3/29/10...16 weeks Dr. appt & L sick again

Today I had my 16 week appointment. We got to hear the heart beat again and our doctor is guessing it's a boy from the low heart beat. She had guessed L was a girl from her heart beat so I guess we'll just have to wait and see if she's right. I also had my blood drawn for the quad screen (checks for down syndrome, among others). I've gained 2.5 lbs since last week (ah!!) and at last week's weigh in I had gained 3 lbs over the 4 weeks before. So now I weigh what I weighed when I got pregnant with L. Hopefully that will help with not having my face look so fat at the end.

L woke up all night long last night. It seems like she has a cold and an ear infection so I took her to the pediatrician after my doctor's appointment. Sure enough, her right ear is infected again (the same ear that she just got off antibiotics for a week ago). This time she's getting a different, stronger antibiotic. I forced M*trin down her at the doctor's and by the time with left the pharmacy, she seemed better. We got home and she ate half a box of parmesan twists and a little bit of a yogurt drink. She slept off and on from around 3pm to 5:30pm. She was pretty cranky when she woke up so I forced another dose of M*trin down her and now she's much better. She's drawing with her crayons. :)

3/29/10...16 weeks...

from b@bycenter.com:



How your baby's growing: Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.

3 Questions About...Gaining weight
Q1.

How much weight should I gain now?

Aim to gain about 12 to 14 pounds this trimester (toward a total of 25 to 35 for your whole pregnancy) if you started your pregnancy at an average weight. Your caregiver may advise that you gain a little more or less if you started your pregnancy over- or underweight or you're carrying twins or more.

Q2.

How can I keep my weight gain on track? During pregnancy, most women need to eat about 300 calories a day more than their usual daily intake. (The total amount of calories you'll need depends on your weight and activity level.)

If you're gaining too much: Some women find that they're gaining weight too quickly. It's not a good idea to go on a low-calorie diet or skip meals during pregnancy, though. Instead, try these suggestions to help slow your weight gain:

• Start your day with a nutritious breakfast that includes adequate protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and a small amount of healthy fat.
• Eat vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and low-fat dairy products, and skip processed foods, packaged snacks, and sugar-loaded desserts.
• Keep healthy, filling snacks around, such as low-fat cheese and yogurt, baby carrots, and fresh fruit such as apples or bananas. You'll be less susceptible to junk-food snack attacks.
• Choose a tasty alternative to a fatty food. For example: Nonfat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, a bagel instead of a doughnut, or air-popped popcorn instead of potato chips. (Get more ideas.)
• Drink water instead of reaching for a glass of juice.
• With your caregiver's okay, get regular exercise. If you have trouble getting started or keeping to a routine, find an exercise buddy who'll go for a daily walk or swim with you. This will help to keep you motivated. Even a 20-minute daily walk at lunchtime will make a difference.

If you're having a hard time gaining enough: Some women find themselves struggling to budge the scale. Here are a few tips to help you put on the pounds:

• Drink a milk shake every day (add in fresh fruit for vitamin C). You'll get a calorie boost and you'll benefit from the calcium in the ice cream.
• Eat nutrient-dense foods with good fats, such as avocados and nuts.
• Try eating dried fruit. It's not as filling as fresh fruit, so you tend to eat more of it and pack in more healthy calories.
• In addition to your meals, eat frequent snacks.
• Remind yourself that you're supposed to be putting on weight now, for yourself and for your baby's well-being. Then chow down!

Q3.

How will the weight I gain during pregnancy affect my body? At least some of the aches and pains you'll feel as pregnancy progresses are related to your changing body shape and the increasing weight of your womb. Backaches are common, and you may begin to feel more clumsy and prone to falls. Expect your skin to stretch, too, as your belly and breasts expand, which may result in stretch marks.

You may be most worried about whether you'll be able to shed all your "baby fat" after your baby's born. It may take a while, but if you eat right and exercise you'll most likely get rid of the pounds eventually. You'll have an easier time getting back in shape if you're active now.
• It's easy to obsess about your weight during pregnancy, especially if you're having a hard time staying within the 25- to 35-pound gain recommended for most women of normal weight. How's it going for you?

Friday, 3/26/10...15.5 weeks & baby moving

Tonight I think I've been feeling the baby move. I probably only know what it is because of knowing what it felt like with L. Over the next few days, I'll probably be able to tell for certain, but I'm pretty sure that's what it is.


here's what b@bycenter.com has to say about it:

When should I start to feel my baby move?

You probably won't feel your baby kick until sometime between 16 and 22 weeks, even though he started moving at 7 or 8 weeks and you may have already witnessed his acrobatics if you've had an ultrasound.

Veteran moms tend to notice those first subtle kicks — also known as "quickening" — earlier than first-time moms. (A woman who's been pregnant before can more easily distinguish her baby's kick from other belly rumblings, such as gas.)

Your build may also have something to do with when you'll be able to tell a left jab from a hunger pang. Thinner women tend to feel movement earlier and more often than women who carry more weight.

What does it feel like?

Women have described the sensation as being like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies fluttering. You'll probably chalk up those first gentle taps or swishes in your belly to gas or hunger pains, but once you start feeling them more regularly, you'll recognize the difference. You're more likely to feel these early movements when you're sitting or lying quietly.

How often should I feel movements?

At first the kicks you notice will be few and far between. In fact, you may feel several movements one day and then none the next. Although your baby is moving and kicking regularly, many of his jerks and jolts aren't yet strong enough for you to feel. But later in the second trimester, those reassuring kicks will become stronger and more regular.

If you're tempted to compare notes with other pregnant women, don't worry if your experience differs from that of your friends. Every baby has his own pattern of activity, and there's no correct one. As long as your baby's usual activity level doesn't change too much, chances are he's doing just fine.

Do I need to keep track of the kicking?

Once you're feeling kicks regularly, pay attention to them and let your practitioner know right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's movement. Less movement may signal a problem, and you'll need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Once you're in your third trimester, some practitioners will recommend that you spend some time each day counting your baby's kicks. There are lots of different ways to do these "kick counts," so ask for specific instructions.

Here's one common approach: Choose a time of day when your baby tends to be active. (Ideally, you'll want to do the counts at roughly the same time each day.) Sit quietly or lie on your side so you won't get distracted. Time how long it takes for you to feel ten distinct movements — kicks, twitches, and whole body movements all count. If you don't feel ten movements in two hours, stop counting and call your midwife or doctor.

3/25/10: L update

Elodie said, "Good job mom."

I still think it's funny when she says "It's not cooperating mom."

Elodie was playing her C!ickstart game and when she clicked on the Y for yak, it shakes its head so she shakes her head crazily.  She likes playing her Le@pFrog C!ickstart games (hooks up to the tv).  She can pick out letters (some not at all) on the keyboard and she names them off while typing.

We took the railing off her full-sized bed today.  We'll see if that lasts.

The last couple of weeks, she'll take her diaper off during nap and then go #2 in the potty and then call for me to wipe her and put her diaper back on.

She'll say "daddy's doing punching" and "groundwork" for Dave's Kr@v M@ga class.

3/24/10: L update

Elodie is ALWAYS saying "want something to eat."  Over the past few days, she knows more and more colors.  It's like something finally clicked.  She loves "texting" (typing on the keyboard or cellphone).  She can read some letters outloud, like "c-o-w."

Monday, 3/22/10...lunch outside again...

After some errands this morning, L wanted to stay outside b/c it was so nice so we got out her chair again for her to eat lunch out front. I also brought down the milk delivery cooler so she'd have someplace to put her food down on. She was SO cute, especially with her new little hat. She would occasionally turn it around backwards. After lunch we went on a walk and then we played bubbles before I put her down for her nap. We have a re-check appointment at her doctor's this afternoon to make sure her ear infection is all healed and then we have her dance class. Busy night!


She turned her chair so she could sit at the "table."


Showing off her lunchables. Those shoes are so cute too.

Monday, 3/22/10...15 weeks...

Today I heard our baby's heartbeat again and found out that he or she is sitting down low, on my bladder. I told the doctor I could have guessed that with how often I feel like I have to pee!

from b@bycenter.com:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam.

There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

How your life's changing:

You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

3/20/10: L sayings

Elodie took Dave's phone and "called the doctor."  She said, "Hi doctor.  Um. Um. My family's sick because they have baby in tummy."

She says, "I miss daddy" a ton throughout the day.  She says "through," meaning something has a "hole" in it.  Get it?  Like you can pass through it because there's a hole?  She'll say, "Leave me alone.  I need to poops."  Cracks me up everytime.  She says, "uno dos tres quatro cinqo seis.  That's what mommy says."  And then she likes to say "cinqo seis."

Thursday, 3/18/09...bike & park...

I had fun taking L to the park on her bike, visiting w/other moms & a neighbor friend while letting L play, then realized on the walk home that she can actually petal the bike...she petaled all the way home :)

I took this pic w/my cell phone as she was yelling "NOOOOOO picture!!!"

She's also picked up the saying, "That sounds great."

Tuesday, 3/16/10...beautiful day...

I am enjoying this beautiful day...church, then chatted w/ Elizabeth Taliaferro Merry & ate lunch, then took a walk with L & listened to a seriously talented neighbor's piano playing, watched L eat lunch outside in her little chair, and then blew bubbles with L. Quite the nice start to the day. :) We finished off the afternoon w/a nap, fun visit w/ Heather Grooters to borrow maternity clothes (starting off this pregnancy about 6-8 lbs. lighter than Elodie so most of my maternity pants are too big), dinner at Wendy's on the way home, a brief attempt at bubbles again before L knocked them over & then a trip to the store to replace said bubbles. Can't believe how beautiful the weather was today. Too bad there aren't enough days like this here.

3/14/10: L saying

Elodie:  "What you doing?"

Boyd: "Changing Regal's poopy diaper."

Elodie: "Why poop in diaper?  I poop in potty."

Saturday, 3/13/10...no more fever...

ok so we could use some more sleep b/c L was still up a ton last night but at least it seemed like her fever was gone and she just didn't want to sleep, not that she was super sick. This morning she has NO fever so we're praying it stays that way! and of course that we the parents stay healthy!!

3/12/10: L sayings

"My cheese-its and fishies are downstairs in the microwave because I'm cooking them."

"Get older go basketball game and football game.  Dale and Candy take me."

Friday, 3/12/10...another dr's visit...

After L spent about 45 minutes screaming that her tummy hurt, we took her to the doctor's again at 5pm tonight. This doctor (different than yesterday's) said that L does have an ear infection so yea us...she gets another 10 day round of antibiotics that we have to force down her. The doctor thinks tummy stuff is gas b/c she hears lots of noise in her tummy.

Thursday, 3/11/10...sick baby...

L was up every 30 min all night. Her fever broke early this morning and then came back at 102F. I took her to the doctor this morning because she said her ear, tummy, and mouth hurt (after saying all yesterday that her teeth hurt) but she tested negative for flu & strep. She refuses to take Tylen*l. She's just a really sad sight. :( PTL she fell asleep. Praying BIG prayers that D & I stay healthy!!

3/10/12: L update

Some things about Elodie:

• "Leave me alone.  I need to go poops."
• "I'm going to close the door.  I don't want the neighbors to see me." (wonder who she heard that from! ha!)
• All of a sudden, some colors started to click.  She knows orange, yellow, pink, and black really well.  She doesn't know the others yet.
• For a week or two, Elodie says, "I miss daddy" all day long.  She'll say "I miss daddy.  You miss daddy too?" to which I'll reply, "Yes," and she'll say, "I miss daddy too."
• She likes to dance to music.  
• She has a whole list of things she'll list off that she'll do "when I'm older."
• She can sign songs "ABC," "Twinkle Twinkle," "I love you no doubt about it," Barney's "I Love You, You Love Me," "You Are My Sunshine," "You are my baby," "You are my toddler," "You are my Elodie," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," sing along to the letter magnet thing (She just listed off a bunch of those songs when I told her I was writing the songs she could sing.).
• "through" = "hole" (For example, there's a through in my pants.)
• "Uno dos tres quatro cinco seis.  That's what mommy says."

Sunday, 3/7/10...13 weeks...

from babycenter.com:


See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside. More good news: Many couples also notice a distinct libido lift around this time. Birth is still months away, but your breasts may have already started making colostrum, the nutrient-rich fluid that feeds your baby for the first few days after birth, before your milk starts to flow

Friday, 3/5/10...

Long day! I finally made it to a playgroup...it'd been awhile! came home late. had a toddler who refused to stay in her room for her nap...a two hour battle that i'm pretty sure I lost. then dinner out at PF Changs (yum!) and hanging out with friends. I'm tired!

More L-isms...

I noticed this week that L has started calling me "mom" instead of "mommy." I have to admit I'm a little sad...it's like she growing up too fast! She'll say things like, "ok mom" and "yes mom." (Don't let my examples fool you into thinking I have a stellar child or anything. She apparently doesn't put "mom" after her "NO!!!!") D said that she calls him "dad" instead of "daddy."

We had gone through what seemed like a long period to us where L was waking up in the night...once...twice...sometimes more every night. She had also been sick off and on for four weeks. Well, she's finally healthy again (as of last week) and she's seems to finally be sleeping through the night again, although last night she woke up and D had to find her "tiny bear" for her and then she was fine.

I wanted to add some more things L's said lately but I can't remember them now so I'll just have to add them later.

I finally had time to try out my new 50mm 1.8 Nikon lens on Tuesday and here's some shots from then. The ones of L with the baby doll: I was trying to take some test shots for a newborn shoot I have coming up but L didn't want me to take pics of her baby doll without her in them so I wasn't very successful in trying to practice. You probably want to click on "fast" on the slideshow b/c otherwise it's pretty slow.

movement on the list...

Our agency finally got a referral...one...after a couple really long, dry months. So we moved from #15 to #13. (yes, i know that's two spots, but they only had one referral. long story.)