Books we're reading

I'm still not overwhelmed with baby advise, so bring it on!

Some of the best advice we've received has come in the form of books people have recommended we read.

Here are a few such books:



I've read Babywise twice and Hubs is getting ready to start it. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child was given to us by Amy. She calls it her baby "bible!"

My goal is not to go into this with an expectation of how the baby will act, sleep, etc. Despite my Type A personality, I'm realistic in knowing that every baby is different and if I have certain expectations, I'm certain to be frustrated and disappointed.

Rather, my goal is to learn what I can about how babies function. I hope that understanding this will help guide us to better provide for Bubs. Whether that be restful sleep, a satisfying meal (of boobie milk, hopefully), or physical activity, I want to know how babies work so I can adjust to help Bubs.

Speaking of boobie milk, I have every intention of nursing. For every good reason you can imagine, I want to do this for Bubs. Right now, though, the thought of breast milk makes me gag. Badly.

When BFF and I were walking through Babies'R'Us a few weekends ago and we got to the breast pumps, she was explaining the different contraptions to me and I started gagging. I don't think it's gross at all. I think it's wonderful. For some reason, though, my brain is stronly connected to my stomach and thinking about it makes me want to puke. Blah.

Needless to say, I hope that feeling passes!!

Speaking of milk in general, I had my first glass of milk in weeks with breakfast on Easter. I didn't gag all day and it tasted SO GOOD! I pushed it, though, and enjoyed a bowl of cereal yesterday morning along with a tall glass of milk. Sure 'nough, within about an hour, my gagging was in full swing. Yuck.

Apparently my counsin Sarah (who, besides my friend Karl, is the only person I know that drinks more milk than me) also experienced this problem during pregnancy. And, it IS a problem. Just b/c it makes me gag doesn't keep me from craving it. I Love milk. Prior to pregnancy, I drank 1-2 gallons/week. I miss it :(

I'm hoping that the gagging subsides in the last trimster (like it did for Sarah) so I can start enjoying it again.

If not, thats OK too. I'm drinking all kinds of water and sugar free/calorie free Crystal Light lemonade (very watered down- just enough to give it flavor).

Staying hydrated is not a problem for me. I drink. All. the time.

Don't forget- the u/s is on Thursday! Oh man, I can't wait to see Bubs again. So cute.

Until then, XOXO...

The one about swelling

Over the past week, I've had some real problems with my feet swelling.

I'm drinking 100+ oz of water while at work, but the shoes I've been wearing aren't pregnancy friendly. Today, I wore tennis shoes to work and my feet didn't swell (my ankles did, but the feet didn't).

Today, my friend Jill gave me knee high hospital grade compression stockings.

I put them on right when I got home from work and they're fabulous!

Can you tell that my L ankle is much more swollen than the right? There is something wrong with my L foot. While I was training for my first 5K, my L foot fell asleep every time I ran. It was totally, completely asleep. Dead weight.

Knowing that, it's not surprising that the L foot now swells more than the R.

I didn't realize how much sodium is in everything. It's ridiculous. Needless to say, I'm coming up with a game plan for how to eat better and avoid sodium as much as I can.

I'm also walking every 45 mins at work, keeping my feet elevated when possible, and wearing better fitting shoes.

Anytime there's swelling, there is also concern about blood pressure. Well, not with me. My BP is still good (130/80) (thank you Magnesium).

Tomorrow I'll post pics of the new blanket Bubs received from Shennie (it is SOOOOO soft) and another belly shot (pinky promise I'll post it).

Until then, XOXO...

Bubs gets a gift!

Look what Shennie made for Bubs! How beautiful is this blanket? Bubs is going to love it!

We came home later than usual tonight (we had dinner plans with friends) and there was a package sitting on the porch.

Bubs loves getting packages, especially when they contain homemade gifts :)

Thank you Aunt Sher!!

In other news, I am uncomfortably stuffed right now. I ate a baked potato for dinner, drank 3 glasses of lemonade and had 1/2 of a small piece of chocolate cake. And I.AM.FULL.

I'm guessing Bubs must be making its way north for the spring because I feel very full for having eaten so little food (although, it was all carbacious food).

Speaking of Bubs, at 15 weeks, Bubs was likened to a Kit Kat bar by one of the books we're reading. Ummmm, kit kat bar. YUM.

Now, at 16 weeks, Bubs is the size of a mascara tube. Or an avocado, depending on which book you read. I used to like knowing which food Bubs looked like, but then I found myself wanting to eat that particular food and I got freaked out. So now I prefer to know which non-edible item Bubs most resembles :)

Can't wait for the appt on Friday. Just hearing the heartbeat again will be a big deal for us.

Hubs can't make the appt, he has patients scheduled. Mom is coming, though. I'm pretty sure Dr. T would do an ultrasound with my mom there (they're friends), but I'm going to decline since Hubs won't be there, too. We'll just wait patiently until our 20 week ultrasound which should be around April 9th.

Until then, XOXO...

New symptoms

Last week we traveled to New Orleans for work and had a great time. The city, full of culture and delicious food, treated us very well and we're so thankful for the opportunity to visit.

It also was the time when I experienced the most pregnancy symptoms. The great shift and expansion project (as my BFF calls it) has started and on more than one occasion, I was certain I had burst my placenta. The first time it happened was on the plane ride heading South. I had to shove my backpack under the seat in front of me and I leaned down to position the backpack, squished everything inside me and felt a very painful pinch. I got lightheaded just for a minute and realized I cannot do that again. It hurt. A lot.

The rest of the trip, my awareness of this internal phemonenon had me paranoid about actually popping the placenta, so I really took it easy. Until I had to tie my tennis shoes one morning. Again, not giving it much thought, I bent right over (I was seated) to tie the shoe and same thing. Sharp, pinching pain. Luckily I had a much quicker response this time so it didn't hurt nearly as badly.

Needless to say, I now have a "no bending" rule.

The other symptom I'm experiencing is headaches. In real life (prior to pregnancy), I rarely experienced headaches. Maybe once or twice a year I'd get one.

Now, they are frequent (almost daily) and uncomfortable. I'm really trying to stay hydrated since I know that most headaches are caused by dehydration. When you're pregnant, your body is creating more blood (by the time you deliver, you have 40% more blood circulating in your body...thats insane!) and that can more easily lead to headaches if you don't take extra care to stay hydrated. Without more water, you have more blood rushing through the same sized veins and that can quickly lead to headaches (and swelling). My understanding is that when you're well hydrated, your veins expand which allow the same amount of blood to rush through a larger area (thus no pounding and throbbing that usually can accompany a headache).

While traveling, staying hydrated is always a challenge (mostly for me because I refuse to spend $4 on a bottle of water in the hotel room and the 4 block one-way trips to CVS at the end of the day weren't helping the swelling in my ankles). I also didn't want to drink too much water before the plane flights since they were relatively short rides and often times during short trips, the captain doesn't turn off the seat belt sign and then you're trapped in a seat without access to a bathroom.

I needed to drink more water to help with the symptoms, but I also had to plan the water intake carefully because I wasn't always near a restroom. It was a vicious cycle ;)

I'm now 15 weeks. I guess I should start feeling the baby move sometime in the next month or so. From what I've read, the baby also makes it's way out of the pelvic area and more into the abdomen during the next few weeks, which is OK with me because I have a lot more room in my stomach than I do in my pelvic area! I've prepared my stomach well over the past few years and trust me, there's plenty of room in there ;)

I know people will say, "be careful what you wish for" when I say this, but I cannot wait to feel the baby move. I realize that as the baby grows, the random internal movements may get annoying and even uncomfortable, but for a first time mommy, it's exciting waiting for that time when you KNOW your baby is moving. I'm sure all of the other mommies out there remember that feeling. I can't wait to experience it.

This should be a pretty busy week at work, but hopefully I'll keep up with blogging.

Oh, and one of my next few posts will likely be about registering and I'm really interested in any and all advice about where to register, what to register for, what to stay away from, etc. For example, do we need a diaper genie? What about suggestions on how to set up a separate diaper changing area since the nursery is upstairs and I don't see myself running upstairs every few hours to change a diaper. Are diaper caddys worth it? They seem too small to be able to keep well stocked. Almost seems like keeping everything in a milk crate shoved under the coffee table is more efficient (although certainly not more attractive I realize).

So if you have some thoughts and tips, BRING IT ON! I'm all ears.

Until then, XOXO...