OK. . .wow! Where did this belly come from? Practically overnight my belly grew to pregnant proportions. Christmas day, I had a belly and I felt pregnant for one of the first times. I felt pregnant and I looked pregnant. . .and my family was there to view. What a great Christmas gift for Rich and I.
Over the past few days I have noticed by stomach more, but then I have also noticed it "shrink" a bit too. I think the baby is in different positions and based on where he/she is "floating" determines how big I feel. Just today I was pushing around on my abdomen and noticed a section that was much more firm to the touch (baby perhaps?). After a bit more pushing, the firmness was gone. I think he/she changed position on me. At least I am letting smudge know that I am out here and ready to feel him/her kick back.
The holidays have been nice and relaxing. It has been good to be with family and to spend more time in a relaxed state. Its given Rich and I more time to plan, dream, and prepare for our new arrival that is only 6 months away. Life is good.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Heart Beat!
Yesterday we heard the baby's heart beat for the first time!
We arrived at the doctor's office and sat in a large room full of women in various states of pregnancy. Most of the women had their "man" in tow. We all took turns inspecting our shoes and generally not making eye contact with anyone - afraid to get caught staring. The reception room was noticeably devoid of any men's magazines and was of the style that said chic and functional at the same time. After 20 minutes we were called into the exam room where Lisa had her blood pressure and weight recorded. Then we settled in for the doctor to arrive. There were at least a dozen rooms - some with screaming children behind them - where doctors were doing their work, so our wait took close to another 20-25 minutes.
The doctor entered with his notebook size laptop computer and sat down. He spoke more to the computer while reviewing Lisa's file than he did to us. Instantly, I didn't like him - and then he spoke. He rather spoke down to us in a distant I-don't-care-if-you-listen-but-I-am-going-to-say-it-anyway tone of voice about not wanting an amniocentesis. Then I was sure of it - I didn't like this guy; there was such a complete lack of warm I thought we were outside. This guy is not going to deliver Smudge.
The doctor - although lacking any real bedside manner or even a personality - found Smudge in, well, a heart beat, and there was a fast whooshing sound coming through the monitor, 150 beats per minute. My google research this moring says that the Old Wives tale of a high heart beat is a sign of a girl. The fact from the myth bears no weight to this at all (sorry, all you old wives).
When we left the office Lisa and I both agreed that the doctor, and the office as a whole, was not worthy of our time. Ugh - more doctor shopping.
Although the last four month have been quiet for us there is noise - beautiful noise - to be heard!
We arrived at the doctor's office and sat in a large room full of women in various states of pregnancy. Most of the women had their "man" in tow. We all took turns inspecting our shoes and generally not making eye contact with anyone - afraid to get caught staring. The reception room was noticeably devoid of any men's magazines and was of the style that said chic and functional at the same time. After 20 minutes we were called into the exam room where Lisa had her blood pressure and weight recorded. Then we settled in for the doctor to arrive. There were at least a dozen rooms - some with screaming children behind them - where doctors were doing their work, so our wait took close to another 20-25 minutes.
The doctor entered with his notebook size laptop computer and sat down. He spoke more to the computer while reviewing Lisa's file than he did to us. Instantly, I didn't like him - and then he spoke. He rather spoke down to us in a distant I-don't-care-if-you-listen-but-I-am-going-to-say-it-anyway tone of voice about not wanting an amniocentesis. Then I was sure of it - I didn't like this guy; there was such a complete lack of warm I thought we were outside. This guy is not going to deliver Smudge.
The doctor - although lacking any real bedside manner or even a personality - found Smudge in, well, a heart beat, and there was a fast whooshing sound coming through the monitor, 150 beats per minute. My google research this moring says that the Old Wives tale of a high heart beat is a sign of a girl. The fact from the myth bears no weight to this at all (sorry, all you old wives).
When we left the office Lisa and I both agreed that the doctor, and the office as a whole, was not worthy of our time. Ugh - more doctor shopping.
Although the last four month have been quiet for us there is noise - beautiful noise - to be heard!
Monday, December 18, 2006
I'm not complaining. . . but
I am really not complaining. I know I have so much to be thankful for with such a smooth first trimester, but I really expected my pregnancy to be a bit different. I am now four months pregnant. . . 16 weeks to be exact. But I almost feel as if this pregnancy really doesn't exist. OK, yes, I know. I have been more tired as of late. I find myself going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. And my belly has gotten a little bloated. But I guess I kind of expected a bit more drama in my first trimester. Again, I am not complaining. Its just that all of my expectations of what pregnancy "should be" has not really delivered (no pun intended!). I thought I'd be sporting a noticeable belly by now. I thought I would get an "owners manual" from the doctor and a well-scripted pregnancy plan explaining all of the appointments I would need to make in the upcoming months. I thought I'd have more food cravings. I thought I'd have more morning sickness. I just assumed that being pregnant was going to be more of an event than what it really has been so far. But I guess it is hard to make "an event" stretch out for nine months and that sometimes, the biggest changes in my body are unnoticeable in my day-to-day life.
I am reading that "smudge" is growing by leaps and bounds now. That he/she has fingers and toes, that the fingerprints are already created, that he/she can sense bright lights, and hear my voice. It is all fascinating stuff, but it is all things I can not see nor directly feel. And so I feel a bit detached from the experience.
Tomorrow I have my second doctor's appointment. . . and maybe that is part of it. . . I have not been going to the doctor's on a monthly basis. Heck, they did not even want to see me until the 8th week and even then I felt as if I got the cold shoulder. But besides that, at the doctor's appointment tomorrow I hope that we will hear the heartbeat. That will help jolt me back in to reality. I hope the doctor will ease my fears, confirm that yes, things are going as planned and that the second trimester will be full of "events" to watch and record.
I know I have been blessed with a relatively easy first trimester. In the back of my mind I think that it will all come back to me at month 9 when I experience a really cruel and hard labor. A sort of revenge by the pregnancy gods. And no, I do not want that. Its just that in the world of pregnancy, we are never told that sometimes things go easy, that you may not "look" pregnant until the 6th or 7th month, and that in the day-to-day, sometimes, being pregnant (on the outside) is a non-event.
I am reading that "smudge" is growing by leaps and bounds now. That he/she has fingers and toes, that the fingerprints are already created, that he/she can sense bright lights, and hear my voice. It is all fascinating stuff, but it is all things I can not see nor directly feel. And so I feel a bit detached from the experience.
Tomorrow I have my second doctor's appointment. . . and maybe that is part of it. . . I have not been going to the doctor's on a monthly basis. Heck, they did not even want to see me until the 8th week and even then I felt as if I got the cold shoulder. But besides that, at the doctor's appointment tomorrow I hope that we will hear the heartbeat. That will help jolt me back in to reality. I hope the doctor will ease my fears, confirm that yes, things are going as planned and that the second trimester will be full of "events" to watch and record.
I know I have been blessed with a relatively easy first trimester. In the back of my mind I think that it will all come back to me at month 9 when I experience a really cruel and hard labor. A sort of revenge by the pregnancy gods. And no, I do not want that. Its just that in the world of pregnancy, we are never told that sometimes things go easy, that you may not "look" pregnant until the 6th or 7th month, and that in the day-to-day, sometimes, being pregnant (on the outside) is a non-event.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Hold The Onions
This is a first - and therefore, probably pregnancy related...
Last night at o'dark thirty Lisa rises out of bed, stands up, turns to me (sound asleep) and says, "I am not getting you onions," and returns to bed.
It's okay, Lisa, I don't like onions anyway.
Last night at o'dark thirty Lisa rises out of bed, stands up, turns to me (sound asleep) and says, "I am not getting you onions," and returns to bed.
It's okay, Lisa, I don't like onions anyway.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Going Public
We have hit the fourteen weeks mark. . . over three months pregnant. I now feel that we are at a stage where it is ok to share our news and go public with our announcement that we are expecting. And I have to admit, it has been kind of fun. I first told Travis (my boss) a few weeks ago. I wanted to make sure that as I told people at work, Travis heard the news from me first rather than hearing it thru the grapevine. I was a little nervous sharing the news. Was he going to go straight to work related issues? Read me the Cornell policy about maternity leave? Ask me all kinds of questions that I did not know the answer to? But I was anxious for no reason. He was thrilled. His first reaction was to stand up, walk over to me and give me a hug. "I love kids!" he said.
And the general reaction from people that I have told has been sheer joy. Its actually fun to share the news and watch the reactions, get the hugs and the way to gos! This week I am attending one of my all time favorite professional development conferences, the Association of Fraternity Advisors conference. Having been to the conference for so many years, I have really developed some good friendships with other professionals. As I tell my friends and get into conversations with them about pregnancy, parenthood, children, and life, I am getting more and more excited for all that is to come. It is wonderful to hear stories, ask the questions, and share in our excitement.
And as I tell people, the fact that I am pregnant is becoming more and more real to me too. I do not really "show" yet and as mentioned before my first three months have been rather uneventful, so I have not yet truly felt pregnant. But it is all starting to change now. I have a feeling the second trimester is going to be fun.
And the general reaction from people that I have told has been sheer joy. Its actually fun to share the news and watch the reactions, get the hugs and the way to gos! This week I am attending one of my all time favorite professional development conferences, the Association of Fraternity Advisors conference. Having been to the conference for so many years, I have really developed some good friendships with other professionals. As I tell my friends and get into conversations with them about pregnancy, parenthood, children, and life, I am getting more and more excited for all that is to come. It is wonderful to hear stories, ask the questions, and share in our excitement.
And as I tell people, the fact that I am pregnant is becoming more and more real to me too. I do not really "show" yet and as mentioned before my first three months have been rather uneventful, so I have not yet truly felt pregnant. But it is all starting to change now. I have a feeling the second trimester is going to be fun.
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