Anxiously Waiting

I've learned some new and interesting things about myself since becoming pregnant.  I am much more patient than I thought I was.  I do very well at multi-tasking.  And I am becoming somewhat of a CONTROL FREAK!  One thing I never really thought I was.  I've always been a procrastinator.  In college I would wait up until the last minute at times to get things done!  I sleep until the last second to have just enough time to shower and walk out the door.  I was never the one to follow the saying "The early bird gets the worm." 

Well, since becoming pregnant, I am so excited and anxious that I want everything done NOW! I guess you could call it "Nesting." I picked out a crib back in December, but Rob made me wait to order it until we knew if we were having a boy or a girl.  I looked at it everyday and fought myself not to click the order button (See, proof that I'm learning patience). So the day we found out we were having a girl, is the day our first of many big purchases for baby began.  

When I ordered the crib, which was a Monday, it was guaranteed to be here within 2 weeks.  Not bad considering many places can take up to 12 weeks to ship.  So, I put it in the back of my head and carried on with my daily routines. 

 In Target's world, 2 weeks must actually mean 2 days because the crib was here on Wednesday of the same week.  I was ecstatic!  Thank god I had absolutely nothing to do for the next 3 hours because there was nothing I wanted to do more than to set it up.  Now, I know, I'm 5 months pregnant, and I probably should have waited for Rob to get home to help me put this together, but that wasn't going to stop me.  I had a mission.  

Turns out, the crib was extremely easy to assemble.  It probably only took me an hour, and there were not any extra pieces leftover.  Success!  I am so happy with it, and I'm even happier that I spent under $250 dollars for it.  Now I just need to fill it with a mattress, adorable bedding (see below) and of course, our darling daughter.  Life is so good!

It's A...

So, we had our 20 week Ultrasound today.  I was very nervous and excited and could not wait to see our little baby on the big screen again!  I mostly wanted to make sure that the baby was healthy and developing normally.  

The ultrasound technician was very quick, and made sure to point out all of the body parts and checking to make sure each one was measuring appropriately.  Baby has 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 kidneys, 4 heart chambers, brain growth, a stomach, lungs, a spinal cord and a...VAGINA!!! She asked us probably 3 or 4 times during the ultrasound if we wanted to know the gender.  She must have had a slip up and accidentally spilled the beans to someone who did NOT want to know.  But there it was, in all it's glory. 

Once we heard our "it" was now a girl, I was beside myself and couldn't help but shed a tear or two.  I knew it was a girl from day one, and I'm glad I stuck with my gut.  Rob, on the other hand, kept questioning the ultrasound tech and really wanted to make sure that there was in fact, no penis.  He is very happy to know that he will soon have his "little princess." 

Everything else is great! I am measuring a week early, so instead of 20 weeks 3 days, I am 19 weeks 3 days.  Doctor still has our due date for July 7, 2012 so I'm gonna say I'm still 20 weeks.  

As soon as we got in the car, we called our parents.  They seem pretty excited, although my dad replied with "Oh great, you mean another woman in the family?" And Rob's dad said, "You know, not all Patrick men are hung like horses, so it could still be a boy." Always a fun reaction from the dads.

Anyway, here we are...knowing that there is not only a baby, but a baby girl growing inside of me.  Everything is different now.  I feel so much closer to my sweet little baby now that I have this extra piece of information.  I can't wait to learn more about her in the many years to come.

We do have a name, but that will be kept secret until she makes her first appearance in this world.  (Sorry, but we need at least one surprise!)

Less Than 24 Hours...

Until we see baby and find out if it's a BOY or GIRL!!!!!! Can not wait!

19 Weeks

On Monday, February 20, Rob and I will finally know if we are having a boy or a girl.  I can not describe how excited and anxious I am!  I truly do not know how people go their entire pregnancies without knowing the sex of their baby.  They are obviously not as impatient as I am, and I wish I could hold out that long.  So, although most of these are based on those Old Wives Tales, here are some of my "gender symptoms," so you be the judge:

I never had morning sickness.

I don't have any "weird" cravings, although I ate ice cream almost every night in the first trimester.

At our 12 week check up the baby's heart rate was 160bpm and at 16 weeks it was 140bpm.

I think I'm carrying lowish (can't really tell, but I feel like the baby is always on my bladder)

I have not been overly-emotional or "crazy."

Most people that have seen me say I'm having a girl. 

Not a lot to go on, but that's all I can really think of.  I guess we'll find out in just a few more days! 

My Growing Belly

12 Weeks!

14 Weeks! 

I remember thinking I looked so HUGE! 

16 Weeks!

18 Weeks!

22 Weeks!

27 Weeks!

35 Weeks!

37 Weeks! And it looks like I've dropped a little!

We're Having a Baby!

I can not believe I am already in week 19 of my pregnancy.  The time has flown by, and there is so much to look forward to in the upcoming months.

Rob and I found out we were pregnant on October 27, 2011.  I remember waking up as soon as Rob left for work, and I laid in bed contemplating whether or not I should take a pregnancy test.  We were supposed to go to a Halloween party that night, and I didn't want to end up drinking if I actually was pregnant.  I honestly did not think for a second that I was pregnant.  I didn't have any symptoms, but this was the ritual.  Every month I took about 10 pregnancy tests, (I wish I was exaggerating) and I got my hopes up waiting for two lines to show up on the test, and month after month, it was only that 1 stupid line.  So, I got out of bed, stumbled to the bathroom and took the test.  After waiting only 2 minutes, I decided to check.  I could not believe what I was looking at.  There were two lines!  I rubbed my eyes just to make sure I wasn't seeing double.  But the lines got darker and darker.  I was is total and complete shock!

I was so excited and I really wished that Rob was home so he could double check the test to verify that I wasn't in fact crazy, and that there actually were two lines showing on the test.  Unfortunately, he was at work, and it would be HOURS until he got home.  I decided to keep the secret until he got home that night, and I would surprise him then.

Since I was going to be home when he arrived, I made a sign that said "Congratulations Daddy!" and left it in the kitchen, along with the positive pregnancy test.  As soon as he walked in I didn't say a word as he went into the kitchen.  I waited for it, and I heard him reading the sign.  He said, "Is this for real?" and I replied, "Well look at the test, and you tell me!" He did and had the biggest smile on his face! We were ecstatic!

We were finally pregnant!

We were having a baby!