24wks

(23w5d)

I usually love black friday, but I couldn't do the crack of dawn shopping this year because I knew there was no way I could get up that early and stand in line for so long.  My body just physically couldn't do it.  There weren't any deals that we just HAD to have so we opted to sleep in a bit.  I figured we could just hit up the stores when we headed to our dr appt later in the morning.  We did manage to go to babies.r.us and get a glider and the bedding for the nursery. 

Then we headed to the high risk dr for our 24 wk baby scan.  I was hoping to go to Tar.get after my appt, but the dr had other plans.  Baby is measuring just fine and weighs 1 pound 6 ounces.  My cervix on the other hand is still changing.  At my last appt a week ago, he said it was fine, but now it's changing again.  When they apply pressure to my belly, the cervix contracts a little.  Nothing major to be concerned about,  yet, but he told me to go straight home and rest.  He said I couldn't finish up my black friday shopping!  He also suggested that I continue to work from home and really limit all my physical activity.  And he said absolutely no "marital" activities until 36 weeks!  Oh my!

(23w6d)

So, we picked up Abbey and headed home.  I took it easy and 'helped' put up one of the Christmas trees.  Abbey and Steve will do the second one.  There's so  much to do around the house to get it ready for the holidays, but it will be a slow process since I can't do too much.  I'm so use to being on the go all the time, that I have to force myself to slow down.  Of course, I will do whatever it takes to ensure baby is safe and sound and keeps cooking away in the oven. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I am grateful for so many things in my life:

My wonderful and amazing husband.

Great family

 Cute nieces and nephews

Good health

Jobs

Great friends

A roof over my head

Chocolate

The gospel of Jesus Christ

Trials to strengthen me

A precious baby growing inside me!

A loving and forgiving Heavenly Father

Faith

I am amazed and deeply grateful for all my many blessings every.single.day!

We should all count our many blessings on a daily basis and name them one by one.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

23 wks

I will be 23 weeks tomorrow!!
(22w4d picture)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 22w6d

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a Papaya.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: According to my scale, 6 lbs.  Thanks to the gestational diabetes, which I think has been a blessing (as much as it's a pain).  If I didn't have to really watch what I eat, I'd be as big as a whale! 

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants/tops (but can still fit into some of my regular tops)

Gender: BOY!

Movement: Yes!  He doesn't move a whole lot, but I definitely feel him when he does.  He likes to move the most when we're driving home from work.  It's like he knows the days over!  We were driving to the dr's on Wednesday and he gave me a good kick that startled me. It made me jump and Steve couldn't stop laughing at me. 

Sleep: Getting better at sleeping on my side, but occasionally still end up on my back.
What I miss: Diet Coke, Rice, french fries, chocolate chip cookies.  Basically eating whenever and whatever I wanted.  Now it looks like I might have to start cutting the fruit intake :(

Cravings: Nothing in particular, but I just miss the foods I can't have.

Symptons: Occasional pressure in the lower abdomen.

Best Moment this week: Feeling him move more and seeing baby's face on the ultrasound (pic below)

21w4d

The rest are from 22w4d ultrasound

Here is his little face looking right at us. He looks like a little alien....my alien.

Here are his little legs. 

We go back after Thanksgiving for another scan to measure the baby.  It's always a joy to be able to see him as much as we can.  The dr said my cervix looks good and after my next appointment, he'll only have to see me every 3 weeks.  I continue to pray baby is snuggling in and keeps growing and growing!

We are going t o start registering this weekend at Babies.r.Us and Tar.get!

Cherish. Awaiting a Miracle.

I received an unexpected suprise in the mail last week.  My dear blogging friend Kim, sent me this lovely Willow Tree figurine called 'Cherish. Awaiting a Miracle.'  I was so grateful that she took the time out to think of me as she is getting ready to start an IUI cycle.  She has no idea how much her thoughtfulness means to me.  I know there are many women out there who are still praying for their miracle and I just want them to know that the Lord is aware of their desires.  Through Him, all things are made possible. Put all your faith and time into serving Him unconditionally and He will bless you. 

The journey is not easy, but it is worth it. 

A Nice Surprise

Whenever I'm out shopping or browsing at baby clothes, I always think there are way  more cute baby girl clothes than there are boys clothes.  Girls are fun to dress up!  But since I won't be buying bows and tutu's anytime soon, I've been on the look out for cute boy stuff.  I was in Gymboree a few weeks ago looking for a fall dress for Abbey and I came across some baby boy things that were on clearance!  Of course I just had to get them.  

The boots are my absolute favorite!

I love the hat too, since I can't buy bows, I'm on the look out for cute hats.

 Steve made the monkey for baby when we were in Williamsburg.

Did I mention that I have the best husband in the world?  A few weeks ago I had to go out and run errands, but first I had to put Abbey and Steve down for a nap (you know how grouchy kids and husbands can get when they're tired). 

When I came home about 4 hours later, Abbey was very excited to show the 'surprise' that she and Steve had for me.  Instead of napping, they were busy working on my surprise.  I closed my eyes as they led me upstairs to the baby's future room. 

To my suprise, instead of napping, they spent the whole afternoon cleaning out all the junk stuff we had dumped stored in the spare room.  I was so happy and overwhelmed with love.  I know it was a lot of work for them (mostly Steve).  He basically moved everything out of the room into the basement. 

And this was all that was left in the room.

The doggie blanket was from my awesome neighbor who is always so thoughtful. There's also a little green book of Abbey's that she wanted to give the baby.

We literally have a clean state now to start the nursery!  I was really starting to stress about having to clean up that room (aka my 'closet' as Abbey called it).

I didn't get a picture of the room before, but I was able to get a picture of all the junk stuff that occupied the room.  It's quite embarrassing!!!

 The furniture that occupied the room, a bookcase and the dresser Steve made for me when we first got married.  I am not looking forward to going through all this stuff, but I know it has to be done...eventually. 

I am grateful for a thoughtful husband and niece who loves me enough to work so hard so I wouldn't have to stress too much.  I love them so much and count my blessings every day to have them in my life!

Christmas Cards

How many of you have already started putting up your Christmas decorations??  The weather here has been quite warm and I was just telling my husband that we should at least get the lights up (but not turn them on yet until Dec).  Every year he wants to wait until after Thanksgiving before he pulls out the Christmas stuff, but then every year we're freezing our bums off outside as we try to put up lights. 

Another thing I've been starting to think about is Christmas cards!  I love receiving Christmas cards/newsletters from family and friends.  I am super excited to share our baby news this year with everyone so I've been looking for the perfect card.  Shutterfly has a huge selection to choose from and these are some of my favorites.  I love the monogram ones!  I can't wait to create our Christmas cards this year!

Shutterfly

Shutterfly Christmas Cards

Shutterfly

Bloggers can get 50 free cards from Shutterfly, just click here.

It's never too early to get into the Christmas spirit!

Baby Update - 21w2d

I'm finally getting around to posting baby Vietitaly's sonogram pictures.

Here he is at 17 wks, face down (which seems to be his favorite position).

Profile at 19 wks

It's a boy! 19 wks.

21 wks (yeah, I can't see anything in this picture)

Last week I went in to see the endocrinologist to follow up on the gestational diabetes.  After two weeks of monitoring my blood sugar level, he said I am doing well.  However, I have to keep pricking my fingers and I have to watch what I eat for dinner because my numbers should be a little bit better.  We concluded  that I was not snacking enough between lunch and dinner, therefore seem to be either eating more at dinner or not eating the right kinds of food. I am now packing fruit, craisins and pecans to snack on.

Today I went in to see the high risk dr for my 21 wk appt today.  Baby seems to be doing well.  He was face down again so they couldn't get a good profile picture.  The dr came in and measured my cervix and checked out my uterus.  He pressed down on my belly to check the cervix.  He said there seems to be a small change in my cervix when he presses down on it.  He prescribed progesterone to help 'relax' my uterus so it won't affect my cervix.  I have to go back in a week to follow up.

The dr also asked me about my work and commute and then told me that when I get home from work, I am to do nothing!  He wants me off my feet.  I asked about exercise (30 mins on the treadmill to help the diabetes) and he said no!  Then he looked at Steve and said 'do absolutely nothing!'  That means Steve has to take care of me.  If Steve wasn't there to hear it for himself, he probably wouldn't have believed me if I told him that's what the dr ordered.  He really is a trooper.  I love him more every day.  We asked if I would have to go on bedrest and the dr said he's not sure yet.  He wants to see how the progesterone will work.  I think I will eventually be on bedrest (I'm secretly welcoming it, given the stress at work!)

Halloween Weekend

Work has been keeping me super busy so I haven't had time to blog. I'm hoping things will slow down, but it doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon.

Other than a busy work schedule, everything else is going well.  Baby is good, life is good.

We managed to go to the pumpkin patch the day before Halloween.  I was trying to find a pumpkin patch that was reasonably priced that had fun activities for Abbey.  There is a huge one in the area that costs $15 a person on the weekends!  I did NOT want to spend that much money, but Steve convinced me to (it's easier on my conscious to blame the hubby). So much for reasonably priced!

 It actually really was HUGE and did have lots for Abbey to do.  I'm glad we went this year. 

Who knows if the price will go up next year!

After the pumpkin patch, we went to my friend's trunk or treat at church.  It was chilly, but the kids had fun going from trunk to trunk getting candy.

(A unicorn, witch, dragon and spider man) 

I ran into my dear friend Mindy there!  We go way back from when her family served in the Dulles Branch.  I was so excited to see her.  Her family is so awesome! 

Eating chili in the church parking lot before the trunk or treating began!

Nothing beats chili on a chilly night!

Me and my sister on Halloween at a family gathering.

So that was pretty much our Halloween weekend.

This past weekend was very low key.  After a busy October, Steve is happy that all the fall activities are over.  We will be starting on the nursery soon! More to come on that.