more gifts from family...

Yesterday we got a box from my Gram & Buppa (my grandparents on my mom's side).  What a sweet surprise!  I wasn't expecting that but I couldn't wait to get home so Jeff and I could open it together.

When we opened the box, all the items were individually wrapped in baby paper or pastel tissue paper.  There was a card on the top that was so cute.  It had a sweet message inside from both of them -- Buppa thinks it's a boy.  :)

After reading the card, we proceeded with our "mini baby shower".  That's what it felt like!  We took turns opening everything -- it was so much fun!  We got some receiving blankets, a travel healthcare kit, some disposable diaper bags (that seal in odors -- great!), a fleece blanket, some washcloths and a cute little wipes case.  See?

My mom told me that she & Gram went out shopping last week and had a ball picking up all kinds of stuff.  Gram, you did good!  Even though you couldn't wait until we find out what our baby is, you found lots of goodies that we can use -- thanks so much for thinking of us!  We love you both!

11 weeks today...

I'm 11 weeks today.  Another week down.  It seems like it's not going very fast -- not that I'm wanting it to -- but I'm sure the farther along I get, that will change and things will start to go much faster than I want them to.

Right now, I'm really enjoying this pregnancy.  Thanks be to God I still haven't had any morning sickness or any other negative symptoms, for that matter.  I told someone today that I'm just enjoying it right now, not really wishing I was to the next phase, or wishing for the next ultrasound, etc.  I'm really not even showing yet, however, I can tell that my mid-section is changing (those abs I've worked so hard on aren't so noticeable anymore *sigh*).  I haven't gained any weight -- actually, I've lost a few pounds -- which I don't understand at all because I really haven't been eating the most healthy things.  I am still trying to work out most every day so that must be helping a little bit.  I know I'll be gaining weight soon enough so I'm not complaining about my weight loss right now.  :)

Our baby has been growing and developing even more over this last week...here's what babycenter.com has to say about what's been going on:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Such an amazing thing...what's happening right there in my belly...

10 weeks today...

So I'm 10 weeks today.  That doesn't seem real far along, but then again, I'm already 10 weeks into this pregnancy.  The baby has already been growing & developing for over 2 months now.

Speaking of growth & development, since going to the doctor this past Wednesday and gettting an official due date, I'm excited now to check websites like babycenter.com and whattoexpect.com to find out what's going on there in my belly.

Here's what babycenter had to say:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Pretty amazing, huh?  This baby isn't wasting any time getting going on GROWING!

 

I found this video on the same website that chronicles development from week 1 to 9 (how far our baby has come up to now).  I thought it was really neat to watch and wanted to share it here, too...

first doctor's appt...

Today was our first doctor's appt.  Both of us have been pretty anxious to get this appt in since I really haven't had any major pregnancy symptoms.  I, for one, just wanted/needed a professional to confirm that there really is a baby in there.

And there is!  We saw it!  What amazing technology we have to be able to see a tiny baby only about an inch long -- and to see so much detail!  The ultrasound tech pointed out tiny arm & leg buds, the umbilical cord, the developing brain, even where the jawline is beginning to form.  Say what?!  It was incredible.

We didn't get to hear the heartbeat but we saw the little heart just a-going, about 167 bpm which they said was normal/average.  During the ultrasound, there were several times where it looked like our baby's little arm nub -- I like to think of it as a hand already -- was waving at us.  Aw.  And then every so often while the tech was looking at things, the baby would "bop around".  It was such an amazing thing to see and know at the same time that that miracle is taking place right there in my body.

So based on the u/s and other factors, my official due date is October 31.  Aka, my husband's birthday.  Do you even believe that??  Of all the times for us to conceive, it happened just so to produce that due date.  Some may think that's neat, but my prayer is that this baby will not be born on Jeff's birthday.  I want Jeff and our baby to have their OWN birthdays.  But whatever God plans is what we'll take.  Like we really have a say in it, right?

I am glad to have an official due date, whatever it turned out to be, and to know that I'm officially 9 weeks, 2 days today.  From here I can begin to tell folks with confidence when they ask, and I can start taking photos of my development, knowing now how far along I am.

successful shopping trip...

I went shopping in Myrtle Beach yesterday with some of my fave girls -- we went to the Tanger Outlets.  :)  And had so much fun!  My trip was very successful in that I found the few things I was looking for, as well as a couple things I wasn't looking for.  Bonus!

Of course, it was too early to buy anything for our baby since we don't know yet what it is (but rest assured, we WILL be finding out!) but it was such fun to go into places like Carter's, The Children's Place and Osh Kosh B'Gosh and see all the sweet, tiny little things that we'll soon be purchasing/receiving for our little one.  Oh!  LOVE those little tiny clothes!

So, since I really couldn't do that, I went looking for a dress or two for me and possibly a bathing suit (thanks for the idea, Momma!).  Most folks know that I'm NOT a dress-wearing girl.  I prefer pants or suits.  But in an effort to avoid having to buy a lot of maternity-specific clothes, I am looking for tops, etc. that have the potential to "grow" with me, if you know what I mean.  :)

My original goal for this trip, a month ago when it was planned, was to find something to wear for Easter.  However, we had a wedding to attend 2 weeks ago and I decided to get something to wear for that (I told you I'm not a skirt/dress-wearing girl so I really don't have much to wear to special events like that).  I ended up getting a new shirt for Jeff, too, and we look so spiffy together (coordination is a beautiful thing :) that I decided those would be our Easter outfits.

So yesterday's trip was just to see if I could find another dress or two to add to my wardrobe that would give me a few more things to wear throughout the pregnancy.  The first place we went to was The Loft -- success!  I found a few dresses in there and ended up walking out with one that I felt really cute in.  :)  It's very simple and doesn't have the potential to grow "all the way" with me, but it will be something I can wear for several more months and immediately after the baby is born, too.  THAT'S not something I had thought of, but my girl, Allison, pointed that out.  Good call!

Another place we went was Vanity Fair and I found a top that isn't specifically maternity but it has the empire waist with a flaring bottom so it has lots of room for me in it.  When I get to that point, it will be a comfy top, I think.  Another thing I'm not thinking about at this point is nursing bras/tank tops but my girl, Bekah, pointed out that this place had them for really cheap.  Thought maybe it would be prudent to check those out but I was confused on how I would know what size to get at this point.  I ended up with 2 nursing tank tops that were just S/M/L sizing.  I went with the L since I.have.no.idea what will happen to my body in the next 6.5 months.  :)  My girlfriends assure me that I will be comfy in these.  Yay!

The last thing I picked up yesterday was a bathing suit.  I went into the Motherhood store and I gotta tell you, it was kind of a weird experience.  It's still kind of surreal to me that we're having a baby, so I kinda felt like I didn't belong in there yet.  But I did see that they had some bathing suits so I looked through those.  They had some really cute ones and they were actually a lot less expensive than I thought they'd be.  Less expensive than even a regular bathing suit usually costs.  Score!  The one I got is really comfortable and is just cute.  Pinks, oranges and browns on white.  I was really excited to already have that taken care of!

I didn't look at much else in that store.  As I said, I was kind of overwhelmed and at that point in the trip, I was pretty much DONE with trying on clothes.  Some may not know this, but Motherhood has these "belly pillows" that women can try on to see approximately how big they may be at certain points in their pregnancy, to aid in their purchases.  My girlfriends asked me if I tried it on.  I told them that I hadn't, that I wasn't quite ready for that yet.  It's a little scary for me to think of getting bigger.  I have struggled with my weight/weight loss for the past 7 or so years, working so hard to have that needle on the scale go one way -- to the left -- instead of the other.  That will not be the case for the next 6.5 months so I've really been trying to just take it one day, one pound at a time.  No need to rush anything.  I think I'm doing okay so far.

The shopping trip was fun for me.  The other girls got lots of goodies, too, and we all had a good time just hanging out together.  My mom and I have already been talking about a shopping trip later on, meeting in Raleigh for the day.  That will be super-fun, too!

We have our first doctor's appt this Wednesday, March 31.  I'm so anxious to go and have a "professional" confirm this pregnancy and have an opportunity to see our baby by way of ultrasound.  Jeff will be going with me and we're both excited about it.  I'll post soon after that to fill you in.

gifts from family...

Wow, I didn't mean for a whole week to go by without posting, but this is literally the first chance I've had to sit down and edit photos for posting and type my post.  It's been kind of a busy week, I guess.

We've had these things for awhile, but I wanted to post some photos of some things we got in the mail from my mom & dad and from Jeff's brother & sister-in-law.  Can I just say how much fun it is to get not just a card in the mail (which TOTALLY makes my day/week) but an entire package, no matter how big or small??!  It's like Christmas!  Love it.  Absolutely love it.

My mom warned me that this would probably not be the last time we'd get something from them -- she is absolutely estatic about grandbaby #2, just as she was with grandbaby #1.  My dad is, too, for that matter.  They've been waiting a long time for US to "get on the ball" so I won't fault them for their excitement.  It just adds to our excitement.  Hopefully they won't go into debt buying things before our child even gets here.  :)

Pictured here, you can see that there is a cute maternity top, an adorable little duck sleeper -- which is just about as soft as it could possibly be, some little socks, a teether and a little "crinkly" book.

The maternity top, socks and "crinkly" book came from my parents.  They also included $10 made up of bills and change, stuck in about 4-5 plastic easter eggs.  Mom said it was "a little Easter" but I'm saying it could be the start of our kid's college education fund.  It's never too early to start, right?

I love the top -- it seems like it will be really comfortable once I get to the stage of needing to wear it.  The socks have little Pooh characters on them and the "crinkly" book is what I call it because it makes noise like paper being balled up when you touch it.  A fun thing for baby Wenzel to chew on, I imagine.  :)

  

The little sleeper and teether came from Scott & Jill and the kids along with a really sweet card, in which Jill wrote that she had been "praying for this day for sooo long..." :)  I think the sleeper is THE sweetest thing!  The little feet on it are just perfect and I already said how soft it was.  The other thing that makes it so cute is the fact that it's a newborn size -- so tiny!  The teether is perfect because it's in the shape of a seahorse.  I don't know if she really thought of that when she picked it out but, I mean, we DO live at the beach... :)

Thank you guys for starting us off with a few things to make us even more excited about this pregnancy and help us welcome our precious child!  We love you all!

if I had a dime...

...for every time someone said, "So, how are you feeling?", our child's college tuition would pretty well be taken care of by the time he/she gets here!  Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration but I do seem to be surrounded by lots of concerned folks.

Or maybe that's just what you say to a pregnant lady every time you see her.

In any case, I'm feeling pretty good.  I actually haven't had any true nausea and definitely no, uh, *follow-through* of the nausea (if you know what I'm referring to).  My appetite has changed, however, which I've heard is very common.  There are certain things -- lots of healthy things, I might add -- that I used to eat just  a month ago that I can't seem to find an appetite for anymore.  Mostly raw veggies.  I used to eat carrots and cucumbers with sandwiches at lunch (instead of the chips, etc.) but the thought of putting either into my mouth at this point, puts me on the path to feeling nauseous and I'm trying to avoid that at all costs so I don't even pack those in my lunch bag anymore.

I've also suddenly developed an aversion to peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.  The last two I ate (while pregnant, mind you) really didn't taste that great to me and I ended up just choking that last little bit down and trying not to think about what it tasted like.  That's a bummer.  I used to love me some pb & j sandwiches!  And it's an easy, low-cal lunch.  But not one I'm eating any time soon, I fear.  I've rediscovered egg salad, which, to some, may sound nauseating, but not to me.  I'm diggin' it so far, so we're going with it!

Another thing that has changed for me, and I never expected it, is coffee.  Most of you know how I love my coffee.  At least one cup every day, sometimes two; maybe one in the afternoon.  I don't have any problem drinking caffeinated coffee in the evening -- the caffeine doesn't seem to affect me in that way.  I also don't have a problem drinking decaffeinated coffee at any point during the day.  As I said, caffeine doesn't pep me up and the lack of doesn't let me down.

But I actually haven't had ANY coffee for the last 3 days.  It's weird.  It doesn't make me sick to think of drinking it.  And I still love the smell of it.  But the last cup I had in my office on Monday, I hardly drank any of it.  I brought almost the whole travel mug full of coffee home with me.  That's really not like me at all.  The next morning, I thought about it and just decided not to have a cup.  I don't want to be wasteful and I just figured I might do the same thing I did the morning before so I just didn't brew one.  And I haven't.  For the last 3 days, as I said.  Another bummer, but I don't seem to miss it.  Weird.

That's pretty much it in the way of foods and changes in that department.  Another thing that I wish I had a dime for every time I heard it is, "Well, you're eating for two now."

Like I need THAT encouragement to *oink* it up!