Thinking about names

Clint and I have been thinking about names this week.  Originally, I liked the names Summer Rose or Summer Angel.  Then, I found a name that was different and that I really liked -- Caprice.  It is an Italian name which I also like because my husband is half Italian.  I also like it because I don't know anyone with that name, and she wouldn't have to worry about having 5 other people in her class named the same thing (like I did...not saying I don't like my name because I do...a lot).  I was stuck on that name for a while, and it is still on my list.  But, a few days ago Clint and I were looking online at names, and I saw the name Jewel (for a middle name).  Clint really liked it.  So, the name he and I are looking at right now is Summer Jewel Cobb.  It is not for sure, but right now we call her Summer until something else comes along...if it does.  Our little Summer has been kicking or stretching or whatever it is she is doing when I feel her a lot lately.  Clint thinks he might have felt her move this morning for the first time.  I woke up and felt her moving, so I grabbed his hand and put it on my stomach so he could feel her too.  He said he thought he felt it unless it was just my stomach growling or something else moving which it wasn't (she just kicked me again!!!). 

Shopping for my little girl

Well, now that Christmas is over, I have bought several things for the baby (not that I didn't get a few things last week too...lol).  I found two outfits that she will be able to wear next winter that were half price, so I had to buy them.  One is a red Christmas outfit which I hope she can wear next year.  The size is 6 months, so I am hoping she will still be able to wear it even though she will be 7 months old.  They did not have a bigger size, but it was so cute I that I had to go ahead and get it.  I'm not sure how sizes work exactly, and I am not even sure that they work a certain way.  It probably all depends on the baby.  I also bought some washcloths that are Christmas colors and came with a little reindeer sponge.  I got her a pair of sandals, too, which are also adorable.  They are a size 1, so I don't know if they will fit either, but I guess I will see.  It is hard to pass up stuff that is on clearance...and is cute.  Today, I bought her a Christmas present for next year.  It is a puppet dog that you squeeze the mouth together and it barks a song. I think she will enjoy it, if not I guess I will.  I am really excited when I find cute things on sale, and it is hard for me to pass them up.  I hope I can control myself, but it is very hard.  I have also started registering online at two different places - Wal-Mart and Babies-R-Us.  It is hard to pick out somethings online, and I am sure I will have to go into a store eventually to pick out some things.  Tonight Clint and I looked at strollers.  It is really hard to pick something like this out online...or carseats...or highchairs.  I am ready to start picking out stuff for the nursery, even though we really don't have one yet.  It is hard to pick out what theme I want to go with in the room...sometimes there are too many choices.  But, it is fun looking.  Okay, I guess that is it.  I have felt the baby moving quite a bit today, so that makes me feel good.  Maybe I'll be able to return the doppler next month...

It's a GIRL!!!

We went to the doctor today and had the ultrasound of the baby at 19 weeks. It was pretty neat. We got to see our little girl for the first time. It was weird because one of my eyes started slowly shedding tears down my cheek, but the other one didn't. The baby weighs 10 oz. right now, and all her organs look good. So we are very happy about that. Clint said he felt weird while we were watching her on screen. He wasn't sure why, but he thought it might have been because he was worried as to whether or not the baby would be okay. We brought a tape with us so we can show the rest of the family our little girl on Christmas. After we left the doctor's office, we went to eat with Clint's parents who are in town from Las Vegas for the holidays. Then I had to go buy an outfit for her, since now I know what to buy. This information could be dangerous, but hopefully I will be able to control myself and not buy too much. We'll see....I am attaching a few pics of myself so my friend Christina can see what I look like now since she lives in Michigan now :( She needs to come home!!! They aren't the best pictures, but they will work for now. (1st one is 3 months-Nov 22, 2nd one is the same day with me sucking in, and 3rd one is today-19 weeks) We go back in 4 weeks, but I will try to update this before then.

Growing and Growing

It seems like I'm getting bigger and bigger everyday.  I couldn't wait to start showing and now I'm scared if I keep growing at this rate I'll be huge!  I'm anxious to see what I weigh on Monday when I go to workout.  I'm only supposed to gain a pound a week, but by looking at my stomach it seems like I am gaining more than that.  Maybe I'm just not used to having a round belly.  I do like the way it feels though.  Every night it seems like I wake up holding my belly.  At least now that I am growing, I am not worried about the baby b/c if I'm growing everything must be okay in there.  I don't listen to the heartbeat everyday now since I know the baby is alive and well (at least by looking at my stomach it seems he/she is).  I did listen to it this morning when I woke up...that was a first.  I usually listen to it in the afternoon or evening.  After we listened to the heartbeat for a minute, Clint said he is still hoping there are twins in there...we'll see.  We had thought we heard two different heartbeats a few weeks ago, but the doctor said we could just be listening to the same heartbeat but through the umbilical cord or something.  I still don't think I have felt the baby move, but I am not sure.  Sometimes I feel something out of the normal, but I can't tell if it is the baby or not.  Last night I dreamed I felt the baby move and in my dream I woke Clint up and he felt it too...but it was all just a dream...at least I think it was.  I do wake up every night now and press my hands on my stomach hoping to feel the baby move, but all I can feel is my heartbeat.  I know it will happen soon, if it hasn't already.  Anyway, Clint and I are going to Italy on Wednesday so we can experience that before the baby comes...I can't wait.  I bought a few more maternity shirts at the mall the other day so I think I've got enough clothes to get me through the month at least...although I will probably need to get another pair of pants before too long.  I wonder how long I will be able to wear my "normal" jeans. 

Today's Doctor Appt.

Today Clint and I went to our 3rd Dr. appt. I am 16 weeks today and even though I am showing, I still weigh less than I did before I was pregnant. It is amazing to me that this is possible since I was never really sick--I was nauseated in the afternoons/evenings and only vomitted twice. But, I have continued to work out 5-6 days a week so I guess that is why I haven't gained any weight yet (I was 129 when I realized I was pregnant, got down to 122, and now I weight 128). I asked the Dr. about my lower back/upper butt pain, and he said that it is due to the new weight that is putting pressure on my pelvis. He said it will probably only get worse...I hope not. It hasn't been bad the past few days, but it was pretty constant for about 3 weeks. He said if it does get worse, then he might have to limit my activity. I don't want that, so I don't think I'll be mentioning it again...unless I am in A LOT of pain. Clint asked about the likelihood that there were twins in there, and the Dr. said he doubted it. He said that when he felt my stomach, the uterus felt like the size it should be for one baby. So, it looks like twins are out. We go back on December 22 to find out whether the baby is a boy or girl......I can't wait!!!

No more belts!!!

Well, last Saturday was the last day I will be wearing a belt for a while.  It was okay for the first hour or so, but after that it was not comfortable.  I guess I am really starting to show...a little anyway.  I bought my first maternity clothes over the weekend while my husband and I were visiting some friends in Maryland.  So, by the end of the day on Saturday, I had taken off the belt and shirt I put on that morning and changed into one of my new maternity shirts.  Boy was it comfortable...kinda loose in the belly area, but definitely comfortable.  It is a good thing that most of my blue jeans are low rise and the kind that stretch.  At least I will be able to wear them for a little while longer.  All my form fitting shirts are out for the season, but hopefully I will be in them again next year.  My new shirts are cute and a few are even a little sexy.  I can't wait to fill them out a little more, and I'm sure that will happen before too long...the baby's only getting bigger, so I will too!

I'm Starting to Show...I Think

Well, I think I am finally starting to show.  I will be 14 weeks tomorrow and have been wondering when I was going to get a baby bump.  It is hard to tell if that is what it really is or if I just ate a lot this weekend...It seems like when I wake up my stomach is pretty much flat, but by the middle of the day there is a bump.  I can still wear all my clothes.  I have gained back 3 of the pounds that I lost so they are still actually a little loose.  I think this is all going to be changing soon...time to go shopping!  That doesn't even sound like fun because I don't know where to shop for maternity clothes.  I looked on Old Navy and Gap websites last night, but I didn't really find anything....oh well.  I guess I could just wear sweat pants for the next 6 months, but that might get old (not sure though!).  They are pretty comfortable. 

Also, I rented a fetal heart monitor online last week, and it arrived on Friday!!!  It is so neat to be able to hear the baby's heartbeat whenever I want.  It was cheap too...only $18 a month (for the cheapest model they have).  Sometimes it is a little frustrating trying to find the heartbeat, especially when it is just me and my husband isn't helping.  He seems to be better at finding it than I am.  It is so cool though when we do find it.  The other day I counted the heartbeat, and it was 168. 

Anyways, I guess everything is going pretty good.  I'm not sick or tired...so I'm very grateful for that.  We go back to the doctor in 2 weeks for some blood work, and then the next visit we will find out what we are having...I hope.  Maybe we will know before Christmas...its very exciting to think about actually knowing what is inside me.  I don't really care what it is (though twins would be great); I just want to know so I can start shopping.  I just hope I don't get carried away......

The Heartbeat

We went to our second dr.'s appt. on Tuesday.  We got to hear the baby's heartbeat...is was amazing.  It took the doctor a few seconds to find it, so I started getting worried.  But, then he found it.  It sounded just like I had heard it would...running horses.  It was beating so fast...wow!!!  On the way home, my husband told me he almost started crying when he heard the heartbeat.  This pregnancy has really brought out his sensitive side.  I like it!!! 

This week I have not felt as nauseated or been  as tired as I had been for the past few weeks.  So, that is a good thing.  Maybe that is over with...I'll keep my fingers crossed...lol.   As of Monday, I had lost 7 pounds which is surprising since I haven't even been sick.  I weigh less now that I have in years...it's weird.  I am anxious to start to show, but I know it will come sooner than later.  I guess that is it for now...

 

My First Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday, my husband and I went to our first doctor's appointment.  The doctor said I am about 8 weeks pregnant and that the baby is due May 16.  He tried to hear the baby's heartbeat, but it was too early.  So, we have to go back in two weeks so he can try again.  Of course, I forgot most of the questions I had been wanting to ask because I did not write them down...lesson learned.  Except, today I thought of something I want to ask, but I did not write it down and have already forgotten what it was...not sure I really learned anything.  But, I am going to make an effort to write my ?'s down.  One funny thing about the visit...I guess it was my husband's first time in a examination room at a gynecologist.  So, we go in there and I am getting undressed.  He looks at the table (w/ the stirrups) and says, "Do they deliver babies back here?"  I couldn't stop laughing.  Needless to say, the stirrups freaked him out a little bit and I told him he could go back out front until I went to talk to the doctor (I had to have my yearly exam, so I didn't want to make him stay for that).  When the nurse and doctor came back there, I was still laughing to myself and had to tell them the story.  I must say it was the thing I will remember most about the visit.  Anyway, everything looked good.  I can't wait to go back in two weeks to hear the heartbeat.....

Time is going by so slow...

Well, it seems like time is just crawling by since I have found out I am pregnant.  It has only been two weeks, and I am already dying to know what I am going to have.  I have been looking at a test that you can order off of the Internet that will tell you what you what you are going to have based on the baby DNA floating in your blood.  My husband vetoed the test, so I guess I will have to wait a few months to find out.  I looked at the Chinese calendar, and it predicts we will have a boy.  We'll see.  My husband isn't buying into it even though it did correctly predict what my sister, best friend and her sister would all have.  I have already begun brainstorming possible names.  My husband and I have found it easier to pick girl names...not sure why.  We just can't seem to agree on any boy names.  The one boy name we both like, at least for now, is Phoenix.  My husband did pick out a very unusual name for a boy - "Classic".  I'm not sure if he is really serious, but he keeps bringing it up.  I think he got the idea from the girl name I picked out - Caprice.  He said it reminds him of a car.  Anyways, I'm sure we will come up with many more names between now and then.  We still have a long way to go.  I have my first doctor visit next week and am very excited about that. 

Clint's Touching Words - 9/18

Yesterday morning my husband and I were lying in the bed.  We were talking and he said something that almost made me cry.  Out of nowhere he said, "I love the baby already."  This might not seem like a big deal to some people, but to me it was one of those "priceless" moments.  A week ago, he was nervous and asking, "Are you sure?"  Now, it seems like the nervousness is fading and being replaced with excitement.  I was very nervous last week, too.  This week, I have let go of some of the paranoia (notice I said some) and am getting more excited.  I am still worried about the baby and whether or not I am going to lose it.  I know I can't dwell on it; I don't want to.  Hopefully, as each day goes by I will become more and more relaxed.  We'll see...

Telling Amanda

My husband, Clint, wanted his daughter, Amanda, to be the first to know. She is in a boarding school right now, so we had to call and get special permission to talk to her outside of our regular call time. Clint was very determined to tell her before anyone else knew. We were on our way to have lunch with my best friend, Selena. I had talked to her the night before and told her I was going to take a pregnancy test when I woke up the next morning. I knew she would ask about the results, so we were trying to get in touch with Amanda before we met up with Selena and her husband. We arrived at the restaurant and were waiting for our friends and a call from the school. As soon as my friends arrived, we received a call from the boarding school. It must have been our lucky day! We told our friends we would meet them inside and went back to the car to talk to Amanda. Clint was very emotional throughout the phone call, as were Amanda and myself. Amanda was excited, but also disappointed because she is not here with us right now. After the call, we went into the restaurant and sat down with our friends. The first thing Selena asked was, "Have you taken any tests lately?" I nodded and smiled. She knew what that meant and had to fight back tears. She is having her first baby in 7 weeks, and I am not too far behind her. Wow!!!

The Day I Found Out - 9/12

The night before I took the home pregnancy test, I had three dreams of positive pregnancy tests!  I woke up thinking it was going to be negative because of all the dreams I had that night.  I got up and took the test anyway.  I remember looking at the positive test in disbelief and then realizing how hard my heart was pounding.  I went back to bed and asked my husband if he could feel my heart beating.  He asked me, "Why?"  I responded only with eyes full of tears.  We laid there together just letting it all sink in.