A Month of Discovery...

Wow!  A whole month since I updated my blog!  Sorry I left you hanging. ;)

So here's the last month in a nutshell...

• Blood Pressure is evening out and is 'text book' 95% of the time.  I'm getting there and I feel great.
• Still losing weight.  I don't mean to rub that in.  I'm actually slightly concerned.  I just don't have the appetite I used to.  But baby is on track!
• Fourth of July was nice and relaxing.  That Saturday we went to our BFF's for a BBQ and had a great time.  Got to compare baby bumps with my friend Keri.
• Went to a Yankee game and saw Derek Jeter get his 2,998th hit (he hit #3000 2 days later).
• The moment you've all been waiting for.... IT'S A BOY!!!  I'm still in shock how many people (who claim to never be wrong) were wrong.
• Peter started working on the nursery.  I found a few things on Ebay for this little guy's room.  I can't wait to set it up!
• We decided on a name!  Changed our minds from Collin.  My mother had a dream the night before the ultrasound that it was a boy (she was one of the many that swore it was a girl) and we're 98% sure we're using the name from her dream.  I'll update when we're 100% sure.
• Last weekend we went up to Sawmill Station for some R&R and well... to burn the remnants of the closet Peter demolished from the baby's room.
• We started the registry last week and my mom, sister and I finished it this week.
• My mommy got me a Pandora bracelet for my birthday with a 3 charms.  One of them is a baby carriage.  I love it!
• I'm feeling more and more little kicks everyday!  It's the most amazing thing.  Peter just felt it for the first time last night!

Here are some pictures.  Enjoy...

Keri and I.  19 and 20 weeks respectively.

Our view at the game.

Our little boy kissing his placenta. ;)

At 20 weeks, 5 days he weighed 13 oz and all his measurements were right on track!

His heartbeat was a strong 154 bpm that day.

Oreo announcing his little brother to friends, family and Facebook!

(Doesn't he look so happy??)

Peter removed the closet that a previous owner added.

Yup, room is already blue!

Peter overseeing the "demolition debris fire".

And just because I love this guy... my nephew Joey on Father's Day.

Bummer...

So no floating in the pool all summer like I hoped for.  All I need to do is watch my diet and I should be able to control my high blood pressure.  Oh well, the pool will have to wait until the weekends for me. =(

In other news...
This week will be the first full week of maternity clothes.  No more squeezing my bump into my pre-pregnancy pants.  This baby needs to breathe. ;-)

Father's Day is this weekend and by Sunday night I should be "familied out".  Saturday its my family at our house and Sunday we're going to Peter's parent's house.  Of course now his mom is worried about her menu and the salt content.  I'll just have to make sure my breakfast and lunch are bland and I'll just eat smaller portions at her house.  I don't want anyone to change anything for me.  Besides, I'd rather sink my teeth into a bratwurst instead of a lettuce leaf.

High Risk and a Pin Cushion...

I had my 16 week appointment yesterday and I now have an appointment with a High Risk OB Tuesday because of high blood pressure.

The nurse took it and said it was high. So when the doc came in I told her it’s probably nerves and not to mention I have no idea what’s going on inside. She told me that I’d have to see a High Risk OB and do a 24 hour urine collection. Fun! So I asked her to take it again and she said if after 10 minutes laying on my side it’s lower, I won’t have to do the pee collection but I’d still have to see the specialist. So after 10 minutes of staring at a poster about the menstrual cycle and my parts, the nurse took it again and it was lower. Whew!

Doc listened to Turkey's heartbeat on the doppler but it was only for a few seconds.  What I did hear was strong.  A big sigh of relief!

Then the nurse tried to take blood for the second trimester screening and she couldn’t find a vein. I was starting to feel like the pain in the ass patient… and a pin cushion.  Finally she called in another nurse and she was able to find a vein and take my blood in one shot.

I made the big ultrasound appointment! Since my Mom, Step-Dad, and Peter's Mom want to be there, I made it at a Perinatal testing place. My doc recommended it because the room in our office is small and the monitor’s in this place are bigger.  July 8th can't come soon enough... is this a Samantha Rose or a Collin Philip??  I hate not knowing.

And update on Oreo... I didn't sell him ;) we just put things under the bed so he wouldn't fit.  Duh!

Emotional Wreck...

Four 1/2 year old Rat Terrier for sale!

No, how could I get rid of my "first born"?  But this morning I was very close to just walking away.

Every morning is the same routine, Oreo stays curled up in bed while I get ready for work after Peter leaves.  After I put on my shoes, I scoop him up and bring him to his crate downstairs.  Well this week, he has decided that under the bed is a better place to be.  Monday, he was fine; Tuesday I caught him just as he was "army crawling" underneath; Wednesday he got under the bed, but I left him there because I was in Jury Duty and knew I wouldn't be gone all day.  Yesterday was another good day... then came today.  Friday of all days, a day I have a 9:00 confrence call and can't be late.  I was brushing my teeth when I heard it... the unmistakable thud of a 20 pound terrier crawling into a 8" space.  So I put my shoes on, went outside like I was leaving, I even started my car, came back in expecting to be greeted at the door.  Nope, he was still under there.  Here's where the breakdown happens...

I'm on the floor begging and pleading... who am I kidding?  I was screaming... for him to get out.  I'm even poking him with the wand to our mini-blinds (which needs to be fixed by the way).  Nothing, but my exhausted hormonal breakdown.  Tears started flowing and I couldn't catch my breath.  I was a mess.  I went to the bathroom to wash my face when I saw it... sitting in the soon-to-be nursery... the vacuum!  Oreo's nemesis!  I'm a genius!!  I brought it over to one side of the bed, turned it on and watched him run.  He jumped into his bed and leaving the vacuum running, I scooped him up, turned it off, and brought him downstairs.  He knew he was bad.  As I carried him down the stairs, he turned to look at me with sad eyes as if to say "I'm sorry Mommy" and started licking my tears.  I felt like such a horrible mother.  I wanted to stay home and cuddle him all day.  It took me a long time to calm down.  I sat with my sunglasses on the whole train ride to hide my red puffy eyes and the tears that were still falling.  I'm a wreck today.

Hopefully in the months before Turkey is born, we can teach Oreo the "IN" command and remind him that his comfy crate is a good thing.

12 weeks, 5 days...

Had my 12 week appointment today.  Little Turkey was being a brat and not cooperating when the ultrasound tech was trying to take measurements.  I didn't care, it meant I got to see Turkey longer.  S/he was moving up a storm and using me as a kick-off platform.  I heard the heartbeat too... a strong 158 bpm!  Girl??? ;-)

Here's Turkey's latest picture... the only one since s/he wasn't behaving.  S/he even decided to nap 1/2 way through the sonogram.

I hope Turkey's nose isn't really that pointy. ;-)

As far as Mommy (me) my blood pressure was a little high so I have to go back in next week so she can check it again.  They did all the blood work today... 9 vials later.  I wasn't expecting that, but I was ok, no fainting.  I got the ok to take Claritin... pollen is rediculous this year.

Lets see, what else do I need to update on?  Oh, yeah... Jury Duty, I am juror #2 for a personal injury trial next week.  I actually don't mind.  I find it very interesting and it gets me out of the city for 3-5 days.

Our BFF's are still talking to us!!! We're even hanging out with them tomorrow.  I was so nervous but it was all for nothing.  They're so excited for us and can't wait to be Turkey's Aunt and Uncle!

I handled the Habitat for Humanity Mother's Day Mother/Daughter build like a champ.  Only took breaks to drink water and once when I got a little dizzy after bending over for too long.  I felt bad that I didn't do as much as I usually do, but my Mom understood and I had her and the homeowner watching me like hawks.  I can't wait until it's my turn to bring my little girl (if it is in fact a girl) to a Woman's Build site.  It's so much fun, and great to help out a worthy family with a worthy cause.

My Facebook announcement didn't go as planned... not everyone was so quick to get it, so a few days later I spelled it out for everyone. ;-)

I found out another friend is due with her second 4 days after me! Crazy!


I think that's it... well as much as this baby brain can remember. =)

Our BFF's...

I guess I should explain why our BFF's would turn around and look for new friends.

In the beginning, Peter and I originally didn't want kids.  We were happy with our Oreo and things the way they were.  We had Glenn and Melissa who have never wanted kids.  So the four of us were golden.  We vacation together and try to see each other as often as possible.  And even when we don't see each other for long, when we do finally get together, its like we were never apart.  Its that kind of great friendship.

Fast foward to my 30th birthday.  We were in the Outerbanks with Glenn and Melissa and they suggested going to the beach to watch the sunrise.  Well after watching the first sunrise of my 30's, I was a depressed couch-potato the rest of the day.  Something was missing... then I heard that faint tick, tick, tick.

Everytime Peter and I would bring up the subject of children, they would give us a reason not to while at the same time understanding our decision (and the agony we've been going through to conceive).  Because of them we would constantly go back and forth on the subject.  It was a very confusing time.  You see, we're the only "non-children" friends they have left.  Talk about pressure! =)

But we realized, we're the ones making the decision, not our friends.

So it brings us to our 'Lil Turkey.  I'm sure they'll be happy for us, I just don't want to lose what we had.  It's kinda sad.  I hope Peter and I are worried for nothing.

11 weeks, 4 days...

Symptoms are starting to ease up... thankfully!

Tomorrow is the day we're telling our BFF's.  I hope they don't turn around and start looking for new friends. ;-)  To prevent that, I'm going to give them a picture for their fridge...

You think it'll work?? =)

Saturday I'll be making the big Facebook announcement... 1933, 1955, 1977... 2011!  I wonder how many of my friends will 'get it'.

Sunday is Mother's Day and we're having Peter's parents over.  We're so not ready for it.  It feels like it snuck up on us.  We've got to clean the house and do the grocery shopping... when?  Yeah I don't know.  Tomorrow after work, I'll be at Glenn and Melissa's for Girl's Night (and a Dirty Toy party), Saturday I'm going to be with my Mom for a Mother/Daughter Habitat for Humanity Mother's Day Women's Build, then dinner at Meg's.  I have just enough time in between to shower, nap, and bake brownies.  Poor Peter's going to have to do this all on his own.