GIRL!

Our ultrasound shows no boys parts! My sister was right: there was no chance of us having a boy, with all the girls in our family born in May. We're very excited, and I even purchased a few girly outfits for our little lady. I thought I would feel really overwhelmed knowing what we're having, like it makes everything so real. But I've really been loving the idea of having a daughter, and all that will mean for us. What an adventure!

Will post ultrasound pics once I have them scanned.

One more week

18w 4d. Next monday we have our big ultrasound. It's killing me waiting. I NEED to know. I'm kinda feeling it's a boy, but I think that's a combination of everyone telling me that and the fact that I'm drawn more to boy names. Hubby thinks it's girl, but I think he's just saying that so he's not disappointed. We'll see...

I'm getting a bit ansy already about getting everything done in time. I know I'm not even at my half-way point, but already I feel like there's so much we need to do. The registry! The nursery! The classes! I gotta remind myself to slow down, and take it a little at a time. Deep breath.

Still Chugging Along

17w 5d today. Whoa. That flew. I've been feeling pretty good, although I feel like my bladder is shrinking. All those pregnancy books say that you're supposed to feel more comfortable in the gotta-go-all-the-time department in your second trimester. For me, I'm finding I gotta go way more often than I ever had to in my first trimester.

In more exciting news, I'm feeling the baby. I starting noticing that famous "bubbles" feeling last week, but I wasn't initially convinced that it was actual baby movement verses just gas. But now I'm convinced it's the baby because the sensations are more distinguishable for me. It's pretty cool to feel, although too early for Hubby to notice. I think that will still be a few weeks away.

Our BIG ultrasound is in two weeks and I have such a mix of feelings about it. I'm excited to know, but nervous too, because suddenly our little Peapod becomes a real PERSON. I'll officially be having a SON or DAUGHTER. It's sounds so weird to me. And I'm starting to think about the challenges that come along with raising each. A girl seems like it would so much easier to me because I know what she will go through, but boys...that's a whole different thing. I know realistically that either will have challenges and joys that I haven't even thought of yet, and it is in my nature to worry about everything WAY before it could even possibly become in issue. So I'm trying to keep it all in check. It's funny how I'll be worrying about how to raise this little person, and today I wake up feeling its little baby flutters in my tummy and feel so blessed to have that sweet little being, whatever he or she is. It's calming because I know we'll figure it out. After all, if Britney Spears can have kids, I think we'll be okay.

So apparently I'm showing. A lot.

Yes, well I was calmly and in due time make my annoucement to work. That didn't exactly happen. Monday morning, I was completely outed. I was in an elevator full of people from my department when a woman I've talked to maybe 6 times says,"I didn't know you were pregnant." How exactly is one supposed to respond to that? I think my jaw hit the floor as a attempted to control the redness I could feel coming to my face. I said, "Well, yes." She then tried to explain herself, probably because she could tell I was wondering how the hell she could know that. Up until this point, I had only told one coworker, a trusted friend, who never talks to this lady. She says, "No, you look great. I could tell cause you're so skinny and the way you were standing." Okay. So I politely ask her if she wouldn't mind keeping it quiet (and the rest of the freaking elevator at this point) since I haven't really told people at work yet. Completely busted.

By this time, we're at our floor and total panic ensues. I must tell my boss ASAP before he hears it from, I don't know, one of the ten people in the elevator with me. Fortunately, I see him in the hall and we set up a meeting for later that afternoon. He was overjoyed for me and thought the elevator story was pretty funny. So it all turned out okay.

Today I'm 13W 1D and as my special treat for entering my second trimester, I'm FINALLY getting my hair colored again. It's looking sort of crack whore right now, since it's so grown out. I can't wait. I'm going to try to convert a pair of my well-fitting-yet-not-too-expensive jeans into maternity this weekend. Apparently I need some room for this baby in my waistband area. That way I can stick my stomach out even more.

Second Photoshoot

Our second ultrasound went pretty well. The tech was great. We got to see the baby moving all over the place, kicking and jumping. It was pretty crazy. We also got to hear the heartbeat - 148 bpm. Then the doc came in did the NT part of the scan. He kinda sucked...not talkative, in a hurry. I had to ask him if everything looked good and when I would hear the results. We just have to put him on the list of docs we hope aren't on call when we deliver.

I got blood drawn once we were done and I should hear in a week if everything looks good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I can't help but be nervous.

NT Screen Tomorrow

11 Weeks today! Whoa that flew. I'm almost out of my first trimester. Tomorrow we have our second ultrasound and the neucal translucency screen in which the doc looks for signs of Downs Syndrome. I'm of course nervous about that, but just nervous in general to make sure everything is okay with Peapod. But it will be reassuring to see our baby again on the screen.

If everything looks good, we'll officially be out. We'll give our parents clearance to tell whoever they like, and although most of our friends know, we'll probably email the few stragglers left. Then, it's on to telling work. My plan if to tell my boss at the end of next week, right at 12 weeks, and then hopefully have a little meeting with my team to tell everyone else. I'm just praying it goes over well.

We've also started talking about baby names. It's so hard because so names that we like are already taken by friend's kids, or we have friends with the name. We don't want anything too crazy either. I think we'll probably wait until we know the sex before seriously considering anything. That way we can just rule out one whole category.

Wow! We're really having a BABY. Crazy.

Ick

I don't mean to complain, but yes I do. I feel gross. This week has been rough. I've been exhausted in the evenings - I usually fall asleep in front of the TV around 8:30. I wake up again and actually get into bed, but I just feel like I'm dragging my body through the night. I've been okay during the day. More tired but nothing awful. I can tell the pregnancy hormones are peaking though, because I've definitely had a little more nausea. Usually in the late mornings and once I get home from work. Saltines work wonders for for though. Thank God for those little simple crackers.

I'm 9 weeks today and I'm starting to think about when to tell work. We have our first trimester ultrasound and NT screen in two weeks, and I'm thinking that the best plan is to wait until then. That way, I can tell everyone during week 12 and feel pretty good about the timing (i.e. not waiting too long so that my obvious baby bump speaks for itself but also feeling good about the viability of our little peapod).

Other than work though, I'm out. Well, not entirely. I'm telling a number of our friends tomorrow since we'll all be out together. And then I figure the flood gates will open. But all of Hubby's family knows, and my parents all know. I haven't green-lighted the extended family yet...but pretty soon. It's so exciting sharing the news.

I'm definitely dying for the weekend to come. This one's a long one too since it's Columbus Day Monday. I think we'll go pumpkin-picking.