The cantaloupe is easily my favorite so far!! Not much going on since last week - definitely feeling Gummy Bear move more but it's still not very frequent or very strong. I can't wait until Gavin and Steven can feel him/her! I had a doctor appointment today - my first as a patient at May Grant. Overall I was pleased with the visit. We met with a nurse specialist for about 30 minutes to go over my medical records from OBGYN of Lancaster and to discuss family medical history. After that I did the normal pee in a cup, step on the scale, blood pressure stuff then it was off to meet with the midwife, Anne. She was very nice and laid back. We got to hear Gummy Bear's heart beat, it ranged from 134 to 137 bpm! Anne answered a lot of questions and shared a lot about their practice. I felt very comfortable with her! My next appointment is in 4 weeks - August 25th. At 28 weeks I start going to the DR every 2 weeks, then once I hit 36 weeks I will go every week. It's strange to think that we are half way through this pregnancy already. It seems to be going slowly but then again it's going very fast! I have a feeling once we learn the gender (I pray Gummy Bear cooperates!) time will just fly by with the painting and preparing that we need to do! I am slightly overwhelmed but oh so excited!!!
20 week pregnancy quiz: How far along: 20 weeks 1 day Weight gain: I'm up 10 pounds since my first prenatal appointment, this is average at 20 weeks but seems like a lot to me.. Maternity clothes: I am in maternity pants for work but I can still wear regular tops; at home I just wear comfy pj clothes! Stretch marks: old one from Gavin and some on my hips - ahh, pregnancy is a beautiful thing!! Sleep: it's getting harder to get comfortable - and I know it's only going to get worse. I've considered getting one of those fancy prenatal pillows but they are quite pricey. Best moment of the week: getting to hear Gummy Bear's heart beat today and feeling him/her move!! Movement: yes, it's not very frequent or very strong but I definitely know it's Gummy Bear! Food cravings: nothing crazy the past week or so - I've been very turned off by water - hopefully that will change soon. We had Pat's cheese steaks in Philly on Satruday and they were delicious but I don't know that a 50 mile drive and a 45 minute wait in line is something I could do often! Gender: I still say boy and I'm sticking to it - my hubby still swears this little one is a girl Labor signs: no! Belly button in or out: still in but getting flatter as my tummy grows What I miss: same old stuff - sleeping on my belly, a nice cold mixed drink or glass of wine, not feeling so flabby, not having constant pain on my left side (stupid cyst!) What I'm looking forward to: our ultrasound in 14 days, Gummy Bear's movements getting more frequent and stronger, talking more with Steven about getting Gavin a bigger bed - he's just getting way too tall for his little toddler bed! Weekly wisdom: heart burn stinks - TUMS rock =) Milestones: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel - the lengh of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper. Yes I did get a perm - yes I look like a poodle - yes it will be much easier to maintain with 2 kids - yes I cannot wait until it relaxes and is not so crazy poofy - yes I can finally wash it tomorrow!!! =)
I definitely like the mango more than the sweet potato! Check out that poor baby in that photo, man that looks uncomfortable. I wonder if that's really what Gummy Bear looks like in my belly!
I've added a lot to the blog recently, so be sure to check it all out. There's a new layout, and a couple fun games. Go vote on our names and take the Guess Gummy Bear game where you can place your guess on gender, birthdate and time, weight and length. It's fun to read people's guesses so please guess away!!! The name list isn't final and we really are still very open to suggestions but these are just some that I've thought of over the past year (yes, I've kept a list in my appointment book) and it's nice to get people's opinions on them!!
So my awesome husband says to me that he's been thinking about what we will do with Gummy Bear when I head back to work. Now you must know currently my hubby works 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and he keeps Gav home 2 days a week. Steven suggests that he keeps the baby home full time. HOLY COW ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!! This would be super amazing and would save us oodles of money. He realistically could be keeping Gavin home with him now but it's just a lot on him working at night and having to stay up with Gavin during the day. He says that he would be totally willing to keep Gummy Bear home with him during the day and if he needs more rest after I get home from work he will go lay down for a little while. Wow, this would just be fantastic - what a super hubby and daddy =) Of course this could all change if Steven's shift changes but as of right now I think this plan is lovely!
On to the week #19 pregnancy quiz! How far along: 19 weeks 1 day Weight gain: I'm up about 8 pounds (I think) - I haven't stepped on the scale in a few days! Maternity clothes: I'm in maternity pants for work and some maternity tops but not too many yet - at home I'm in comfy pants and t-shirts!! Stretch marks: I think I've noticed a few on my hips - grrrrrrr! Sleep: I can never get enough!! Best moment of the week: feeling Gummy Bear move more and having Gavin lift my shirt up to show his baby sibling off to his friend and teacher at school today (so adorable!!) Movement: Yes!! It's not been too forceful but is certainly becoming more noticable! Food cravings: Chick-fil-a chicken caesar wrap - too bad the closest one is about 20 minutes away in York, PA - but a nice bonus is that there is a Babies.R.Us right around the corner =) Steven and I talk about winning the lottery and opening a Chick-fil-a in Rockvale or somewhere in Lancaster.. I think it would do amazingly well and I don't understand why there aren't more in the area! Gender: I am convinced Gummy Bear is a boy - my husband is convinced Gummy Bear's a girl - we will *hopefully* know for sure in 3 weeks =) Oh wow, in 3 weeks I will be doing my weekly post and will hopefully be revealing the gender to everyone, how cool!!! Labor signs: I had some bleeding today (sorry if it's too much information!) but it got me pretty scared because everything has been going so well - it stopped and I wasn't having any pain so I think Gummy Bear is a-okay =) Belly button in or out: my belly button is still in and it probably won't pop for a while but it's definitely changing - too funny! What I miss: always the same stuff I miss - tummy sleeping, running, alcohol, energy - but it's well worth the hiatus for this lovely little baby =)I also miss never having heartburn, it's been bad lately and I NEVER have heartburn when I'm not pregnant - it was bad with Gavin too, so strange!! What I'm looking forward to: our doctor visit next Tuesday - it's my first as a patient at May Grant and I'm really excited - hopefully we will hear Gummy Bear's heart beat =) I also can't wait for August 11th - our big ultrasound day!! If my husband were taking this quiz he'd say that he can't wait for August 14th, when the new Madden football game comes out, silly boys!! Weekly wisdom: even if your husband gripes about it take lots of photos of your family whenever you can; they will be irreplaceable =) Milestones: 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. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now.
I took my photos before changing into my pjs so don't freak out when you see a different outfit =) *Don't forget to check out Gavin's blog too - there are some adorable photos of him that I just posted - his blog link should be to the right of this post - Go Go Gavin! (get it - Go Go Gavin and Grow Grow Gummy Bear - oh I am a nerd!!)
I've been working on a name list for a while and thought it would be fun to share it with everyone. There are some names on here that Steven doesn't really care for so they are likely out of the running but I've left them on the list just for the fun of it!Have fun voting and if you have other suggestions please feel free to send them my way. We really won't focus on selecting a name until after we know the gender but this is still an exciting process for me! Let me know if the link doesn't work. You should also be able to click the name game logo at the right of the post and place your votes that way. Happy naming!!
I had some time to kill while Gav was napping and I was in between loads of laundry so I decided to give my blog a little makeover! Let me know what you think. I am sure I will change it again once we know Gummy Bear's gender but for now I like this layout. It's classy and I love brown, so I'm happy =)
On another note I have decided what to do about my OBGYN dilemma. I took a tour of the Heart of Lancaster Hospital and while the rooms were lovely I just did not feel at home. So I am switching my OBGYN provider. I will now be a May Grant patient and I have my first appointment there on July 28th. The nurse I spoke with said that I will definitely be able to keep my ultrasound appointment because that's with Maternal Fetal Medicine, not with OBGYN of Lancaster, so that definitley made the switch easier. I've gotten a lot of feedback from friends who like May Grant, which I really have appreciated. It was scarey at first to think about switching but that tour of the hosptial really sealed the deal for me!
Only 23 more days til the big ultrasound! I cannot wait to see this little baby again, and to get to see the legs, arms, heart, lungs, face, brain, spine, etc.... oh I just get chills thinking about it.
I'm not a big fan of the sweet potato this week, just a little strange, but oh well!
So I am in a real pickle - here's the scoop. I got a call last night from OBGYN of Lancaster (OBL) and the woman informed me that after October 1st they will no longer be delivering at Women & Babies (W&B) here in Lancaster. They will be delivering at Heart of Lancaster (HOL). This certainly affects me becuse now I need to decide if I change OB providers so I can still deliver at W&B or if I stick with OBL and deliver at HOL. I needed to meet with the social worker at HOL for work related stuff so I ran with the chance to set up a meeting with her for tomorrow and she's going to give me a tour of the maternity floor!! This tour will definitely help me make my decision and I'm so glad I don't have to wait for the public tours they're going to start offering there next month. I think I may end up just swithching providers so I can deliver at W&B but I at least want to give the hospital a chance and see what it's like. If anyone has suggestions or comments please feel free to leave them.. I'd like all the advice I can get.
Anyway, on to fun pregnancy stuff - here's the 18 week quiz!
How far along: 18 weeks 1 day Weight gain: +7 pounds Maternity clothes: I am in maternity pants but not a lot of shirts yet - I have checked out the 3 local Goodwill stores and found some great deals - 4 pair of pants and a shirt for $23.00 =) Stretch marks: old ones from my pregnancy with Gavin - I've been using lotion every night and every day to try and avoid them!! Sleep: not as good recently, having more trouble getting comfortable - Gavin has also been sick for the past week and I am so afraid he is going to vomit while he's sleeping and choke so I've been having trouble getting into a deep sleep. I hate to admit it but I'm more comfortable sleeping on my couch than I am in my bed. Best moment of the week: all my great Goodwill buys and FEELING GUMMY BEAR MOVE!!!!! Movement: YES!!!The first time was on Wednesday July 8th around 11:45 p.m. I was laying in bed and felt a few flutters. I really started feeling him/her again on Sunday night, again while laying in bed. They aren't real hard noticable kicks but if I pay close attention I can feel them throughout the day!!!!! Food cravings: haha, peanut butter captain crunch =) Gender: I'll say boy.. baby boy Gummy Bear! Labor signs: oh no! Belly button in or out: still in but it's shape is definitely changing! What I miss: sleeping on my belly, not being so hormonal sometimes, running, and a nice chilled glass of wine What I'm looking forward to: feeling the baby move more, watching my belly expand, my ultrasound (hopefully I won't need to reschedule that!) Weekly wisdom: try to document your pregnancy as much as possible; I really wish I would have kept a journal and taken more photos during my pregnancy with Gavin. Milestones: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long, about the length of a bell pepper, and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. So So Cool!!!! Love & blessings,
Not much to update on this week - things are going well!! I have still been super tired.. they often say that the 2nd trimester is when pregnant women begin to have more energy.. not this pregnant woman! It was SO different when I was pregnant with Gav because I didn't have another child to chase around. We now have 35 days until our BIG ultrasound and heart scan.. super excited! I keep throwing names out to Steven and most of them are getting shot down. It will definitely be easier if we have a girl because we have agreed on a lot of girl names.. boy names, not so much. It's hard to believe we are almost half way through this pregnancy. Time flies when you're getting fat I guess =)
Week 17 pregnancy quiz: How far along: 17 weeks 1 day Weight gain: +6 pounds Maternity clothes: I can still wear my normal tops but my pants are definitely getting tight. I have started wearing some of my maternity pants from my pregnancy with Gavin. Stretch marks: just the old ones I had with Gavin
Sleep: oh I can't seem to get enough.. it's terrible.. I find myself in my office at work wanting to curl up on my couch and fall asleep. [I don't think my boss would like that too much.]
Best moment of the week: Hearing and getting to record Gummy Bear's heartbeat and watching my belly grow =)
Movement: not yet.. still waiting patiently for that first little flutter!!
Food cravings: this past week it has undoubtedly been fruit, finally a healthy craving!! We just got some fresh peaches at Roots.. soooo yummy!!
Gender: my hunch still says boy!
Labor signs: no!
Belly button in or out: still in - I can feel my uterus right at my belly button - it's growing!!
What I miss: running, alcohol, sleeping on my belly, regular pants, not having to think twice about taking medication - I feel like it's always the same things each week!
What I'm looking forward to: our next OBGYN appointment and of course our ultrasound.. I am so excited to be able to see Gummy Bear and to make sure that he/she is growing well and is healthy!
Weekly wisdom: Don't go outside in the heat and do yard work immediately after eating a big bowl of spaghetti - unless you want to end up on the couch completely nauseous!
Milestones: Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now, about as much as a turnip, and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. Love & blessings,
Please don't pay any attention to my big hips, just focus on the galloping heart beat you can hear =) I was a little disappointed because of all the static but you can still hear the lovely heart!!!
My appointment went well, I've only gained 1 pound since my last visit so that's a plus and my blood pressure is great! She talked about my labs and all looks good so far. I did have blood drawn today for the Triple Screen test, this tests for Down Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. We talked about the big ultrasound and she thought it would be best to wait until I am 22 weeks.. let me explain! My brother Chris was born with some heart abnormalities so they'd like me to be seen by Maternal Fetal Medicine to do a special scan of the baby's heart to make sure there are no defects. It's best to do this scan at 22 weeks so we decided to do the heart scan and the level 2 ultrasound at the same time. My thought is this - maybe, just maybe MFM has better/more high tech ultrasound machines then the normal OB.GYN office so the ultrasound will be more clear and done with a better machine. I'm holding on to this to get me through until August. Oh this means 6 more weeks of not knowing the gender.. how will I survive?!?!! My appointment is scheduled for Tuesday August 11th at 8:30 a.m. Thank heavens it's first thing in the morning =) LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!
The cantaloupe is easily my favorite so far!! Not much going on since last week - definitely feeling Gummy Bear move more but it's still not very frequent or very strong. I can't wait until Gavin and Steven can feel him/her! I had a doctor appointment today - my first as a patient at May Grant. Overall I was pleased with the visit. We met with a nurse specialist for about 30 minutes to go over my medical records from OBGYN of Lancaster and to discuss family medical history. After that I did the normal pee in a cup, step on the scale, blood pressure stuff then it was off to meet with the midwife, Anne. She was very nice and laid back. We got to hear Gummy Bear's heart beat, it ranged from 134 to 137 bpm! Anne answered a lot of questions and shared a lot about their practice. I felt very comfortable with her! My next appointment is in 4 weeks - August 25th. At 28 weeks I start going to the DR every 2 weeks, then once I hit 36 weeks I will go every week. It's strange to think that we are half way through this pregnancy already. It seems to be going slowly but then again it's going very fast! I have a feeling once we learn the gender (I pray Gummy Bear cooperates!) time will just fly by with the painting and preparing that we need to do! I am slightly overwhelmed but oh so excited!!! 
