute snuggly baby, I was off to a professional conference.  I do not normally drive to work, however I needed to drive about 30 minutes to the conference today.  My hormones certainly got the best of me, as I was uncontrollably sobbing for having left my Babies to work (even though I left Miles with his best friend Lilah).  Either we can chalk this one up to me being way hormonal or my brain and heart are finally starting to talk the same language.

Kicking Party

This morning was the best wake up call ever.  Just after the alarm went off, Baby started kicking.  I am pretty sure I layed there for at least 30 minutes just enjoying Baby's little kicking party.  What a wonderful way to wake up!

17 Week Belly Photos

17 Weeks

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

How far along: 17 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +3.0 lbs

Pregnancy Symptoms: Cramping, back pain, fatigue, growing bump, nightmares, tender chest and stomach
Maternity clothes: All the way!
Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Less than 3 hours a night.  I am just so uncomfortable.
Best moment last week: Sleeping in to 6, instead of getting up to run at 5!
Movement: Barely, if any.  I would say more just stabbing pain as opposed to movement.
Food cravings: Root Beer
Gender: This week it is definitely a girl
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button (in or out): In, but really stretching.  If I sit just right, I can make it pop out already
What I miss: Sleeping through the night and being able to sit at my desk for 8-10 hours without keeling over in pain
What I am looking forward to: Today's ultrasound
Milestones: We made it to our big ultrasound day!!!

Old Wives Tales... You Decide

Tomorrow is our big ultrasound, so just in case my dreams are correct and we are going to be flashed tomorrow, I thought I would get this down  tonight so we can see what the old wives tales have to say about if Baby is a boy or a girl.  We did the same thing with Miles, and Girl won by 1, so we will see if it is correct this time around.

Where are you carrying the extra weight: out front (Boy)
Is your leg hair growing faster now than before pregnancy: no (Girl)
Are you carrying high or low: high (Girl)
Do you sleep in bed with your pillow to the north or south: South (Girl)
Are your feet colder now than before pregnancy: no (Girl)
Do you prefer the end of a loaf of bread: no (Girl)
Has Dad-to-Be gained any weight: no (Boy)
Does the maternal grandmother have gray hair: some... sorry mom (Boy)
Did you have morning sickness early in pregnancy: yes (Girl)
Are you looking particularly good in pregnancy: no (Girl)
Have you experienced rapid chest development: no (Boy)
Are you craving sweet or sour: sweet (Girl)
Has your nose changed shape: no (Girl)
Craving fruits or meats and cheese: fruits (Girl)
Baby's HB less than 140 beats per minute: no (Boy)
Do you prefer orange juice more than before pregnancy: yes (Girl)
Are you experiencing headaches: yes (Boy)
Does your abdomen look like a watermelon or a basketball?: basketball (Boy)
When asked to show your hands: show palms up (Girl)
Are your nails stronger now than before pregnancy: yes (Girl)
Is your hair shinny and fuller: no (Girl)

So, there you have it. The votes are in:
Boy: 7
Girl: 14

Hum, so according to the old wives tales, Baby is a girl.  Only 23+ more weeks until we know for sure.

According to the Chinese calendar, Miles should have been a girl and Baby should be a boy... All very interesting!

Nursery Decorations

After a year and a half of no decorations in the nursery, Baby has inspired up to finally finish the nursery.  Today was an important step, as I ordered 6 pictures to be framed and hung in the nursery and bathroom!  I am super excited!  The nursery theme will continue with an African theme, primarily focused on giraffes.  The nursery will also continue with the color theme of brown, green and cream with orange thrown in as an accent.  The bathroom is going to be a rainforest theme, primarily decorated with monkeys and frogs.  (Daddy loves monkeys and Mommy loves frogs!)

Here are the prints I ordered for the nursery:

Here is the print I ordered for the rainforest bathroom:

I will also be ordering these alphabet cards to hang on a wall using clips:

Now that I have ordered all the artwork, it is time to start shopping for frames.  

The bathroom and nursery paint colors are already picked out.  The nursery is a khaki/army green color and the bathroom will be a sky blue color with mostly green accents to make the rainforest.  We are hoping to begin painting in either January or February.  

The big decision left to make is whether to order another crib or bunk beds.  At this point, that decision is completely dependent on if Baby is a boy or a girl, as if both kids are boys, they will always share a room, so twin beds that can bunk long term are the best bet for floor space usage.  If Baby is a girl, they will still share a room for now, however down the road they will be in their own rooms, so no need for a bunk bed system.  We may just wait to order the new crib or bunk beds until after Baby arrives... We will see how antsy I get!

16 Week Belly Photos

Miles is SO excited to meet Baby.  He always wants to touch Baby and talk to Baby.

16 Weeks

We are watching what you say... Tiny bones forming in Baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up our voices. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

How far along: 16 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +2.0 lbs

Pregnancy Symptoms: Cramping, contractions, fatigue, growing bump, tearful, nightmares, tender chest and stomach
Maternity clothes: All the way!
Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Depends on the day, but in bed by 11:30 EVERY night
Best moment last week: Feeling Baby kick for the first time
Movement: One little kick!!!!

Food cravings: Ice cold... Water
Gender: My dreams are all saying girl, they are also telling me that we are going to get flashed next week at our ultrasound, so we shall see how correct my intuition is
Labor Signs: Not really, but mild contractions when I run too much, especially when up hill.

Belly Button (in or out): I am an innie, but stretching 

What I miss: Nothing
What I am looking forward to: Our big ultrasound next week
Milestones: Baby and I "survived" our very first race together!  and did I mention... Baby decided to say HI!!!!!!!

Baby FINALLY Says "Hi Mommy and Daddy"

After today's race, Baby was not exactly loving me to say the least.  With Baby's dissatisfaction after today's race, Baby decided to say "Mommy, what are you doing to me?"  Well, Baby, you may not have loved the morning, but I certainly love that Baby decided to say "Hi!"  We cannot wait until you say "Hi" more frequently!!!

Mommy and Baby's First Race

Today was a very big day for Baby and I.  We have been running every morning for the past 6 weeks in preparation to run a race together.  Well, I am very excited to say that the mornings of getting up at at 4:50 are over, as today was our end goal.  The race today was in one of the hilliest parts of Baltimore... Lucky me!  We did not have the best showing, however in the end, we made it through, only walking up 2 of the hills, and averaging just under 12 minute miles... Not too shabby for almost 16 months prego in the hills!

What a glorious sign!