Wedding Travels

We traveled to New York last week for the wedding of my friend, Yaso, from college. I met Yaso the first week of class as freshman at UT-Austin. She and I were in the same Calculus II class and I credit her with helping me survive that course, and not completely failing. She and I stayed in touch over the past 15 years. I visited her in San Francisco after we both graduated, and she came to our wedding there in 2009.  The wedding was a beautiful multi-cultural affair. At 20 weeks pregnant, I was feeling good and had a blast on the dance floor. I enjoyed wearing this long purple gown and feeling beautiful as my pregnant self. Beside the wedding, we stayed busy. We met my cousin, Stella in NYC the day we arrived and had a great dinner. Then on Saturday we took the train to Beacon and had a hike with the wedding party. The next day we went to an art museum, Dia: Beacon, and a strawberry festival before the ceremony. 

I am starting to feel the baby move around a lot more and that is exciting. I continue to have back pain and have to go to the bathroom so often, but I know that is to be expected. Nick is on cloud nine to be having a son. He couldn't sleep after finding out the news...he was so excited! We don't have anything definitive on names yet. Yesterday, when I asked Ruby what we should name him, she responded, "Botticelli." That is an interesting one!

Nick is in Chile now for 2 weeks with his Texas State study abroad program. He left last night. I go to the doctor on Monday for another check-up.  Overall, I feel quite good and have good energy. Ruby and I have been staying busy and doing most of our normal routine.

Our Son

This morning we went in for the anatomy scan at 19w 3d. Nick and I both waited patiently for the tech to bring up the pics that would reveal the baby's sex to us. At the last moment, I anticipated it would be a girl. When she told us it was a boy, Nick was so excited and had tears of joy! He got his boy!!! I was happy too, but also a little bit like "oh my gosh! this is unchartered territory for me!" I don't know about boys! I know about girls!

She finished up the appointment and measured all the parts. She said that the baby is in the 46th percentile, which is awesome. He weighs apx 11 oz right now and has 10 fingers and 10 toes. His heartbeat was 145. Everything seems to be going well for the little guy. We were quick to inform our family and friends of the news. Everyone was of course excited for us.

Ruby was at school when we found out so we waited until we were both home from work to let her know that she was going to have a brother. I was nervous about how she would handle it, as she has expressed several times over the last months that she "doesn't like boys" and that "boys smell." I stopped at Toys-R-Us on my way home and found a newborn babydoll Cabbage Patch kid that was a boy. We presented it to her when we told her and she was actually fine with the news. She just wanted to play with her new babydoll! She took a bath with him and fed him and changed his diaper. She is really going to be a loving big sister I think!

Busy as a bee

18 weeks hitting it hard at the gym

My 17 week appointment was uneventful.  I met with the Doctor and the heartbeat was 150 BPM. I had blood work drawn and then scheduled the anatomy scan. That means next time I go in, we will find out what we are having...Boy or Girl! That is set for June 6, so its just over 1 week away. We are very excited.

I was thinking it was going to be a boy, but then now I feel more like it will be a girl. My acupuncturist told me she believes I am having a girl based on my pulses in each wrist. We will soon find out.

My itching has subsided quite a bit, which is nice! My most significant complaint now is my back pain. I have a lot of lower back discomfort and I think that is probably just par for the course as everything is expanding and stretching a lot.

We have been staying busy as a family. We recently bought new furniture for our living room. We got a really nice recliner that will be perfect for the baby because it rock and swivels. And we finally bought a king size bed set so we will have room to sleep all together if that is what needs to happen, although I am working hard to get Ruby transitioned into her own bed.

Big Sis testing out baby products

Ruby has taken a liking to Nick's CPR Dummy Baby and is practicing being a big sister. She has been dressing the baby and even disciplining the baby.

First time at the pool with Baby

Itchy Mama

Mother's Day Roses

For a little over a week I have been dealing with extremely itchy skin and terrible scalp itch. It started up a couple days after my last OB appointment and so I went back in that Friday. I met with another doctor who was puzzled by it. There was no rash and the itching was all over my body, but worse on the scalp. I thought I had lice at first!

They tested my blood to make sure there was not a problem with my liver, which can result in a dangerous condition for the baby which presents with mom itching. Luckily my liver and bile tests all came back fine. I am relieved that I do not have some rare condition and I can suffer through with whatever this is as long as I have a healthy baby. The itching is still there but it has subsided a bit, I think! I also think that maybe this is a sign that I am having a boy. I didn't have this symptom with Ruby and a couple people I have heard of had crazy itch with their boy pregnancies, but not with their girls. Additionally, I have had a total of 3 dreams now where I delivered a baby boy. Could it be? We wait.

Yesterday was Mother's Day and it was a nice, but uneventful day. Nick had to work so Ruby and I spent the day out and about shopping and then I came back and cleaned up the house a bit. It was so nice to have a day off work and to actually have the time to clean my house. We Facetimed with Diana and baby Emmet, which was fun. I also had a pretty rough work week so it came as a really nice surprise when I won a $200 Amazon gift card from a Mother's Day campaign I entered on social media. I am thinking I may use that to buy a new stroller, one that Ruby can stand and ride.

I have been back at it in the 9Round Gym and enjoying the workouts. My back is hurting a bit and so I think it is probably time to pay another visit to the chiropractor. Its already May and summer plans are taking shape. Nick and I will go to NYC in June and Ruby and I will take a trip to Michigan over the 4th of July. I am really looking forward to that. I have a feeling this baby is going to be here before we know it because we have so much planned between now and delivery date. Life is good.

Going Public

Ruby kissing the Baby

We had our second appointment with the OB doctor this week for the 13 week genetic scan and check-up. Nick was able to make this appointment and got to be there for the ultrasound. The little baby was pretty cooperative at the beginning and then turned and appeared to fall asleep so the tech struggled to get the measurement she wanted. I think she was able to get it eventually. The baby had his/her hands up and legs crossed at the ankles.

Yesterday afternoon we decided to make the announcement official and posted a video clip on Facebook. We, of course, got much congratulations and excitement from friends and family after they learned of our news. It was fun to be able to finally share this with the world.

Ruby is enjoying giving the baby kisses and rubbing Mama's belly. She says that she is having a baby sister. It will be about 7 weeks until we can know that with any certainty.

I was back to the gym yesterday and hoping I can have a strong and fit second trimester. I am in the 13th week already...my has it flown by!

12 Weeks

12-weeks pregnant outside our home

It's hard to believe we are almost done with the first trimester! I am in the 12th week and things have been going OK pregnancy-wise. I am almost done with my antibiotics for my sinus problems and I think I will feel better when that is over with. I have been a little dizzy at times and very tired.

Other than that, we are just really working hard right now. Nick is in the final couple weeks of his semester of MBA classes, which is always stressful. He will then start a class for his study abroad and leave for Chile in mid-June! I am working 7 days a week now on average as I am seeing clients on weekends. My goal is to save money from my private practice work for my maternity leave since my agency doesn't offer any paid leave benefits. Although that is upsetting, I am at least glad I do have an opportunity to be able to make some money that can cover that period of time.

Ruby seems to be excited about being a big sister and has told all her friends and teachers, who are now asking me "is it true?" I think we will probably make the public announcement next week, after the 13 week genetic scan. Like before, it is hard for me to begin thinking seriously about names until I know the baby's sex. We will have to wait a while longer for that I think.

I am enjoying the few pieces of maternity clothes I am wearing and really need to buy some more. I think that the baby growth is more apparent earlier this time around.

Under the Weather

It has been a challenging week. I have not been feeling well and the rest of the family is sick as well. I went to the doctor yesterday after about 4 days of not being able to breathe and feeling pretty crummy. I got an antibiotic for a sinus infection. I am hoping that it helps fast, and that the baby continues to be healthy and not impacted by my illness or medications. Sleep has been rough because of not being able to breathe.

Yesterday I told my co-workers that I am pregnant. They were happy for me and I am glad that I have that behind me so I don't have to try to conceal it anymore. I have gained probably 6 lbs already and credit that mostly to eating a lot and not exercising as much. I did my kickboxing class once last week but afterward I felt like it might have been a little too much, so my plan is to scale back and wait until my 13 week appointment before I get back in there in a modified way.

Anyway, this week is all about getting better and feeling back to our normal selves!