No Tears

Well, at least from me--sadly I can't say the same for Abby.

Today we went for her 4 month check up and once again it was shot fest. I have to remind myself and Abby that all these shots are for her own good and not just to cause her pain. I know she doesn't understand, but it makes me feel better to tell her. I must say that we are lucky to get a good nurse to administer the shots...she is quick, accurate, sympathetic and knows where the shot goes (I speak from experience, she gave me my flu shot a few months ago and I will always ask for her--I vote to put her on our new friends list...guess I need to get her name!).

Our time with Dr. Moscovic went well--like always he took is time with us, asking about our holiday and how Abby has been doing. He took the time to pull up Abby's visit to urgent care and went over that with us, then let us ask as many questions as we wanted and replied in paragraphs rather than brief, snippy answers. He gave us options on how to treat a few issues and reasons behind his answers. Each time we visit him I am more and more pleased with our decision. Thanks Dr. Moscovic!!

So here is the 4 month doctor's report: She is up to 13 pounds 6.5 ounces (50%) 24.5 inches (50%) and head measures 41 cm (50%). Her height and weight have leveled out to average since her last visit and now she is your average girl. We don't mind that at this point!

To end this post, I give you some of her 3 month photos with Peanut on 12.20.09:

Visit with Santa

One of the best things about having a child is reconnecting with the magic of Christmas. I can't tell you the last time I went to see Santa or the joy that the visit brought me--seriously, it has been that long. All that changed last week when we took Abby for her first visit with Santa.

I was a little scared because I wasn't sure how it would go. You know how you always see the babies crying on Santa's lap out of fear? I thought there was a good chance that that would be Abby--I assumed the beard would scare her. But, the mall was 45 minutes from the house so Abby took a nap on the way there and then was all smiles from the moment she saw Gramps and Aunt Wendy (actually she stared at Wendy for awhile trying to figure her out but then it turned to more smiles). Michael and I quickly put her dress on and took her to see Santa while Gramps caught it on the video camera.

Abby went to Santa without a single complaint. Actually, I think she enjoyed her time and conversation with him. Santa told her all about leaving out some Chocolate Chip cookies and a big glass of milk for him to snack on while filling her stocking and she just sat and listened with a smile on her face. Then, Santa talked to Michael and I for a bit. I was amazed with the twinkle in his eye, joy in his words and love in his heart. Santa truly made this a memory for a lifetime and not just another picture.

So, without further adieu, here is a picture of Santa and Abby:

Nonstress Test Results.....

Well..........


Snack time worked! We just got home from our appointment and NST and Peanut is still looking good. Stubborn, but good.

I am dilated just a "fingertip", cervix is softer, baby is still high. Lori, the midwife, suggested that I lay on my right side to get her to turn and hopefully drop a little more, as well as a few other suggestions for getting things started on their own. All in all, she felt that we weren't ready just yet and that it would be best to give it a few more day. So our options were to be induced on Monday or Thursday of next week (though she hesitated on the Thursday option because the doctors might not agree on waiting that long). I told her that I really wanted to avoid induction because I did not want to do 18-23 hours of work then have to have a c-section because things just weren't happening...if I'm not ready, I'm not ready. She agreed (and told us that at the last practice she worked at they did not start talking induction until one reached 42 weeks, which for us would be the following Sunday) and checked the schedule to see what she could do.

SO---we put in for next Thursday. I will call tomorrow to check with the hospital to see if we were able to get that day, if not Lori will see what she can do. That means that we would check into the hospital at 8 p.m. Wednesday night for the cervix-softening gel to be administered and pitocin started on Thursday morning. Which means, this time next week I will be in labor/a new mom (if things don't happen on their own before then!)!!!! We will have another US on Monday (11:30 a.m.) to make sure all is STILL well and that she can handle her mommy-condo until Thursday--or perhaps she will make the move on her own.

Keep your fingers crossed and positive thoughts coming our way!!

p.s. I would like to add Lori, the mid-wife, to our list of new friends that we have met while venturing through Pregnancy Land.

Decisions Have Been Made

Yes, we decided on Nursery fabric!! It has been purchased and washed so there is no turning back now! I know that I am crazy for wanting to sew my own stuff, but we could not find anything in the stores that we liked. I figured that it can't be so bad...I only have to make the crib skirt, bumper and widow treatment (I am thinking roman shade at this point, but we will see where that leads). So, with a little planning and a little work each week I think I can get it all done before Peanut gets here. It will also help that MJ's classes are starting this week. He will have 2 night classes (time to sew) and home work (more time to sew) to do, so I SHOULD be able to get it all done...wish me luck!

Here is a sample of the fabric:

We also picked up the previously mentioned rocking chair (here and here) on Craig's List a few weeks ago--thank heaven for deals! Needless to say, I had to give a little when it came to the rocker. As usually, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted: An upholstered chair with a square back and arms that ROCKS--not a glider. Let me tell you that they DO NOT EXIST. I found the chair I loved and wanted, but only if it could be made into a rocker. So, hopeful Keliann e-mailed the maker and asked if they could put the rocker base that they make for another chair on the chair that I wanted, scratch that--NEEDED, and got a big, fat "NO" for an answer.

Now, I know that some of you are thinking that I am weird for wanting a true rocker over a glider--I get that. BUT, there is such a different feel between the two that I am willing to do the extra work in order to ROCK and not glide. Call me crazy...

So that left us with a close second: the Dream Rocker from Pottery Barn Kids. It is nice, I can't complain (but I really wanted the other chair to rock...). Like I said, we got a real deal on it by buying it second hand (which also makes it a "green" purchase) from the nicest couple in Holly--The Millers. They purchased the chair during their last pregnancy, which turned out to be a set of twins!! She laughed and said that she never got to use it much since they already had 2 girls and then added 2 more instead of just one. I would like to add them to our "new friends" list now that I think of it, but anyway...back to the chair. It came with a denim slip cover, which will not work in the above color scheme, so we have been exploring our options. Actually, I've got a funny story about that....

Another peek at Peanut!

We went to get another ultra sound today!! Peanut was awake, kicking and moving around. What a sight to see. Peanut is weighing in at 9 o.z. and measuring 18+ weeks instead of 19 weeks 2 days, so the doctor said our due date is August 9th (instead of the 4th). That buys us a few more days to get things done :) All of Peanut's measurements are normal and everything looks good! Mom and Dad are so happy to hear that!! We took some video, but I will have to get it uploaded this weekend. For now, here are some pics:

Profile of Peanut

See the nose, mouth, and hand?

Peanut's first High-five!

Peanut's Feet

We caught Peanut curling his/her little toes in this one

The ultra sound tech. (Kelly) had a hard time getting Peanut to uncross his/her legs even though Peanut was kicking like mad. In the end she felt she knew what gender Peanut is.....but you will have to wait until this weekend to find out! I have to work tonight, all day tomorrow and tomorrow night and I want to be able to enjoy the big news. So, we had Kelly write it down and put it in a sealed envelope for us to open Friday night! We plan to go to dinner, open the envelope then do some shopping! Will it be for Pink or Blue? Only Kelly knows!

Our New Friend Holly

Living with a secret this big, but yet so little, was exciting and hard. To make keeping the secrete easier we had to avoid our friends. They’re the deactivate type: they would notice if I didn’t have a drink or went home early. Added with the issue of food (the discussion of some foods repulsed me and heaven forbid someone order the fish or Mac’n Cheese, or pizza, or a burger, among other things and I vomit from the smell)—it was just easier to “be busy” when friends called. Michael and I wanted to wait until our first real doctor appointment (the first visit in November with the Midwife did not count; it was just a really expensive pee-on-a-stick visit with a “yup, your pregnant. See you in six weeks.”) to tell anyone, but decided that we would tell our parents at Christmas since my mom was coming home from Virginia.

So, up to Bronner’s we went. We decided to have Christmas ornaments made with “Grandma and Grandpa 2009…” on them. A nice young lady by the name of Holly waited on us at the counter. We picked out the large, red, shiny bulbs with a smile. Then, Holly asked us what we would like to have written on them and Michael and I looked at each other, wide-eyed and smiling. “Grandma and Grandpa 2009…” said Michael; I gave a nervous giggle and started to cry. Holly looked at me kind of confused. Michael told her that we were pregnant and she was the first person we told! She seemed excited for us, and yes a bit shocked. So weird, for the next four weeks the only people in the entire world that knew we were pregnant were Michael and I and our new friend Holly! Little does Holly know that we will always remember her!
Our Christmas gifts to our parents were a huge hit! My parents are first time Grand Parents, this will make number six for Michael’s parents, but I think they are all VERY excited!