Pop! goes the weasel

Okay, I think I've "popped," as they say. Depending on what I'm wearing, I think now you can tell there's a baby in there, and that I haven't just let myself go. ;) We've been taking weekly pictures for our Belly Book. But here's one taken @ 17 weeks, 3 days in an outfit that made Brett comment, "wow. You look pregnant." when he first saw me.

Stay tuned for the bump watch...

The Big US

That's what it's called online...the Big US is the Big ultrasound (or sonogram). This special appointment is designed for a professional to analyze the baby's organ development, but the big bonus is they can also usually tell you the baby's gender. I am SO excited!!! Being the planner that I am, I prefer to know ahead of time. Brett said he could "go either way" re: finding out the gender. Well good...b/c we're going my way (lol!) and finding out!

Today I scheduled our Big US for August 7. whoo hoo! I can't wait!!! We've starting the name game conversation (and already have disagreement- ha ha!). However, we're thinking we will not be publicizing our choices. Many of our friends who are either pregnant or already parents, have advised us not to share our name considerations. Apparently people have many opinions about names...and willingly share their thoughts, whether they like your choice or not. We'll see...

16 weeks

Had another doctor's appointment today. I Love going to the doctor! It's not as if the appointments are super exciting or anything...they are a total of about 7 minutes long and include peeing in a cup, having my blood pressure taken, and hearing the heartbeat. That is my favorite part and why I love going to the doctor! At this point, I have not been able to feel the baby move, so my only true indication that all is well is to hear that "whowh whowh whowh" sound of the doppler indicating detection of Ziggy's heartbeat. It's Awesome!!! (btw, we've been calling the little bean Ziggy b/c at one time I said to Brett, "Do not stress me out! I could be growing a zygote right now!" Although this is just a fleeting stage in gestational development, the term stuck with Brett and he began calling the baby Ziggy.) :)

Hearing the heartbeat

Brett said that it really felt "real" to him at our first prenatal appointment when he saw the baby and the heartbeat. But it has been 4 weeks since then and Brett admits that he needs a constant reminder that we're having a baby to realize it. He said, "we need one of those ultrasound machines at home." Okay, Tom Cruise! But honestly, I know how he feels. We haven't really told anyone and are so cautious because we feel as if it's not really real yet.

You'd think with my nausea, constant fatigue, and hunger that it would be more real to me. But even as my pants are snug, I am thinking it's just bloat and water weight. However, today we heard the heartbeat. It sounded just like it does on tv! :) A very fast, fluid surrounding sound. The doctor reported that it was in the 160's and sounded very good. That was about it...a really quick appointment, but an amazing moment nonetheless!

Bring on the second trimester...and the increased energy, and the decreased nausea, and the "fun" part of pregnancy...

Happy Father's Day

We went to Florida to visit my parents this weekend and this is how we told them they were going to grandparents...and this time to a baby without fur! :) Meemaw (Grandma Kirk) got it right away...but I think Meepaw thought we were getting a new puppy.
Happy Father's Day...just think, this will have a whole new meaning to Brett next year!

Mommy-Mobile

As we are looking ahead to our future family needs, we noted that we really need a new car...so we got a mini-van. Just kidding! Seriously, we have been missing the Jeep since it got totalled almost 2 years ago. We've been putting Sandy in the trunk of the Lexus when we need to take her places. She looks so cute with her little head peeking through the ski-pass-thru. She seems to like it...I mean, it's just like a bed back there. But we know she misses sticking her head out the window and feeling the wind.

Anyway, so Brett had been saying, "Okay, well when we get pregnant, we'll get a new car." Jeesh! Is that what it takes around here to step up your wheels? I mean really...all Brett had to do to get a new car was to get hit by some dude who didn't stop at an intersection and total his Jeep. Man, and I have to be breeding before I can get rid of my Tiburon?! That's rough!

We began looking in May and on Memorial Day weekend were really just continuing our research. But lo and behold, those "Memorial Day sales gimmicks" were just too irresistible. We wound of getting a great deal on a Pontiac Torrent and now have a new Mommy-Mobile.

Jumping Jelly Belly Bean

We had our first prenatal appointment today. It was funny and exciting. First we go to check in and the receptionist is explaining our healthcare costs. She says, "You'll owe $260 today." (meaning that was the co-pay for all of our prenatal care) Brett exclaims, "Whoa! How many visits will we have?!" She replies, "about 20" and Brett says, "That's expensive!" She is now laughing and says, "Today's charge covers it all." Brett says, "Oh, that's not bad then...I thought you were going to say you were going to charge us that much each time we came here. I was thinking, 'man, kids really are expensive!' " Both the patient in the waiting room and the receptionist were thoroughly amused at the new expectant dad. :)

We had our first ultrasound and saw this little tiny bean having a good ole' time, bouncing around it's new little home. The doctor says, "See that little guy jumping around? That's your baby. See that flicker of light? That's the heartbeat." What an amazing sight!!!

I sat there grinning like a fool the whole time. In fact, the doctor said, "You look so happy...like you are just going to pop!" Brett and I were both so stunned, we didn't ask a single question- not even "when are we due?"

The "BFP"

Online it's referred to as the "BFP" the Big Fat Positive...

April 17: I couldn't wait and took a pregnancy test, even though it was super early. When the faint line indicating "positive" appeared, I thought I must be imagining it because I wanted so much for it to be true. So I threw it away and didn't say anything to Brett. However, the whole day I kept thinking, "could I be???"

April 18: I took another test in the morning and again saw a faint line. Hmm...but again, I just tossed it and went to work. When I got home I decided to take another because I had to discuss this with Brett. I saw another faint line and then decided to take a digital test. I was shaking when I took the first test and all it said was "Error!" DOH! I tested with a second digital and it said "Pregnant" almost immediately. I was So excited! I ran downstairs and carefully wrapped the stick (which was covered and clean!) and told Brett I had a present for him. He's used to me doing silly things like that so I think he was expecting another candy bar or car wash mitt like I had given him the previous week. He opened the box, looked at the stick and said, "REALLY?" with this awesome smile on his face.

It still hadn't quite sunk in, so I went on to take another 6 tests...one each day; a total of 10. I'd leave them on the sink each morning for Brett and we watched as each day it seemed the line got darker. Brett said, "Yup, I think you're getting more pregnant by the day!" :p