9 week doctor appointment

Well we had our 9 week appointment today.  It was my OB workup... so I got to do all the not so fun stuff like pap smear, urine sample, blood work, breast exam... alll of that kind of stuff!

We of course got to see the baby again.  Everything looks great.  It's measuring slightly smaller than it was at 7 weeks 6 days.  He measured twice... first time measured March 4th due date... which freaked me out. The second time measured as March 1st due date.  Doc was not concerned but I was at first because I know that the baby measuring small can be a sign that things aren't going okay.  Anyways he told me not to worry (like that will happen).

Baby's heartbeat was 179 which is nice and fast and strong.

Here are the updated pics.  I'm convinced my doc has the worst ultrasound machine in the world.  Ugh.

Oh and... to anyone who might want to be or is a phlebotomist... don't be cocky while taking my blood.  I told you when I walked through the door that I was a hard stick.  I suggested you use my right arm and a butterfly needle... I basically TOLD you how to do your job.  But no... you used the regular needle, in my left arm, and told me how you get blood from everyone.  I got news for you... you failed... twice!!! And then your coworker came and saved your  butt! What do I have to show for it? Not one, but TWO arms full of bruises and needle sticks.  Grrrrrr.

Okay, pregnant lady rant over. I promise.

Peyton

Wondering where I've been?

We've been a little busy... what with all the house buying and BABY MAKING!

Check out my "top secret" blog.

9 weeks

Today I'm 9 weeks pregnant.  It's hard to believe that I'm already that far... yet every day I'm a little more anxious for the first trimester to be over.

Bump watch:
There's no bump yet... I'll try to get William to take a picture this afternoon.  Although I fear it will just highlight the little bit of bloating that has occurred thus far. I've gained about 2 lbs. total, which I would say is pretty good considering my strange eating habits and sudden drop in exercise.

The baby:
The baby is an inch long... about the size of an olive or a grape.  This week the heart finishes dividing into the four chambers and tiny teeth buds are growing. The "tail" is completely gone now. Apparently with all systems in functioning order, the baby is ready for weight gain.

Symptoms:
So this is where most of my anxiety comes from.  I would say my symptoms severely pale in comparison to other people that I know.  I haven't thrown up at all.  I can count on one hand the number of days I've had severe nausea.  I've definitely had many food aversions though. I continue to have pretty substantial cramping.  For you ladies out there, it feels just like menstrual cramps... but it's not.  My doctor says it's normal, but it's still alarming. I haven't had any spotting or bleeding though which keeps my hopes up. The only other major symptom I continue to experience is some severe chest soreness.  Oh and the fact that I'm super emotional.  William and I think I have the pregnancy blues.

Next appointment:
My next and first "official" prenatal appointment is on Thursday at 2:45pm. I'm super excited and anxious to see our little one.  I'm hoping this time its anatomy is human enough that I can make out the difference between it and the depths of my uterus. As before though, I don't care what I see as long as we hear/see that little heartbeat.  At this point, it's the most important thing!

Names:
Girl- Madelynn Anne
Runners up are Vivienne/Vivian (difference of opinion on spelling is the reason we aren't using this name), Wynne and Abigail

Boy- still no contenders... Anyone have any suggestions?  Our style is classic but veering to slightly unusual. Considerations have been with the names: Dixon, William with an "A" middle name but not Arthur, and Levi. I also really like Sawyer and Emerson (actually most of the "son" names... Greyson...Anderson). William is very picky however Dixon was his idea.

Leave a comment if you have any name ideas!!! I'll update after the appointment.
Peyton

I thought it was just a rumor...

but it's true... pickles taste amazing when you are pregnant.

I would know.
I just ate a bowl of them. With a fork.

Peyton

If it's a girl....

Her name will be

Madelynn Anne

Madelynn is a name we both love that conveniently has my mother's middle name it in it.  And Anne is William's mother's middle name.  

We are still working on boy names... they are going to be the death of us.  But William told me to hurry up a publicize our girl name so that a) no one would "steal" our name and b) so we could quit arguing about girl's names. 

Peyton

Side by side comparison

6 weeks 2 days

Our little caterpillar at 7 weeks 6 days! Getting soooo big!

Heartbeat at 6 weeks 2 days 105bpm

Heartbeat at 7 weeks 6 days 141bpm

Look at that heartbeat go!!! So awesome!

Peyton

8 weeks!

Just wanted to update after our appointment yesterday...
Everything is great! The baby is "perfect" in the doctor's words.  He didn't see any signs of tearing or separation or bleeding from my fall! All good things.  We had an ultrasound and saw the baby again.  It's getting bigger and the heartbeat was so strong yesterday.  We could hear it which was a first and William says he could make out the head and tail of the baby... although I'm having trouble.

We feel incredibly lucky to get to see our baby twice before 9 weeks (most people's first appointment).  I go back next Thursday for my first "official" appointment.

We have a new picture and I'll post it later.  "What to Expect" says the baby is the size of an olive this week.

Only a couple more weeks until we are out of the woods with the baby!
Peyton

Clumsy

If every one could send up some big prayers for the baby this weekend, we would really appreciate it.

Friday morning I fell while walking Lucy.  She caught me off guard and made me slip on some wet grass.  I landed pretty hard on my bottom and back.  It was the classic banana peel fall.

I called my doctor and she said everything is probably okay.  I have an appointment on Monday at 2pm just for peace of mind though.  I've been pretty sore all day but I haven't had any bleeding which in pregnancy world is like the worst thing that can happen.  Hopefully my butt cushioning and everything else inside me did it's job and kept the baby safe.

I can't help but be terrified.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to the baby because I am a klutz.

Thanks for the thoughts.  I'll update on Monday hopefully with new pictures of our almost 8 week old baby.

Peyton

Melt Down

Yesterday I had my first epic pregnancy meltdown.  I laid in our bed and cried.  I even called the baby stupid.  What's wrong with me? If I were thinking clearly I know that none of the things I've gotten upset about are worth getting upset about.  But alas, my hormones are raging and I'm very nauseous and I just wanted to pout like a 3-year old.

William patted me on the shoulder... probably all with a huge smile on his face.  He definitely recognized the "bipolar" meltdown as he called it.

Peyton

Hello Nausea

I hate you.
Ugh.
Dragging myself to the store to buy ginger ale.

Peyton

6 weeks 6 days

I thought when you are pregnant you are supposed to eat more? Or at least want to eat more? But I am having the opposite problem.  It's a little strange.  Eating is SUCH a chore.  But.... If I don't eat, I feel dizzy.... so I must eat. Today I ate 2 whole meals! That's a record for me over the past several days.

Here are some one-liners from the past few days that I thought yall would enjoy:

My Sweet Friend Michelle: "I spent lots of time thinking about baby stephens and the excitement built and built" (when referring to her lack of sleep from the night before)

My Dad: "I thought William was white" (when I was telling my dad about the ultrasound he asked what the baby looked like and I told him it looked like a black blob)

Always-Has-The-Perfect-Thing-To-Say Johanna: "That is just the cutest looking lentil I've ever seen.  He's got William's pasty thighs, I can tell already." (My response was... Ummm.... when did you see William's thighs???) (And I could post Johanna's entire email to me it was sooo hilarious!)

Jonna: "I'm calling it the hungry caterpillar."

Kendell: "Peyton, your babystrology things is super creepy" (It's the thing over on my sidebar... and she's right it is... but my guess is the creepier the more realistic.  I'm all about realism around here!)

So what's a new momma thinking about these days?
No/Low VOC paint
Cloth Diapering
Maternity Leave
Nursery Decorations

Peyton

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,
I just want you to know that your momma is a half marathoner! A few weeks before you came into existence I ran a half marathon.  It was one of my goals to complete before you came.  I'm not gonna lie... I'm a little sad that you will be reversing the 20lbs. of half marathon shape that I got in.  But it's okay... maybe you can help me train for my next one.  Will you cheer me on? Probably not... you'll probably just make me push your heavy little butt around with me.  That's fine... you're worth it.  But you remember... your momma was a half marathoner.
Love,
Your mommy

Take the Poll

Alright! Let's hear it yall...
What do you think we are having?!

Vote with the poll on our sidebar over to the right!

Peyton

Cravings

So the baby is very picky about what it wants to eat.  Food I thought I liked is now "gross".  So far... fruit is about the only thing that continues to make us both happy.  Although two people one person and one tadpole cannot subsist on fruit alone.

That brings me to the topic of cravings... they are infamous during pregnancy.  I officially have my first.  I desperately need Carrabbas' Chicken Bryan with fettucini alfredo. I'm not sure where this craving came from, but it's very specific. William says we can go get some today! It's kind of a drive, but I'm excited about it! Yum!

Peyton

Spotted at the Harrison's

The above sign was spotted on the door of the bathroom at Megan's house.  

Women and girl's beware... that is indeed the "MAN" bathroom. 

Do not disobey the sign... you will be sorry!

A year in the making!

We had our first ultrasound today! I'm excited to announce that unless one was hiding, we are only having one baby.  William is thrilled... that it's only one!

6 weeks and 2 days (July 8th, 2011)

We saw the heart beat.  Just barely.  Probably a few days earlier and we wouldn't have.  I'm about 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant.  This makes my due date Leap Day! How fun is that! There is a 1 in 1457 chance of being born on February 29... I did the math.  While I'm not sure what it would mean for birthdays I think it's cool.

I have my next appointment on July 28th, so we would appreciate your prayers until then (well after that too).  My doctor is very kind and recognizes how anxious new mommies can get... especially ones that spent a year trying to conceive. So because of that he said that I can come in before the 28th if I need a "psych" visit.  He said he'll show me my baby any day I want.  Just the thought of not being kept from my baby is so comforting.

I could talk to you about my symptoms... but today is not the day.

I just want to say that I love this child.  I love our baby so much.  It's only 1.34cm long... and I love it.  Even if it looks like a tadpole right now.

Peyton

One Day Until We Meet Our Baby

I wish it was tomorrow already.  I can't wait to meet my baby.

In other news, William is slowly beginning to recognize that I am pregnant.  He cleaned the bathtub without me even asking so that I can take a bath.  If you have ever seen him after he gets off work you understand that our bathtub was completely covered in oil based mud.  Gross.  I literally couldn't scrub it hard enough.  He also kindly offered (although I didn't make him) to take his food outside when my sensitive smeller was repulsed by the turkey burger he was making.

I think that's one thing that I have definitely noticed about pregnancy... It's very true that your nose works very well.  This I think has been the WORST symptom so far.  I mean I think I've had others... but this is the most unbearable.  It made going to the grocery store quite painful.  There was a different smell around every corner waiting to knock me down.  Also lots of people... that wear perfume.  Gross.  Perfume should be outlawed.

I'll update tomorrow after the appointment... hopefully with a picture of our little lentil bean.

Peyton

"Vacation"

William and I went on "vacation" this past week. He got off of work on Friday and we knew he'd have a few days off so we had a little mini vacation week.  Friday night Dana and Pat came to town and we were thankful to get to see them! Then Saturday we went shopping for refrigerators... fun stuff.

We also went to my friend Sarah's wedding! Our friends Christine and Eric came to town to go as well! Sarah was beautiful and the wedding was perfect!

After the wedding we headed home to bed.  In the morning we got up, packed, and headed straight to my bay house! We spent a few days down there, saw our families, and went fishing as well.  It was fun to get away even if it was just for a few days!

I put William on a plane home on Wednesday and stayed in the Houston/Bay Area for a few more days. It was nice to relax and read... and read I did... I've nearly finished three books in the last week!
Here are some pictures from the "3rd of July"... we celebrated yesterday.

 Happy 4th of July everyone!

And to my hubby- I am so proud of you and your service to our country.  Thank you for choosing to protect us.

6 weeks

This is my 6th week of pregnancy... the baby is now 4 weeks old!
Baby is the size of a lentil bean (or one source says a blueberry).
This week eyes, nose, and mouth begin to develop... hopefully the heart is also beating by now.

I'm still very excited... but can't help that I'm nervous. Friday I will feel much better!

Here are some highlights from the past week.

 William was celebrating... or mourning... I'm not sure he has sorted out his feelings yet!

 The infamous pink lines! 

At this point several people know I'm pregnant... but the first person animal we told was Lucy. 

Colton wins the award for the best reaction so far... 

Some background info:

• Colton had been in Denmark for 6 months prior to this day.  I hadn't seen him since the first week in January.
• Colton squeezed me very hard in the airport... and I flinched (sore boobs). 
• Colton talked about me adopting black/hispanic babies on the way home from the airport... he would. 
• Colton thinks he is the coolest person in the world.
• Colton was also the most excited when he found out I was engaged. 

Okay now that that is out of the way... Here's how we told him...

When we got home from the airport I handed my mom my cell phone to record and told him I had a welcome home present for him... First he opened the decoy present... a pink Guy Harvey shirt and a CD of an electric string quartet!

In case you can't hear what he said... the card said Congratulations on the front.  On the inside it said "We're so glad to hear your good news" (The printed part...). Then I wrote "Colton, With all good news comes bad news.  Sorry you are being ousted as the family favorite.... because you are going to be an uncle."

My favorite part: "Wait! You're having a kid!"

And also: "So that's why you flinched when I hugged you earlier."

 Here's what was in the present... 

Peyton