monday, september 30 :::
 
+ Rollin' rollin' rollin' +
Time's just rollin' along, little one. Last time I saw the Dr., he told me I was entering the part of the pregnancy where I'm basically "on cruise control." That's really what it's starting to feel like at this point. I'm happy that we have so much time to get ready for you, but it's too easy to put off doing things for you. Meanwhile, I don't quite have all of my energy back, and I'm starting to have little physical complaints that make me much more receptive to sitting on the couch than decorating your room. Walking's okay, though, so I'm hoping to start walking more in the evenings now that it's cooling down. Your daddy is working a lot this week, so you'll just hear me hanging out with you. Not that I have a choice. :-) You wriggle around a lot now; it's pretty funny. I keep thinking I'll be able to feel you if I put my hand on my belly, but not yet! I'm sure that time will come soon. I'd really like to be able to start calling you by your name, since we're pretty sure we have them picked out now, but we won't know until 10/9. So please, in 9 days, will you make sure you show us what flavor of baby you are? We're so anxious to know!

::: posted by Kerry at 1:08 PM



friday, september 27 :::
 
+ Same story, new day +
Nothing new today. You're not very active today, which is okay since I've been pretty busy. Hopefully you'll wake up and play this evening! I got to talk about you a lot today at a team luncheon. Lots of people want to know about you and how you're doing. Already so popular!

::: posted by Kerry at 2:59 PM



thursday, september 26 :::
 
+ New mom, old wives tales +
I love it. Someone here at work told me in a very concerned voice, "Just don't stretch like this..." as she pulled her arms straight up over her head and stretched. "It can wrap the cord around the baby's neck!" "That's not true," I told her. "I looked it up, because I feel the need to stretch quite a lot, and I'd heard that old wives' tale." "Well, if you say so, but it IS true, my doctor told me that, and I've seen it happen." Hmmmm... Yeah, I don't think so. It's one of those persistent wives' tales that just won't go away. Why do people buy these things? I'm going to keep gently stretching, thankyouverymuch. Baby O., if you don't like it, just give me a gentle knock and let me know. Deal?

::: posted by Kerry at 3:02 PM


 
+ Whoa doggie! +
I said I wanted to feel you, but come on! Wow! I'm sitting in a weird position, and you do NOT like it. These are the first distinct feelings I've had since the first poke. I think you're trying to get me to move! This is great. The position's really quite uncomfortable, but I don't want to move 'cause this is too cool!

::: posted by Kerry at 11:06 AM


 
+ Sweet Sixteen +
Today is 16 weeks, Baby O.! We're really getting there. We have 24 weeks to go (give or take). Can you believe it?! I've started telling people who ask that we're about 4 months pregnant, which is just amazing to me. I'm still hovering between maternity and non-maternity clothes, which will probably last for another couple of weeks. You like it when I eat now, which is pretty amusing. Once my stomach starts processing food, you like to move. I still can't really feel anything distinct, but I know it's you wriggling around in there.

It's a good thing I'm getting at least a little of my appetite back. I went in yesterday afternoon for my AFP test, and found my weight is down another pound. I was thinking about this this morning, and thinking next pregnancy I'll probably gain 20 pounds in the first trimester and curse myself for wanting to gain weight. Ha! I still feel healthy, and the nurse asked me if I was eating and taking my vitamins, which I am. So she didn't really seem alarmed. We had trouble drawing my blood though, which caused me to joke that you're stealing it all from me. She couldn't get a vein in either inner elbow (which is fine, since my right arm was already hurting), and had to go in on the back on my left wrist. That worked, though, and I filled the vial like a champ!

Now we have to wait another two weeks, until 10/9, to find out the results. I'm surprisingly not worried about it. I don't take it for granted that it will be fine, I'm just not worrying. If it's not fine, we'll take the next steps as needed and move on. Either way, I love you and I worry for you. Just keep moving. I like it better when I can feel you! And I promise to keep eating and giving you the intestinal lullaby you seem to enjoy.

::: posted by Kerry at 8:02 AM



tuesday, september 24 :::
 
+ Flutters-by +
You are fluttering again. You did that to me last night too. I think you're going to have a real personality about your movements. That will be amusing, I'm sure!

::: posted by Kerry at 1:19 PM


 
+ Imagine +
Driving home yesterday, I was touching my stomach and singing to you, Baby O., and I was overcome by this incredible feeling. Is there anything else in the world filled with such possibility and potential as a baby growing in its mother's womb? What a beautiful thing!

::: posted by Kerry at 7:46 AM



monday, september 23 :::
 
+ 15w4d +
So, I guess I'm showing. It still feels more like an out-of-shape belly to me, but everyone else says it's definitely a pregnant belly. I wore maternity clothes most of the weekend, and was very happy doing so. They don't feel quite as tent-like as they did before, so I guess I am indeed growing. Weird to think I'm growing without gaining any weight so far, though. This week I'm going to go in for AFP testing. I don't know what day I'll do it, because I can just drop in anytime I want before 4:30. One of these afternoons, I'll just head down there. I don't kow if they'll give us the results before our next appointment or not, but probably not. So I'll be a nervous wreck until 10/9. Actually, so far, I've managed to keep from being a nervous wreck about anything really. I am moderately cautious about things, but mostly I just go on about my normal life with this sense of calm. It's weird. I guess I just trust that I'll take care of you, and God will take care of both of us. So all I have to do is be good to both of us, and take whatever comes our way as it does. No sense in stressing about what might happen, right?! Sounds good anyway. :-) The 28-day lunar month makes us 4 months on Wednesday! The true (calendar) lunar month makes us 4 months next Tuesday. Either way, it seems to be zooming right by. If only the weather would cool down, I could really start digging this whole pregnancy thing!

::: posted by Kerry at 9:22 AM



friday, september 20 :::
 
+ Poundage +
Oh, and the inaccurate scale at home was right: We lost another pound. :-( I'm going to have ice cream for lunch. Over 3.5 months pregnant, and I'm down about 2 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. I'm hoping this Dr.'s scale was set differently.

::: posted by Kerry at 10:39 AM


 
+ Primary Care +
Well, the Dr. said not to worry about the thing under my arm. He was very brusque, but he did feel around it very carefully and deeply, and said it was either a vein or a ligament, but neither was anything to be concerned about. I kind of felt like a hypochondriac the way he acted, but I remind myself that I have to check on these things or they'll worry me. I even felt like I had to defend myself and say, "I'm not really a hypochondriac; I haven't been to the regular doctor in probably 8 or 9 months!" I don't think he cared though.

We're 15 weeks, 1 day now. I think I'm going to take your daddy on a date tonight. He's had a hard week of work and he deserves a nice night out. Baby O., you get to come with us of course. Don't get used to it. Someday, I'll insist on Date Night With Daddy while you stay at home with one of your four grandmas. So enjoy it while you can!

::: posted by Kerry at 10:37 AM



wednesday, september 18 :::
 
+ Daddy +
Oh, yeah, and your daddy was amusing last night. He believes me about feeling the baby, and he was telling it to poke me as I was going to bed. "Poke, poke, poke." Unfortunately, it didn't listen to him. He also told me I was sexy when I showed him my rapidly growing belly and the lovely denim maternity capris I wore yesterday. He meant it too! I weighed myself, and it looks like I might be down a pound, but we really do own the world's most unreliable scale. How this belly can keep protruding like it's filled with a 5 pound alien growth without me gaining a single pound is beyond me. I'm hoping to find out at the Dr. tomorrow that I have gained some. I never imagined I'd be hoping to gain weight.

::: posted by Kerry at 2:55 PM


 
+ Just as I predicted +
Not feeling you anymore. It was just a teaser, wasn't it? Oh, well. I know it will happen again, probably when I stop expecting it! Anyway, didn't feel so great last night, even though the day started off great. Last night I was the most nauseous I've been the whole pregnancy. I think it was all the candy I ate yesterday afternoon. :-) I brought Halloween candy in early, and it's sitting here on my desk calling my name. I never did throw up, but I sure thought I was going to. Then this morning, I woke up with horrendous ligament pain. That was nice. I figured a nice warm shower would help (which it did), but discovered a lump of something in my right armpit. Now, I don't know what it is, and I don't want to freak myself out. It might be nothing, it might be a clogged milk duct, it might be fatty tissue, it might be anything. I called the Dr. today and made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. This is a new primary care doctor for me; I switched months ago, but haven't been to see him. So he gets to meet me, Celiac Disease, 3.5 months pregnant, and with a lump in my armpit. I'm sure he'll think I'm falling apart! Poor guy. But I'm thrilled they could get me in so soon - I could've gone today! But it wasn't late enough, and I would've had to take 1/2 hour off work. Tomorrow's is later, so I'll be okay.

Well, that's my fun. Baby O., you can't do this because you're busy doing the backstroke in my uterus, but to anyone else who reads along here: I've set up a guessing game on Expectnet.com. You can go here and enter your guesses for Baby O.'s gender, birthday, weight and length. Go on, do it! I have it set up where you can enter more than one guess, but please don't. You will have future opportunities to revise your guess if you so desire. That's okay. There will be a winner. Who knows what you'll win? I have 6 months to think about it!

::: posted by Kerry at 10:26 AM



tuesday, september 17 :::
 
+ Movement +
This is driving me batty. Irony or not, after I posted that, now I'm having these weird flutters. I don't have any gas right now, I'm almost certain. I keep wiggling my legs while I sit here (fidgeting like my mom always tells me not to), and every time I stop, I feel a weird twitch. Boy if that's not you, my body's doing a really good job of tricking me. Now that I'm paying attention I probably won't feel you (again?) for 4 more weeks.

::: posted by Kerry at 8:06 AM


 
+ Feelings, whoa-whoa-whoa, feelings +
Boy, I thought I felt something this morning. More accurately, I did feel something, the jury's just out on what it was. Daddy had to work early this morning, so I woke up by myself. Princess was in bed with me (of course), but was letting me hog the bed for once. I was sprawled out in a weird position, and when I woke up, I stretched and rolled over onto my back. I stretched again, and then as I was lying still, the weirdest little feelings happened low in my belly. I felt what seriously felt like a miniature little poke. I figured it was a muscle going back in place (probably a ligament). So I didn't move, I was just watching Princess do her stretches too... and I felt it again. I think in total I felt it 4 times, and it was in the same general area, but not exactly the same place I don't think. It was probably ligaments. But it's fun to pretend it just might have been you. :-) I'm almost 15 weeks. It's not completely unheard of!

::: posted by Kerry at 7:35 AM



monday, september 16 :::
 
+ 1/3 +
The little pregnancy calendar says we're 33% of the way there! That's nice to know. I've got a myriad tiny pregnancy/body complaints, but I'm trying not to think about them. I'm telling everyone I feel great, and emotionally and mentally that's true! Physically, well, it's not the greatest time of my life, but it definitely could be worse. :-) I'm waiting to feel you, Baby O. When I lie still at night, or watching TV, I try to stop moving completely and breathe slowly just in case I can feel a little kick or something. Nothing yet, but that's to be expected. Weird that you are probably almost 4 inches long... I should be able to feel something 4 inches long moving inside of me, shouldn't I? I guess not yet. Anyway, hope you're having a good time in there. We'll get to see you again in 2.5 weeks. Boy, that seems a long way away!

::: posted by Kerry at 8:47 AM



friday, september 13 :::
 
+ Unhappy intestines +
Whew. Two days of some interesting gastrointestinal somersaults. Just thought I'd share. It ranges from burping, to cramping, and on to other delightful body complaints. Trying to stay positive, but this is getting pretty darned annoying.

::: posted by Kerry at 12:41 PM


 
+ Triple digits +
Today is Day 100. Wow. That doesn't seem right, but that's what all of the calculators and web sites say. 100 days. That's amazing.

::: posted by Kerry at 8:02 AM



thursday, september 12 :::
 
+ AFP Test +
Oh, and I decided to go ahead and get this. We might as well know, and I have enough faith in myself to know I can handle any undesired results. I'll go in sometime about 2 weeks from now.

::: posted by Kerry at 9:26 AM


 
+ 14 weeks +
Plugging along, aren't we? I'm wearing maternity pants again today. They're way too big, but I'm having trouble finding anything in between that's okay for work. I'm sick of dresses. I wear a lot of dresses in the summer, and by the end of summer, I need a reprieve. I could wear jeans every day... if they fit. Grrr. Anyway, I keep thinking I feel some kind of movement in there, but it's so indistinct it doesn't count. Last night was the first night I've slept in days without the ligament pain waking me up. Thank goodness for a break! Anyway, today is 14w0d! Only 26 to go!

::: posted by Kerry at 7:59 AM


 
+ September 11th +
I'd like to say that I didn't post yesterday out of some measure of respect for the anniversary of this awful day. But truth be told, Blogger was down and I couldn't. I actually did want to post to you, about this anniversary you will never fully understand. How can I explain to you someday, when you ask me about "Patriot's Day" and what it means? I'm not sure I'll do a very good job of that, but I know I'll try. I'll tell you about what we felt before that day. I'll explain to you what it was like as a teenager to stand at the base of those twin towers and look up. My own mommy asked me if I wanted to go up, but I told her no, I was afraid of heights. Sometimes in my dreams, I do take that elevator ride to the top and look out. We've seen so much footage of the view I can almost pretend I wasn't afraid that day. But then the dream turns to a nightmare, and those places in your brain that won't let you process supreme tragedy take over and block the images that start playing. I don't know that I can ever share or shield you from that kind of emotion. But as a nation, we are healing, and those directly affected still feel the effects of that tragic day and always will. For you, I dream of so much more, and I dream of a world where this is just history.

::: posted by Kerry at 7:42 AM



tuesday, september 10 :::
 
+ Another Day, Another Dr. +
Yesterday we had a visit with my "real" OB Dr. Daddy went with me and we both got to hear your heartbeat! I'd heard this was supposed to be an incredibly emotional thing, but it wasn't. I think we both thought that first ultrasound when we saw your little heart beating was a little more dramatic. Don't get me wrong, it was neat, and very comforting to hear it beating away fast and steady. The Dr. joked and said, "Sounds like a girl!" He really was kidding, and I never did find out what your heartbeat really is. But whatever it was, it probably fell in that window that old wives' tales say is a girl. Who knows?! We got some freebies (yippee!) and made another appt. for 10/9. This one will be another ultrasound to see you growing........ and see your gender! Hopefully. Please don't hide from us. I know I'm kind of shy, but there's no reason for you to be just yet. It's just you, me, daddy, and the Dr. so you can show us your stuff!

Now we just have to decide if we're going to go in early to get an AFP test. We haven't decided on that one yet. There was also a little bit of blood in my urine, but he didn't seem worried about it. Everything else was great. They looked at my blood and urine results from last time, and said my numbers are really high and healthy; and I should not have to take those iron pills. The nurse double-checked with my records and said if I want to take them like once a week, that's okay. But she doesn't see any reason for me to upset my tummy if not needed. That was good to know! The Dr. also wasn't worried about this frequent and uncomfortable urination thing I've been having for weeks and weeks. He said there was absolutely no sign of infection and it's probably just your growing little home in there pushing things around. Good to know!

He did tell me to expect to have to wear maternity clothes any day. His comment about my jeans (the last fitting pair) was: "In a month, you will definitely not be wearing those anymore." Great. :-)

::: posted by Kerry at 7:27 AM



monday, september 9 :::
 
+ Growing Pains +
I'm starting to have some ligament stretching, I think. Usually most noticeable when I wake up in the morning, it feels like a gentle muscle strain on either side of my lower belly, running in a line into my pelvis. It's kind of interesting, and moderately annoying. I definitely can't sleep directly on my tummy anymore; that hurts. And while my skin is finally clearing up (had a rough couple of weeks there), I'm getting daily horrible headaches. That's not so fun. It doesn't seem to correlate to my vitamins or iron pills, or even to food or hydration. Really, it doesn't correlate to anything at all, as far as I can tell. And Tylenol is practically useless. It just eventually goes away, hours and hours later.

Other than that :-) I'm feeling great. I'm definitely having that gas that mimics baby movements. I know better, but once in a while I pretend that it is you, and I lay really still to feel you better. Soon enough, it really will be your movements, and I can't wait for that. Today we're going to the Dr. again - it's been 5.5 weeks, so I'm really ready! I'm hoping to hear your heartbeat, and daddy's going with me so it will be great for both of us to know you're okay. Maybe I gained some weight too. I tried to eat some more (even healthy!) this weekend, since my appetite's back sometimes. I know the Dr. will start to get annoyed with me if my weight doesn't start moving eventually. Hang in there, and we'll see (or at least hear) you in a few hours!

::: posted by Kerry at 9:01 AM



friday, september 6 :::
 
+ Cramping +
Today is a cramping day. Greeeaaaat. I think my uterus doubled overnight. I kept waking up to mild muscle cramping, and felt the need to stretch every time. You know like kids stretch as their muscles grow and pull? To boot, the thought of wearing anything constricting at ALL today just made me grimace. Soooooo, I'm wearing my white maternity (drawstring, not panel) capris, and a 3/4 sleeve sky blue maternity knit shirt. The not-so-welcome result of this? I suddenly look pregnant - and someone patted my belly. Yes. It's happening and I'm only just entering my 4th month. Fabulous. I have almost 6 months of this still, don't I?

::: posted by Kerry at 11:44 AM



thursday, september 5 :::
 
+ Pumping Iron +
Do you need more iron in there? The tummy doctor visit was uneventful, but she wants me to take some prescription iron pills since she thinks you (and I) might not be getting enough. I do eat red meat, and fish, and other good iron sources, and I take my prenatals, but I guess it's not enough. Maybe that will help with some of my energy concerns, and/or the weird dizzy spells I have almost daily.

::: posted by Kerry at 2:24 PM


 
+ Today +
think "Happy Birthday":Happy second trimester to us, happy second trimester to us! Happy second trimester to u-us, happy second trimester to us! Yes, indeedy, Baby O. You have been in there for one full trimester already! I am so happy, I can't explain it. Realistically or unrealistically, I have just had today in my mind as THE day I was waiting for. Well, in the short term anyway. :-) There's another day in March I'm waiting for too! Today I see the tummy doctor, and hopefully everything's okay there. Your poor daddy has had to deal with some pretty major mood swings from me the last couple of days. I don't think he is liking those very much. I'm trying not to be so irritable, but not having much luck. Most days, though, I feel almost completely normal. I actually worried myself yesterday when I realized that I haven't really had many - or, almost any - symptoms in days. That or I have just gotten completely used to them. It's possible. Anyway, here we are! 12 weeks done, 26-ish to go!

::: posted by Kerry at 7:56 AM



wednesday, september 4 :::
 
+ Cleanin' House +
I spent a little time cleaning up some of the links over there. I found a journal today for a baby due just after you! It'll be interesting to follow along on her journey and compare notes. Every pregnancy is different, I know that. But it still helps to see where others are at! Today is one of those I-don't-really-feel-pregnant days. My jeans fit okay, I'm not hungry or nauseous, I feel like I have pretty normal energy, etc. Tomorrow we see the tummy doctor, and we'll make sure that you're getting all the nutrients you need, despite my Celiac. I'm hopeful that everything's okay on that front. Then next Monday it's back to the baby doctor to hopefully hear your heartbeat. Today's the end of the first trimester! We made it! Keep safe and healthy in there. I think about you nearly every second.

::: posted by Kerry at 10:10 AM



tuesday, september 3 :::
 
+ 2 days, hahaha +
Okay, that doesn't exactly sound like the Count on Sesame Street, but you get the idea. Technically, in one day and 15 hours the first trimester will be history. That means you and I will be one big step closer to being together. I spent much of the weekend, particularly yesterday watching baby stories on multiple cable TV channels. I read some books to make sure I'm doing okay since I'm still not gaining weight. I was also a little sick on Friday, and pretty sick Sunday night from some food I shouldn't have eaten, which had me worrying about you. Your daddy asked me if it could be hurting you, which worried me. But I don't think it could. I rested as much as possible, and cleaned when my bursts of energy struck. Those seem to be happening more often, even though I have been sick. I seem to need a little less sleep, too. My body doesn't turn off right at 9:00 anymore. I can usually push it a little later. Anyway, there's our update. Ready to go into that fourth month, Baby O? Bring it on!

::: posted by Kerry at 9:37 AM