Week 26 - 3D Baby Bean

We get lots of extra attention with Baby Bean's umbilical cord defect.  I went in for another round of appts today.  OB first.  Heartrate was good and my belly was measuring large at 33cm.

The ultrasound was next.  By measurements she's about a week ahead.  They are estimating her weight at 2lbs 4 ozs.  With overall size at 70% percentile.  (Her head is leading the measurements at 87% percentile...poor me)!

So the geneticists was very pleased and feels that we're not going to have to worry about restricted growth due to the umbilical cord condition :-)

Although I found out that I need to start twice a week non-stress tests at 32 weeks.  That's a lot of appts!

The best part of the day was getting a sneak peek at Baby Bean.  She was unusually calm during the ultrasound so the tech was able to turn the 3D on and get some great pictures.  It makes such a difference for me.  I felt very blessed getting to see who was behind that wall of skin.  

I'm in love...for the third time :-)

Week 25 - 15 more weeks

Ahhh yes.  It's all coming back to me.  I've already reached the point in pregnancy #2 where I feel like I'm going to pop.  The belly is already peeking out from under my shirts.  By end of a day, what is left of the adominal muscles feel stretched and sore and the lower back feels achy.
 
Recently, I find that I'm having a hard time concentrating.  My brain seems to jump from thing to thing, never fully completing or processing a task.

Baby Bean is big enough that her subtle movements now are visible from the outside.  I seem to have more belly quivers with her.  Ellie was definitely a hiccups kid but this one seems to get muscle fatigue from all her movement.

Other funny Baby Bean observations.  She seems to have strong reactions (lots of moving) when I'm typing on a keyboard and driving long distances in a car.   Ellie didn't like keyboards either but the car one surprises me.

For all the not so wonderful prego parts...there is something I really like about week 25.  The really wonderful part about week 25 is that babies tend to be developed enough that they could possibly make it out of utero.  So for me, it's a magical week.  Somethings shifts in my mind when we hit this week.  Maybe it's even more reason why it becomes a countdown instead of counting up.

Ode to Mom

Ellie's drawings continue to grow in their detail.  Her favorite drawing instrument is the magnadoodle. Here are a couple of my recent favorites.  One is a rainbow and the other a potrait of me :-)


Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Week 24 - It's all coming back to me

Baby Bean is 24 weeks today!  We only have 16 more weeks and all the joys of second half pregnancy are coming back to me.  As space for two bodies shrinks, heartburn starts.  My veins start to stand out against my really fair skin (from the increased blood volume).  Abdominal strength diminishes so I feel like a wibble wobble getting up from a seated position.  I have to roll to one side and then use my hands and arms to push my body forward.

Happily, I feel Baby Bean almost all the time now.  She must be big enough that even her slightest movements are noticeable.  I think she's going to be an active kid based on what I'm feeling.  When I lay down it seems like she's "playing" with the sensation of the bed pressing against my tummy.  And when she's lower in the uterus, my bladder gets a tickle from some part of her body.  It's a very strange sensation...like getting a signal that you have to go potty.

We had our fetal echo cardiogram (an ultrasound solely focused on the heart anatomy) on July 3rd.  Baby Bean got the heart clearance we were hoping for.  They saw a perfectly healthy, correctly formed heart! 

So now we just monitor her growth and ensure the umbilical cord defect doesn't effect her size or in utero environment.

Oh yeah...and finish the nursery space, eat right, get into my birthing exercise routine and keep all the other balls in the air.  I have a feeling it's going to be a busy 16 weeks ;)

Is McDonald's where farmers go?

Grandma took all 4 grandkids over night givening parents a much appreciated break.  Today after lunch they walked to the local Mc Donald's for a special treat.  Ellie's never really been so when I asked her later where Grandma took them, she replied to "the farmer's place".  I was totally puzzled.  After my Mom thought about it for a second she realized Ellie thought they had gone to Old Mc Donald's Farm!  Not a totally crazy assumption on her part.  Silly and smart kid :-)

Here's a pic of the little ones at "Grandma's Camp"

 

 

21 Weeks - 15ozs and growing

Today was a baby bean day.  Appt with the ob in the morning and ultrasound in the afternoon.  She's doing great per both visits.  My belly is a whopping 21cm which aligns with her 21 weeks.  And heartbeat was within normal range at 140 something.  The ultrasound guesstimated her weight at 15ozs (per measurements of arm/leg bones, abdomen and head circumferences).  And all organs looked healthy and normal.

Ellie's really starting to get this sister thing too.  Baby Bean (via my belly) has been getting lots of daily hugs and kisses.  Ellie tells me all the time that her sister will sit next to her (I'm presuming she's talking about in the car since she likes sharing car rides with cousins).  And the cutest of them all was her question last night as I was leaving for hypnobirth class.  She asked if I was taking "her sister" to the class with me.  I giggled and nodded yes...the baby was going to have to go to class with me.

Side Note: I'm sorry to the universe for all the times I rolled my eyes at little people prior to having Ellie.  Cause' it really is amazing how far their minds come in such a short amount of time.  I guess that's part of the you just can't understand until you have your own stuff.

Happy Ellie and Walking on Water

About a month ago, Braden and I were able to escape to Arizona for a long weekend.  We had the best time and even better, when we arrived back home, we were greeted by a very happy, appreciative Ellie.  It was the first time I felt she got that we, as parents, shouldn't be taken for granted. 

The well mannered and appreciative child has (pretty much) stuck around since then.  She has been a happy little person.  I've been a happier Mom.  It's all flowed.  I keep wondering if this good time, all loving phase can be bottled for the next not so fun phase that might come up?

Another cute story Ellie story, as passed on to me by Ellie's Gigi.  This past Sunday (Father's Day), Ellie and Gigi were hanging out at the lakefront (her grandparents live on a lake) looking out at the water.  I don't know how they got on the topic but Ellie looks out at the nearby dock and boat and declares "You need the dock to get to the boat because we can't walk on water."  I think it was her matter of factness that caught her grandma's funny bone.  Ellie's starting to put the pieces of the world together and it's so fun to watch.  Gigi hasn't been able to look at the water this week without thinking, "Cause' you just can't walk on water, Gigi" :)

20 weeks - Half Way!

So here we are...half way thru the pregnancy.  The baby has been very active this week or she's just gotten big enough that her movements are very noticeable.  Yes, I don't think I've mentioned it yet but it's a girl!  We are very, very excited that Ellie is getting a sister.

And the belly is already feeling big and stretched out by evenings end.  And there's so much more to go.

We also started a hypnobirth course this week.  It's a very interesting premise.  And in a funny twist, Kate Middleton was rumored to be considering hypnobirthing for her July delivery.  So I know people are going to be asking a lot of questions about it and wondering if we're doing it because she is.  But I have to say that it's a good course for a second pregnancy.

Otherwise, we're collecting items for the new nursery, investigating birth photography and working to collect more information on double vessel umbilical cords.

First Day of Preschool

Ellie started preschool yesterday.  I love this new school!  On Monday, I received a note that described the weekly planned activities as the following:

Monday: In the morning, we will have choice time with Yoga enrichment.

Tuesday: In the morning, we will be testing different materials down the hill (ramp) on our playground.  The children will explore cause and effect when testing balls, trucks, and even tires down the hill and applying what they already know about ramps.

Wednesday: In the morning, our playdough group will be able to use the small muscle in their hands to manipulate the playdough and make representations.  Our volume group will compare and measure using cups, sand, rocks and bristle blocks.

Thursday: In the morning, we will be using different materials to create boats.  Then we will test our boats in tubs of water.  The children will be using what they know about boats, and how they float to make their own boats.

Friday:  In the morning, we will be making art using flowers that we pressed a few weeks ago.  The children helped press the flowers, they are now ready for us to use.

 

 And here's Ellie's first day note from her teacher.  I figured she explained the day better than I could :)

Ellie had an amazing first day!  I heard her drop off was text book.  She was happy and smiling ALL day!  This morning Ellie painted in the sunroom.  I asked her a little bit later if she painted, she said yes.  I told her I could tell because she had orange paint on her face! ;-)  She had snack. She came outside and immediately jump on a bike and started riding around!  She played in the sandbox and seemed to enjoy watching the other children.  During group time we rolled things down the 'ramps' we found outside.  Ellie rolled many small plastic balls down the hill and the slide.  At lunch she sat next to Zavi, another new friend in our group.  She did not nap, which I am not sure if this is normal or just a first day thing. (Can you let me know?)  This afternoon she played outside again.  During afternoon group she was very interested in the dinosaur 'poop'.  She also really enjoyed watering the plants, especially with the watering cans.  She is a very happy girl and really seemed to enjoy CDC!  Overall, great day!  I have attached some pictures of Ellie on her first day.

Week 18 - Wiggles

Baby is doing great.  Very wiggly.  Last week we had the "big" ultrasound.  The tech really struggled to get all the pictures she needed/wanted.  Baby flipped and rolled and arms were moving up and down.  All measurements are spot on!  14cm, 7ozs for 17weeks along.  We got to see hands, feet, heart, brain, eyes, arms, legs, spine.  The placenta is just under the belly button.  But that didn't seem to stop baby...I really started to feel them last week.  There's a lot going on in that cocoon!

Baby is special in one way...the umbilical cord is a double vessel cord instead of the a standard triple vessel cord.  So that means baby gets extra attention for the rest of the pregnancy...monthly ultrasounds to track growth and a super duper echo at U of M in the 22nd week. Here's more detail for all you medically minded :)  http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-problems/articles/two-vessel-cord.aspx?MsdVisit=1

But really, it's not anything the dr was concerned about at this point since all measurements were correct and baby is still measuring a couple days ahead.  Just being conservative.

I just think Baby Bean wants equal attention ;)

Week 16 - Oh Baby

Ellie and I took a sibling class last Tuesday.  I was surprised by the depth of fetal development they went into.  I guess I took for granted that Ellie was just too young to explain this stuff to.  But she was genuinely interested and curious.  She sat right in front of the teacher and wanted to touch and "See" everything that was presented.  And then we toured a hospital room...she didn't really seem to care.  But maybe the experience will come back to her when she comes to visit us at the hospital. 

Every day since she asks if the baby is still in my tummy.  I answer yes.  She asks why.  I say because the baby is still growing.  It's going to be a long wait until November.

And I can stop obsessing over the hair thing...I guess it just takes awhile.  So happy to finally report that the lush hair is coming ;)  Funny how this was a "big" thing for me but I guess I was just looking for all the same, positive pregnancy things from the first time.

Lastly, Friday we received good news from the bloodwork we did over the last couple of months.  The tests were screen negative for a couple of the key chromosomal defects.  And the odds have dramatically dropped.  Feeling very blessed as this week rolls over to week 17.

Baby #2 - week 12 update

Went in for genetic counseling and neural tube ultrasound today.  it was absolutely fascinating.  it's my second time around but the I don't always count the first time because I was in such a state of shock that I didn't always think clearly.

Baby Bean was giving the tech a run for her money.  She needed very specific profile pictures.  Ever time she thought she had the baby in the right place, the baby would do a complete flip.  It was fun to see the baby interacting with the outside world.  I took it as a sign of things going well on the development side of things.

Also good news, the nuchal tube measured in the normal range.  A good indicator of health for Baby Bean at this point.

Baby #2 Week 12 - Monday 4/22

More baby updates.  We've had the opportunity to hear baby bean's heartbeat twice in the last month.  The first was in Utah with Braden's family.  We used Cort and Amber's doppler heart monitor.  And then again at the second OB appt last week (the midwife said it was a nice, steady 170 bpm).  It never gets old.  It's special each and every time.  It's such wonderful reassurance that everything is "ok in there".

My skin is nice and pretty.  We're past the acne!  Fatigue is still getting me.  Today I took about 4 hours of naps.  Sigh.  Who has time for that kind of sleeping?

Hair is still the same.  No thick mane yet :)

Baby #2 Week 8 - Tuesday March 26

I came down with a cold last week and was miserable.  But feeling much better this week.  Actually, the nausea is significantly diminished and my energy seems to be better.  I'm still wondering when the hair goes lush...cause it's still the same ol' hair (Post note:  I'm starting to see how obsessed I am with the hair going lush  :)).  Although another positive has been a less acne and increasingly better skin.

I had the ob intake last week.  Bloodwork yesterday.  And first midwife appt this Friday, Good Friday.  I'm hoping that we can hear the heartbeat or get some indication of how things are going from the bloodwork.

Baby #2 Week 6 - Friday March 7

Well it's hit...the nausea and fatigue.  I spent most of the day in bed sleeping and fighting off yucky tummy feelings.  Thank goodness it was a day Braden was home and he was able to help out with Ellie.

Hair is still "normal"...no signs of the lush, thick hair yet.  Skin is still acne prone.

Other than that, all's well.  I did take another pregnancy test this week.  It's just so strange that you go so long before seeing a doctor and getting any kind of confirmation that there's someone hanging out.  I have no idea how people did before all the technologies of the day...ultrasounds, on the fly pregnancy tests, etc.

Baby #2 Week 4 - March 4th

Monday - My hair is still falling out.  My skin is oilier than normal and makes makeup look silly by the end of the day so less is more these days.  I think I had a bout of nausea yesterday (or else I'm fighting off the norovirus that went through our house last week). 

Baby #2 - Starting at the beginning Feb 23

After Ellie turned 2 and was a fully walking, talking and an amazing being, we finally felt ready to consider a second person.  And here we are 6 months later with a positive pregnancy test.  It's early...like really early thanks to Clear Blue's "6 days before your missed period" testing capabilities.  We found out on Tues Feb 19 and it's been a very different and strange experience from Ellie.  I think with Ellie we were surprised, apprehensive, and clueless (many of the feelings first time parents have).  With this baby, it's a very calm excitement.

I want to be able to document all my feelings for both Baby #2 and Ellie's sake.  I just wasn't in a place to do it the first time.  I just didn't settle into things until we found Ellie was Ellie at 20 weeks and even then, I was still completely focused on surviving labor. :)

According to the Chinese Gender Predictor, it's a Girl Month.  While the "Ring Test" predicted a boy.  So we shall see.

week 14 - the belly has popped

No more hiding it...the baby's officially making it's presence known!  I have a baby belly.  It seemed to appear relatively quickly.  I knew it was coming because the muscles located just below the sternum started to firm up.  (I've seen all sorts of videos and pictures of babies growing from their fetal selves.  But it makes me curious to know how the uterus grows and the surrounding body accommodates...I'm sure the internet contains this info somewhere.)

Now that we are in week 14, I think it's safe to start sharing/spreading the news that Baby #2 will be joining us later this year (the official date is Nov 3 but I think it'll be October).  We are super excited to see the family grow to 4.  We love having siblings to share life with and are excited to give that to Ellie and our new little person.

I've been writing notes the last 3 months so you'll be seeing those get posted next.

We just had our third ob visit today and it was so nice and assuring to hear a solid heartbeat in the right developmental location.  We also took Ellie with us which was a first.  Thank goodness it was Dr Davidson taking care of us.  He was so kind to include her throughout the appt and even wrote a prescription for a sucker.  I think she's finally starting to process that there's someone else, a baby, coming.

Skin is still very clear (very little acne) but no changes in hair to report.  I keep waiting for the thick, lushness hair to come.  Not yet I guess.  But on the excited side, I seem to be past the first trimester blahs.  I feel pretty normal and am even finding my groove with the new sleeping positions.  (Once the belly pops, it makes tummy and back sleeping pretty impossible for me.)

April Showers

It's rained (and snowed) a lot this month.  I guess there's going to be a lot to the saying "april showers bring may flowers" this year.

Earlier this month, we spent a week in Utah with Braden's family.  It was a nice week getting a chance to catch up and just spend time together.  And of course there was some time for skiing.  Due to some early altitude sickness, we bowed out of the big family ski day.  But got to go later in the week with Mom and Dad Robison to the amazing Deer Valley resort.  I can't say that I loved the other skiers (too posh for me) but the facility and staff were over the top wonderful.  They treated Ellie with such kindness and care which always means so much to me.  And as a result, Ellie skied and skied loving every minute.

When we got back from Utah, we moved Ellie into a twin mattress. And praise the Lord, have been sleeping thru the night ever since.  Sleep precious sleep.

We're happier parents.  She's a much happier person.  So I suppose there's some correlation between sleep and happiness for a family.  Another side effect of the bed switch has been affection.  Ellie's never been big on PDA.  I think it comes from her self-soothing personality.  She never required snuggling to sleep as a baby.  We'd swaddle her up, give her a pacifier and she would take care of the rest.

But in the last week, we've gotten more snuggles putting her to bed now that we can sleep next to her.  And when she wakes up, she's been giving me morning kisses when I ask. 

2 1/2 Years

Recently, living with a 2 1/2 year old has been quite a challenge.  Another blogger likened them to little terrorist or dictators and honestly, it's been exhausting.  When Ellie is happy, the whole world is happy but when somethings off, she's nothing but misery.  Braden has more skills to deal with our emotional volcanic like child.  He's great at distracting her when she begins to fixate on something we don't want her to.

I other hand, work really hard to avoid all known triggers.  So by the end of the day and certainly week, just want to go on a mental vacation.

She also experienced her first nightmare late Feb.  Pained screams woke us one night.  We went running into her room.  To her credit, she had already turned the lights on.  But was insistent that a dinosaur was in her window and wanted to eat her and all her stuff.  Since that night, she has only slept thru the night once.  She now wakes up and wants something...diaper change, a drink, to be rocked, etc.

So on top of the temper tantrums, we are also feeling less rested and equipped to deal with her swings.  Ahhh...all of this is making is really hard to "enjoy" parenting.  We know it's a phase but jesh a little break would be nice.

On the upside of things, she now communicates in full and complete sentences.  Most people can understand her, most of the time.  Her grammar lacks but all the words make it into a sentence.  And she even uses slang regularly.  This part we have loved!  It has been a riot to hear all the things she thinks about.

She also has been singing lots.  She knows the music from our music class better than I do.  She's just as happy making up her own songs too.  Sounds like this is a kid thing...cause' I forgot how to make up songs long ago.

We really hope that sleep and a less emotionally needy Ellie will come in the next month!