Thursday, April 30, 2009

"Let's Go To The Beach"


Umm, no I'm not really going to the beach, this is what's happening. We are having our Spring Festival on May 15th at my school. Each class was asked to come up with a theme and arrange a basket with that theme that is going to be donated. The basket will be auctioned off to raise money for our school. So, being that I'm in total need for a beach vacation my class is doing "Let's Go To The Beach". I'm buying an igloo ice chest and we are going to stuff the "basket"/ice chest with things that are essential when taking a trip to the beach. So far this is what we've come up with:

-Sunglasses
-Beach ball
-Sunblock
-Hat
-Water bottles
-Beach Towel
-Goggles
-Pail
-Shovel
-Camera
-Frisbee
-Snacks

Of course the most important item would be a bathing suit and a margarita would also be ideal, but I'm gonna go ahead and skip these:) I'm very excited and so are my students. I sent the note home yesterday and some of them came in asking "teacher when are we going to the beach" ahh....I wish! I will post pictures of the finished product and Spring Festival afterwards.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

21 Weeks-Banana


Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Another week gone! In pregnancy news Nunie and I went to babiesrus on Friday after satisfying my craving to Olive Garden. We didn't go register but we wanted to check out a few things and decide on them. We had narrowed it down to two travel systems and decided on the Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30-Adventure.


It has excellent reviews by Baby Bargains and its great on safety according to consumer reports. To top it off it drives so smooth and the handles are adjustable. This was another main reason why Nunie loved it after pushing it around the store, is because since he's tall it fits great. They only carry the carseat up to 22lbs at babiesrus and we want the carseat that goes up to 30lbs so we have to order it online through the manufacture. Mom offered to buy this for us!

Mom and I went to Target and registered for my upcoming baby shower at work. It was pretty fun and not overwhelming at all, (like I had heard) because I had thankfully done all my homework. So it wasn't at all like I would have thought to be like before-pick whatever looks cute and scan it. Umm no, I'm much rather interested in the safety features and reviews on the product than the cuteness. Funny I know but I guess the motherly instinct is kicking in- I want the best for my child. Overall it was very fun picking out the baby's cute outfits, headbands, and fuzzy blankets. Everything is feeling a little more real every day.





How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 12lbs
Maternity clothes? Just shirts. I'm still wearing my regular pants with my bella band.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Pretty good. I wake up once to go to the bathroom.
Best moment this week: Registered for baby
Movement: A little here and there especially when I'm lying down
Food cravings: Olive Garden...yum, yum, yum
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In and very shallow
What I miss: A cocktail-especially a pina colada
What I am looking forward to: Starting to paint the room
Milestones: Choosing baby gear and imagining her in it

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Super Cute Baby Legs


I saw these super cute "baby legs" online that I cannot wait to put on my daughter. They are just too freakin' cute. They will be perfect for when she's crawling around on the tile that is going to be installed in two weeks. They make them in all sorts of colors and patterns and are very convenient when changing their diaper because they only go up to their thighs like leggings-aren't they adorable?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

20 Weeks- Cantaloupe



Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

We are officially at our half way mark today! Twenty more weeks and our baby girl will be here.This also means I should start feeling more movement. I'm looking forward to feeling this little one more often. We weren't able to go register because the weather was horrible on Saturday so that is still pending, but we've chosen the baby bedding. I've loved this set since I first saw it, but kept shopping around to see if maybe I would find something else I would like better. Nothing else has caught my eye like this Glenna Jean collection.

It has various hues of pinks, tans, cremes, and browns-just lovely. They sell the set or in separate pieces which I'm considering doing because I would prefer to get the breathable bumper since its recommended.

Since I hit my 20 week mark, I will be signing up for prenatal yoga at the Motherhood Center in the heights. I've heard and read great things about practicing yoga during pregnancy. It's very beneficial since it focuses on building strength, confidence, and stamina while addressing many of the common aches and pains of pregnancy. They also have Mommy and Baby yoga that you can practice with your little one. It helps bond with baby while you get rid of the extra baby pounds. It sounds like so much fun to be able to exercise with little!


At 20 Weeks-half way!


The day we got our postive preg. test!


I have also added this that I will be updating every week.
How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 10lbs
Maternity clothes? Just shirts. I'm still wearing my regular pants with my bella band.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Pretty good. I wake up once to go to the bathroom.
Best moment this week: Reached my 20 week mark
Movement: A little here and there...
Food cravings: Pineapple(still!)and frosted flakes
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Nice fitted shirts
What I am looking forward to: Going to register and feeling baby kick more
Milestones: Reaching half-way mark

Friday, April 17, 2009

Starting Her Library

We are having our annual book fair at school and I can't ever resist to leave out of there without buying tons of books for my class. Well this year I bought a couple for my class and a few for baby. I would like to share my passion for reading with her and instill the love for books. Needless to say it's never too early to start building her library.
Here are the books I purchased.


I cannot wait to tuck her in bed with this sweet book.


A rememberence of her first nickname "bean".


I couldn't resist. I love "I'm a Little Teapot" song.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

19 Weeks-Mango



Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large mango. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Our little girl is the size of a mango-yum! This past week was a very "big" week for us because we were able to find out that bean is a girl. I had a big growth spurt between the last time I went to the doctor and this past appointment gaining 7lbs.-yikes! That's kind of scary but my doctor assured me I was on target and since I hadn't gain but 2lbs all the way up to 16 weeks it was necessary for baby. Total gain weight by 20 weeks should be 10lbs so all I can gain this week is 1lb.

We plan to go register this weekend because I'm having my work shower in a few weeks. I've been doing a lot of research on baby gear so the fun part is left to do-pick out colors and styles.

We have one final name in mind and we should reveal it very soon.....stay tuned!
Here's my 19 week picture

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........









We're having a GIRL! We couldn't be happier to be having a little princess. Everything went well at the appointment and baby cooperated with us. She's an active little one, but the tech was able to get all her measurements. Everything is measuring well, actually she's measuring a little big so my due date may get moved up a couple of days.
They took me in first to be able to get all the measurements my doctor requests-the heart, legs, arms,head, and other organs. The tech asked me if I wanted to know the sex now or wait for my husband, I said I would wait. Once they finished with all measurements they called my mom and Nunie. The tech showed us as she was moving her little arms. She had them mostly up by her little head. She then said "We've got a little girl" without any warning. Mom squealed and Nunie and I were speechless. I was in shock for a moment and it made everything that much more real. I started to cry because I was so overjoyed. I felt a sudden bond for the first time seeing my little girl.

We went to dinner with my aunt, cousins, parents, and sister. The baby already received two beautiful pink onesies and Nunie came home with a "princess" plaque for her room-lucky girl!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Getting Nervous

So I'm fixing to leave work in about 30 minutes and head to the doctor's office for my 2:30 appointment. For some odd reason I'm getting really nervous, like a good nervous with butterflies in my stomach. I think last time I felt this way was when I was about to walk down the aisle-I'm a dork I know, haha! My family keeps calling Mom and friends are emailing me, believe me once we find out we will call everyone. I just pray that baby cooperates and everything goes well. Mom is taking me a bottle of orange juice because supposedly this makes baby move and you're able to see the money shot-oh the wives tales!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Happy Easter!

Easter was great this year despite the 80 percent chance of rain that was predicted. It rained a whole lot in the morning but cleared up and ended up being a beautiful day! We visited our three sets of parents and ended up getting home until 9pm-very tiresome but fun day. We ate lots of yummy food and sweets and the baby even got their first "little duckie" from Aunt Dil. Everyone was making their last predictions of baby's sex. We still have about half of our family thinking it's a boy and half predicting it's a girl.

On Saturday we went to Baby's and Kids 1st Furniture Store. They have the most beautiful nurseries and gear. Each room is decked out in a different theme, so we got great ideas. Nunie picked out a crib for a boy and I picked the girl one. We are pretty much going unisex with all the gear, but the crib Nunie likes is black and would look better in a little boy's room. So, tomorrow is the "big" day. I hope baby cooperates!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Visit From A Friend

A long time friend that I hadn't seen in over a year surprised me at my job and took baby bean two adorable oneseies one for boy and one for girl and a card specifically for bean. She took her two beautiful kids and I realized how much I had missed them. It was good to see her and the kids. Here are the super cute onsies bean is soon going to be "sportin"




Wednesday, April 8, 2009

18 Weeks-Sweet Potato


Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.


Here I am at 18 weeks

Well I'm definitely looking more pregnant these days and bean is sure growing. He/she is nothing compared to a bean anymore! I felt the first kicks this week, but haven't felt anymore-boo:( It'll be fun once I start feeling he/she more often. We are anxiously awaiting until Tuesday when we find out the sex-Wow! I'm not going to be able to sleep the night before. Mom is going with us and she is also very excited! We've been fiddling around some names but still haven't decided on anything. Anyhow for girls we like Gabriella and Madeleine. I like Erin, but Nunie doesn't. I like Gabriella, but do not like the nick name Gabby so if we go with that name I will be adamant in calling her by her full name all the time. We have always liked Madeleine and even referred to our future daughter as "Maddie" prior to being pregnant, however everywhere you look there is a Madeleine or Madison. I especially know this as a teacher. There are so many of them, so I would like something more unique. I love the name Erin. I think it's simple and not too common, but Nunie doesn't agree. We have decided on a middle name for sure and that will be Elise. I know I'm talking like I know it's going to be a girl but I have a strong feeling that is what we're having. Besides we our 100 percent sure we are naming our boy Jacob,assuming it will be a boy. I love the name because it's a bible name and very traditional. Nunie is the one who picked it out and I loved it! But until then we have to wait until the big revelation on Tuesday!

Monday, April 6, 2009

First Baby Kicks!

Whoa baby!! I was sitting at my desk mid morning when I felt something "struck" me and it got my attention. It felt like a nudge/butterflies in my stomach. I thought to myself what it could have been but ignored it. Well it happened again and again and it was without a doubt baby bean having a party in mommy's belly. The books I've been reading indicate that you may start to feel the baby beginning at around 16 weeks. At my 16 week appointment my OB asked if I had felt the baby yet, but I answered no as I didn't know what to look for or how it felt. This morning it was evident what was going on! It's an incredible feeling knowing your little baby is inside of you and you can feel it from within.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

17 Weeks- Onion


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.

Nothing too excited happened during week 16 other than us going to dinner at my fave restauarant-BJ's on Saturday with Dill, Victor, and the kids. We've been staying in a lot since Nunie stays pretty busy with school, which by the way he is doing really good. The semester is almost over so he's having all types of tests and research papers due.

We've decided to rip out the carpet and replace it with laminate wood floors in all the living areas plus the baby's room. I've never liked carpet and with the baby coming I think it's much cleaner that way. We need to special order them and probably start once the semester is over for Nunie. I'm really looking forward to that.

This past weekend was beautiful outside and we worked on our yard. Nunie takes much pride in it and always makes sure it's looking great! I need to buy some flowers and put them in a planter to give the yard a little splash of color! I love this time of year because everything is blooming-and this year flowers aren't the only thing growing around here, hehe!



And here I am at 17 Weeks