Week 23 & Day 4: Monthy OB Appointment

Yesterday was our appointment @ OB's office.  For the first time in the past 23 weeks, I didn't have an anxiety attack before an OB appointment.  I slept good the night before (No nightmare!) and felt really good about the baby's health & progress.  This is because I feel her movement now!!  I feel her when I am at work & sitting on the couch at home.  I think she sleeps while I sleep (Such a good girl!).  I usually don't feel her movement (At least at this point) when I am sleeping on my sides.  Before getting out of bed every morning, it's becoming my routine that I change to lay on my back.  Then, I comfirm her movement and this totally makes my day.  I got a little side track here, but everything was good at the appointment.  They weighted me, took my blood pressure and urine sample.  I gained 5 pounds since the last appointment and I've gained the total of 11 pounds so far, so looks like I am doing good with weight management!  Looks like I am having a glucose test at next appointment, so they gave me a bottle of orange liquid.  I asked if it tastes good and the nurse said, "It's supposed to taste close to orange juice"  Well, I will find out in a couple of weeks....

I met a new OB and it was a female this time.  My clinic has several OBs, so they try to schedule me to meet different ones each time.  I used to prefer a female GYN, but at this point, I really don't care.  I am just hoping to make sure to meet whoever happens to deliver my baby!!  It was fairly a quick check up.  My OB checked a HB and measured my belly from down to top.  HB sounded very strong, so I was very happy about it.  I did ask her a couple of questions... 

1)  "Can I go to a rock concert??"  My DH and I love concerts and we want to go to one this weekend, but I was concerned with loud music because I know she can hear sounds now.  She said "Yes, the baby can hear, but she is protected by many layers, so loud noise will be muffled."             

2)  "My right butt muscle is sore since I got pregant and doesn't go away."  She said "It's probably a sciatic joint pain.  It's common during pregnancy"  Depends on how I move my leg sometimes, it hurts!  Her advice was to use a tennis ball or some sort and massage the area.  I had my DH do that at night and it felt really good. 

3) I also asked her  for referral to pediatricians and she gave me a list of docs around the area.  She told me that I should interview them and pick the one I like.  It was a good advice because I didn't know that I could interview them!  Also, it's not too early to look into one!!  We need to start this now esp. since I am feeling great with the 2nd trimester energy burst!!!       

Once in a while, I get this imposive cravings....they were pancakes & McDonald milk shakes in the past weeks, but a new one hit me after the OB appoinment...DONUT!!  I had to go find a donut store!!  I yelped and found a bakery near by and I was a happy camper when I fullfilled my craving.  YUMMMMMMM!!!!!     

My recent bump picture!

Our first baby outfit purchase!  Couldn't resist :)

Week 22 & Day 2: Let's Celebrate Every Week!

This is my 22nd week and every week is a celebration!  There are big milestones such as NT scan, A/S, V-day, Glucose test, etc, and we all aim to get to those milestones safely.  However, I've started feeling that every week is a milestone since I learned about what V-day (Viability Day) is.  It happens at 24 weeks when the pregnancy becomes viable.This means that if the baby is born premature at this point, it has higher chances of surviving outside the uterus and the Dr’s will make every effort to save the fetus.

Days have been going by slower for me since I started being aware of the V-day.  Every day and every week add more viability to my baby, so when a new week comes (For me, it comes on every Sunday!), I feel like dancing and celebrating the weekly milestone!!!  My baby girl is a size of Papaya this week, but I think she might double after the big feast from thanksgiving this week....Then, I have an OB check-up following week, so I am dreading to step on a scale, ugh!    

I was browsing another bump board this morning and saw someone posted this link, so I read it.  I wanted to share this link on my blog because this little baby was born at 24th week!!!   
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a37869025/just_had_my_baby_boy_update_picture_included
First of all, I am very happy that he is in the good hands of NICU and hope he keeps growing healthy.  Second of all, he is so tiny, but he looks like a HUMAN, wow!  I guess I didn't know exactly what baby would look like around 6 months.  Although I read bump report every week to learn the progress of a baby, I couldn't visualize what a baby would like.  It's incredible to know that I have a tiny human which is a size of Papaya, in my belly.        

I feel her poking everywhere, so I wonder how big my uterus is now!  So many things about pregnancy amaze me.  My baby doesn't have to breath, but she is getting all the nutrition from me and growing everyday.  She can somehow swim from left to right and up to bottom of my uterus.  My uterus will expand as the baby grows.  My breasts are ready to provide milk for her.  I read that a baby at this stage sleeps 12-14 hours a day.  She can already hear us! 

I am truly thankful for the amazing journey we are experiencing.  Every night, my DH puts his hands on my belly and when we both feel the kick of our daughter, nothing else in the world matters anymore....

Week 21 & Day 2: Shopping Time

It's so sad to say "Bye Bye" to summer, but I cannot help not to get excited about the holiday seasons!  It gets colder and darker as the fall/winter approach, but my heart bounces thinking about Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas!  Target started Christmas commercial before Halloween this year, so I feel like the America is pushing consumers to start shopping early this year.  (Good for the economy!) 

I recently set up baby registry accounts at BRU & Buy Buy Baby.  I was familier with BRU from shopping there for other people's shower, but BBB was new to me.  My first impression was "Buy Buy Baby?  The name is so tacky!!!", but I learned that it's owned by Bed Bath & Beyond and the store is very nice and only 2 minutes from my place, so I decided to register.  So far, I just picked big items such as crib set, Pack-N-Play, stroller, etc.  I picked all neutral color for those items, but I wanna pick girlie color for some small items later.  I am taking my bestie to BRU in December to pick smaller times.  Her baby is already 2 months old and she will be my sidekick on picking good items!!!

I remember before we started TTC, I kind of had resistant to BRU when I went there to get baby shower items because I wasn't in the baby mind set.  I was overwhelmed with variety of baby items and had no idea what some of the stuff on their baby registry.  Then, I got little matured and became more thoughtful on picking items.  In fact, I started making diaper cake for ppl's showers!  It's super easy and people absolutely love it! 


One of diaper cakes I made for my friend

Changing a topic...
Do you think animals can sense pregnancy? 
All my pets have been pretty affectionate, but I started noticing some of them becaming more affectionate ever since I got pregnant!  Reesecup loves to come to my side and snaggle.  When I sit on the couch, she is right next to me petting on my belly and it's so cute!  I feel like she is saying "Hello, little sis!" to the baby girl.  Of course, I had to google this and here is what I found.

"Some pet lovers swear their pets can sense pregnancy. While there's no scientific evidence to back it up, many people say their pets definitely know when they're pregnant – or at least can tell that something's up.  One expectant BabyCenter mom says that whenever she lies down, her cat lies right next to her and puts one paw on her belly. Many suggest that their pets knew they were pregnant before they did." 

That's what my cat is doing, too!!  I wonder if she can hear the HB :)  Here is the picture of her by my bump this past Saturday.  I say my pets are also so exited to meet little princess!!! 

Reesecup by my bump

    
               

Week 20 & 5 Days: "WE" not "I"!!!!

Yaaaaaaayyyyy, I am officially half baked!!!  I cannot believe how fast time is flying by and at the same time, I am finally half way through my pregnancy.  My baby girl is a size of banana and I am so proud of her how well she is doing!

Being half baked is amazing, but there is something else happening with me, too!  I AM FINALLY FEELING HER MOVEMENT!!  It started the day after we found out that she was a girl, so I felt like she was waiting to introduce herself until the official gender reveal.  What does it feel like?  I've heard many girls saying it starts with flutter.  I personally didn't get the fluttering sensation, but it was more like bubbles burst or popcorn popping.  It went from nothing to this feeling, so I did know it was her who was causing it!  I feel it everyday and everywhere, so she is definitely swimming around :)

Feeling her is wonderful.  It's so intimate and private.  My DH felt her movement and his smile was all the way to his ears.  I feel her everyday, so there is a special bond between us and this is something I have never experienced in my life.  I am so in love with her and nothing can intervene this strong connection between me and my little girl.  I am in a completely new mindset and I found myself using "WE" instead "I"!!!!  I am only  doing this to my DH.  When I text, I say "We are doing this and that, we ate this and was good"  Other people might think I am crazy! 

I had a business trip this week, so I had to fly.  I don't usually freak out about flying like my DH does because I have flown many times, but not this time.  I was having a huge anxiety before the flight because it's not just me anymore.  I felt so responsible for this tiny life in me and I was in fact scared to fly for the first time in my life.  I prayed for safe flights and I am so relieved I am back home safely now.  Also, I remembered about this couple.  DH works with the husband and the couple has 2 beautiful kids.  His company planned a company meeting trip a couple of years ago and wife was invited, so I went along.  The couple didn't fly on the same airplane.  We thought they were crazy and didn't understand why they did that.  Now, I totally get it.  I understand why they did that.  They did it that way so that if something happens to one of them, other one could look after their kids.  It really hit me that we are becoming a parent soon.         

It's amazing how instinct kicks in without being taught, but I am already preparing to become a mother and DH and I have started to step into a parenthood as our daughter is growing inside of me everyday.                 
Next milestone.....24 weeks V-day!!