24 Weeks / 22 Weeks Gestation

The Baby is getting big and so is my belly. I have gained 12.5 pounds. Right on target.

Maternity Leave

I looked into the maternity leave policies. Four weeks prior to my due date I am going on leave. I have 6 weeks after the birth and then an additional 6 weeks of Family Leave. So, from February 12 - June 3rd I am going to be preparing and bonding with Baby. I am so excited! I cannot wait to hold Baby. I hope Alex will be able to spend a good amount of time with us. Work will just have to wait.

5th Month Check-up

Happy Halloween!!

We went to the Dr. on Tuesday. We went over our AFP results. All clear. She said we didn't just pass but, passed with flying colors. No signs of genetic disorders or complications! Yea. We have great genes! Thanks to our Moms and Dads! Thyroid and Glucose levels were normal this time around. Yea! Babies heartbeat strong and so cute. I gained 4 pounds this month so, total only 9.5 lbs. Which is perfect for my body type. The Baby is approximately 12" from head to foot and about 12 ounces.

We purchased our baby swing. I love it, natural materials and very stable. It converts to a jumper as the baby grows. Check it out at www.amby-baby-store.com. We are going to repaint the Baby's room. The current color that is in there is the same as when we moved in and it is too pink compared to the furniture. We are using warm and natural colors. I will post pics when it is done!

Baby Went to the Beach

After a week of not being able to go outide, the air was clear and weather warm. Alex and I went to the beach today so Alex could get in a little surfing and the baby could get a little sun. Baby loves the sun. When I layout the baby gets really active. I was cracking up watching my tummy jump and bump all over the place. The picture is of me at 21.5 weeks. This coming Thursday marks 5 months gestation and 119 days to go! It is coming so fast!

Baby's Room

Alex and I are working on Baby's room. The pictures are from a model home we went to visit that my firm designed. The interior designer - Lasting Interiors - designed one of the secondary rooms in an equestrian theme. I love it. Great inspiration!

Alex Traveling

Andrew, I and Baby dropped Alex off at John Wayne this evening. He'll be back in a few days but we miss him already. This morning Baby made a grand appearance, kicking and moving up a storm. Alex and I just laid there watching and feeling my belly move. It is funny. When the baby kicks really hard you can see my belly move. We are super excited. I love that Alex gets so excited when the baby is moving. I know he is really going to miss being with all of us.

Baby Being Silly

This weekend the baby was being very active. Moving around a lot! It was fun to watch my belly making weird shapes. I was laying on my right side and the baby curled up in a little ball on that side. Then I rolled over to my back and the baby stayed there curled up in a little ball. So my tummy was flat on my left side and a bulge on the right. It was really funny.

Baby is Kicking!

I feel Baby everyday now. It is fun and I really look forward to feeling the little kicks and big ones too. The Baby wakes up, it feels like a party in there, then Baby falls back to sleep and all is still. I love Baby so much!


On Monday night Alex and I laid down to sleep and Alex put his hand over my tummy. I thought Baby was asleep but Alex was so patient and then Baby made the biggest kick ever and Alex got all teary eyed. I started crying. I was so excited to be able to share with him. I will never forget that moment.

Baby's Nursery

We started putting together Baby's Nursery this weekend. Mom gave Baby a Pegasus to guard over Baby. We hung it over the bedroom door. The crib and changing table we purchased from another family. To reuse is helping the environment. Plus most of the toxins emitted from new furniture have dissipated. The nursery is going to have light colors. Beige, Ivory, Light Sage Green and the golden wood color. Peaceful and Relaxing. With a horse theme. Mom brought Baby a big plush pony with a bareback pad and a bridal. It is super cute. You can see her in the crib. Thanks Mom!

Starting to Show

Okay, so I have only put on 5-6 pounds in the last 4 months but for someone so small it is a lot, but luckily I am eating right and is all Baby. I am right on target for my age, weight and height.

My waist is 3.75 inches bigger. I no longer fit in any of my clothes. I wore my first pair of maternity slacks to work today. Shopping for maternity clothes is funny, they are all enormous. I am sure I will get there. Ha ha.

When I walk my tummy moves from side to side. It is funny.

4 Month Check-up

We went to the Dr. today and the baby and I are healthy. No more complications. Baby is growing as expected and is perfect. Dr. Grouse confirmed I am 17 weeks rather than 16. So we just completed the fourth month and are working on the fifth.

I called my girlfriends at work to let them know all was clear and they surprised me by decorated my desk for my return. That is how the rest of the office found out. My friends are the best! It was perfect. Thank you Karen, Kimberly and Anna Marie! Everyone (almost) at work was really happy for us.



I felt the baby last night. I had a snack and laid down to rest and there were three little tiny pounds a little below my belly button. So cute. Kind of felt like a little alien. Ha ha. Alex and I are so excited. I wish Andrew was home yesterday so he could share with us. But we are going to celebrate with him tonight! Dr. Grouse said in about two weeks Alex and Andrew should be able to put their hand on my tummy and feel the baby move. So cool!



I am going in for another blood test on Saturday, to check my thyroid, glucose levels and an expanded AFP to check on the baby. But baby is showing no signs of complications this is only precautionary.


I am no longer on restriction from exercise or flying. I have to take is easy as with any pregnancy but I can do more that the last few months! If we fly I just have to visit a few days prior to flying and a few days after return, which is routine.

17 Weeks

The top photo is of Baby's profile. You can see the head, brain, little nose, mouth, chin and mid-section. So precious. The second photo is a closer look of the Baby's face and hand. The third Baby gave us a little wave. The fourth is of baby when I turned on my left side to get Baby to change positions. But, baby just hung out upside down with legs stretching straight out.


The tech said Baby's measurements indicated that we were 17 weeks. She also said that the placenta was no longer low lying! Yea! Tomorrow we have a Dr. appointment and we will get the official diagnosis. She also said she could tell the gender of the baby but we told her before we started that we did not want to know so she was very careful to not show us anything or two give it away. Even when I pried a little. So we still have a surprise.


I am so excited. I was overcome with so much love and joy when we were seeing Baby that tears were streaming down my cheeks while squeezing Alex's hand.

Prenatal Yoga

I went to my first prenatal yoga class tonight. It was fun. There were two other new girls and one women that is due in four weeks. It was so relaxing to just have some quite time to stretch and do something that was good for me and the baby. It is really fun to have Georgeanne as the instructor. It gives us a chance to bond and spend time together during the pregnancy without all the boys. I cannot wait till next week!

I used to have hips....

Well I have gained about 5 pounds and I no longer can see my hip bones or my waist for that matter. I loved the idea of making a baby, but did not give much thought to what that meant for my body. Dr. Grouse cleared me to start Georgeanne's prenatal yoga class. I am excited and am going to start attending next week. I really want to stay strong, relaxed and prepared. If all goes well we are planning on a natural birth.
On another note, we are going in for another ultrasound on the 25th to check on the position of the placenta. I have not had any problems so I am confident that it is moving up the uterine wall. Yea! We will get the final results at our 4 month appointment the following day. We are also doing the CVS testing. As far as I understood it is a blood test but we will see. If they start flashing big needles at me I might have to run.
Work is going well. I am just working way too much. So I think I am going to have to cut back a little. I have to take care of myself first.
From what I have read, women begin to feel the baby as early as 16 weeks but most first time mothers don't know that they are feeling the baby until closer to 20 weeks. I have had a few flutters this week. Maybe the baby. I have never felt that before. Cool huh?!

3 Months and Growing

We went in for our three month check up. It went great. So far I have gained a pound. The babies 140 beats/minute which is right in the middle of the recommended 120-160 beats/minute. Dr. Grouse let us hear it with the Doppler. It took her a bit to find the heartbeat. Alex and I got a little nervous and then we heard it. So amazing!

Weekend of Relaxing

Well tonight marks the end of a very relaxing weekend. I left the house only four times: Target, ice cream run, pancakes, and to view the model homes The Tides. I watched a lot of TV and took a few naps. I don't know what to do with myself these days.


I am feeling so much better these days. I only get queasy if I am not eating. No more vomiting. I am starting to get my energy back through the day. No more lunch time naps. Yea!


Work is improving thus improving my overall mood. I am on a new team. Keyword is TEAM!
Our team leader is great and engages everyone. Since my mentor left our company the leader I was working with was not interested in the improvement of other team members. So this new situation is refreshing.

Ultrasound results

Well it turns out that the hemorrhage that we were worried about healed up and is no longer an issue. Yea! And the baby is growing well and is healthy!! However, where the placenta implanted is not ideal. It is on the posterior wall and is very low. As we progress it will most likely move up, in rare cases it moves down and that causes a lot of problems and eventually equals bed rest and a c-section. Bummer. We are going to go in for another ultra sound at 16 weeks (last week of September) to confirm it is moving in the desired direction. Until then I can walk 30 min 3-4 times a week. However, swimming would be even better. No other exercise. I cannot lift anything more than 15 pounds. So pretty much one of our doggies. We have our 12 week appointment on the 29th of August. My girlfriends say we are having a girl because there is no way a boy would be giving us this much trouble. Ha Ha.

The Most Amazing Experience

Today we had a second ultrasound. It was amazing there are no words that can describe how you feel when you first hear that little heartbeat and see the baby wiggle for the first time. There are two arms, legs, little nose, jaw. We saw the spine and the beginning of all the vertebrae. Our previous ultrasound determined that our Due date to be March 11th. This one said that we are five days ahead of that. So, sometime in the beginning of March, possibly March 6th. It is going to be any one's best guess. At about six weeks the baby measured 0.4cm and now is 3.97cm. Baby is growing FAST! No wonder I am so hungry. The top image is of the babies heart and heart beat - 153 beats per minute. The second is of the baby from the front. Third is baby from the left side.

Alex Stepped It Up Today

Well last week, Dr. Grouse put me on a minimal exercise routine. Only 3-4 days a week I can walk for 30-45 minutes. I walked the first day and then didn't the following days until today when Alex came home from work and encouraged me to walk with him. We walked to the Backbay. It was nice. I was so tired after though. He was very sweet and loving about the whole thing, he even brought the camelback so I wouldn't have to carry a bottle of water. And then when we got home he told me he was proud of me. So sweet!

Pregnant Women...

I have come to the conclusion: As soon as you pee on that stick and there is a positive result, immediately maternity leave should kick in. No one tells you about all the crappy side effects of being pregnant; Loss of balance, memory and sleep. Everything itches. You feel crabby, tired and sick all the time. And it has only been two months. Everyone says that you will feel so much better during your second trimester and then the truth comes out. You are so uncomfortable because it feels like someone is pumping you up with air stretching all you ligaments and muscles. Then for the third trimester you are back to the loss of balance, memory and sleep, everything itches, feeling crabby and tired all the time. What kind of torture is this to then make a women work?

Being pregnant is a beautiful experience after all, right?