19 Weeks and Counting

I'm noticing a trend with my blog posts...I talk about and relate my baby to food. Well, I'm about to do it again.  At 19 weeks I have a tropical mango baby.  He/she has been practicing the Hula this week!  I continue to put Kyle's hand on my belly in hopes that he can  feel our Hula-ing-mango but he hasn't yet. :(

We had a regular checkup with Dr. Cobb yesterday!! Two exclamation marks equal super enthusiasm! I LOVE MY DOC! It is a gift these days for an expecting woman to have a doctor that

A. Knows that this is a miraculous yet scary time in your life and celebrates your joy and eases your fears
B. Is YOUR doctor while you're in the room and doesn't seem distracted with the patients waiting behind you.
C. Is an advocate for mom and baby.  You want a medicated birth? Cool. You want to labor at home? Great! You're bringing a Doula and a midwife to the hospital? We can all work together!
D. Involves dad in the prenatal visits: Kyle felt where the top of my uterus is yesterday :)
E. For me, desiring a natural birth experience for me and my baby, I can rest in the fact that my doctor will exhaust all alternative options before resorting to a Cesarean. My doctor BELIEVES in my ability to birth!

Our baby sounded healthy at our appointment with a heart rate of about 150 bpm. (Healthy range is 120-160. A heart rate on the higher end of normal is said to be a girl. "Hmm..."

Next week is our big 20 week routine ultrasound! I can' t wait!

Smoothie Creations

Growing a baby is hard work!  Before getting pregnant, I heard about the morning sickness, fatigue, swollen ankles, etc. but I didn't realize the full spectrum of 24 hour care that ungraciously invites itself into a momma-to-be's life until SURPRISE! It was happening to ME!  This baby isn't kicking my side, or crying when it needs something, but it will not let me forget that it needs me.  It's a miraculous experience, growing a baby but speaking candidly: it's stressful.  I worry about my diet--if I'm eating enough calories, getting enough calcium, iron, micronutrients.  And then I worry about being worried because worry equals stress and stress effects baby negatively!  My sweet mother lovingly reminded me the other day that I can't be perfect, and I'll do the best job I know how--whether it's now or as I raise this child.  Those words, though simple, were profound.  I've since said them to myself as worry creeps back in my mind.  Sometimes I remind myself, even crack babies sometimes come out generally healthy!  And what about those "crazies" that didn't know they were pregnant until they squatted on the pot and out came a baby?!  They didn't change any habits knowing that they were growing a life and their babies were find.  I should just take a chill pill. 

In an effort to get more veggies into my diet, I made a Spinach Pineapple and Orange Juice smoothie.  You must try it for yourself if you're curious.  It tasted delicious.  I've since made it again for Kyle and I for an on-the-go breakfast. 

Here's my recipe:

1 cup of orange juice
1 cup of frozen pineapple (Trader Joe's tidbits is what I prefer because the pieces are smaller)
1 cup of loosely packed spinach leaves, steams removed
2 Tbsp. flaxseed meal
1/4-1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
a drizzle of honey

Blend the orange juice and spinach together to liquefy.  Then add remaining ingredients and purey.

For afternoon snack, I created another quick smoothie:

1 cup of Mango Naked Juice (I like this because it's pure veggies and fruits with no added sugars, artificial ingredients.  Healthier than processed juices)
1 fresh or frozen banana
1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries
2 T Wheatgerm
1/4-1/2 plain Greek yogurt
ice cubes, if using fresh fruit to yield a thick smoothie texture.
Blend all ingredients together.  YUM!

Our Little McIntosh

Yesterday was hubby's 25th birthday!  This year brings a lot of excitement with his career, and our family!  The big anticipated event is the birth of our first baby and we both get more and more excited as the forty week countdown continues.

At fifteen weeks pregnant, our baby is "the size of an apple."  That's crazy to me!  Little one is getting so big!  Not too long ago it's size was compared to a blueberry. 

Into my second trimester, the fatigue has greatly subsided although naps are still appreciated.  Yesterday after cleaning out the car, Kyle asked if I would vaccuum it.  I headed toward the closet to retrieve the vaccuum cleaner but made a turn to the stairs and up to our room and took a quick cat nap.  My body said I was tired and I listened. :) 

I'm learning to listen to my body whether it's saying that I need water, sleep, or a second Popsicle.  I'm hoping that being attuned to the little voice will benefit me in labor! 

For those curious about my baby bump: it's here!  I've folded and put away all pre-pregnancy jeans and started to break in my maternity pants.  I will say, I pick stretchy  yoga pants over the maternity jeans.  I can't wait for the weather to warm up enough to wear stretchy jersey skirts and dresses.  (Thank you Lord for our July baby!!) 

Baby Daddy Milestones:

He came home from work one night this week and tipped his head down to my belly and said, "hi baby!"  That night when we were going to sleep, he rested his hand on my belly and after saying "I love you" to me, he said, "I love you too, baby!"  All together: "Aww!!"

He's been shopping for a family vehicle online.  Our little Ford Focus barely suits our large Labradoodle, and after we add a car seat, things are going to be too cramped!  After researching several options, him and I have narrowed it down to the Ford Escape.  It gets reasonable gas mileage, has a great trunk space for Mac, comfortable seating for baby and two other passengers, and overall offers comforting specs for the price!  We're excited...and nervous.  Going from car to SUV is an adjustment in overall maintenance.  But we'll appreciate the space especially when we get orders to move back to the east coast.  (Boo coast-to-coast road trips with a giant husband, giant dog, and all the suitcases in a car!)
Hoping not to let so much time go by before my next post like I did for this post!

Sickness Continues

The last couple days have been the worst as far as sickness goes.  I must be at my "peak" of pregnancy sickness.  I threw up one morning after swallowing my prenatal on a pretty empty stomach.  I knew better than to do that!  The rest of the afternoon I spent on the couch feeling nauseous, gagging and tired.  Feeling bad was not convenient because I needed to get to the party store to pick up a few things for the neighborhood kid's Christmas party at our house in a few days.  By the time Kyle came home, I mustered enough energy to heat tortellini and bake chicken breasts.  Had he not had a night class to go to that evening, I wouldn't have pushed myself but Kyle gets "Hangry," (a term a friend of mine came up with).  I didn't want him hangry in class or even worse, coming home and destroying the kitchen (and whoever stood in his way) like a grizzly bear.  He said the chicken was really good.  I breathed out of my mouth while it baked because the smell was so strong and unpleasant.

"All for you, little one.  I will put up with this just for you."

That night when my head hit the pillow I declared, "I'm so tired of no feeling good."  Kyle tried to console me, kissed my forehead and I dosed off....until I had to get up to pee.   

LOOK AT OUR LITTLE NUGGET!!!

He's so cute already!

I said he.  Even though his little weenie is too small to see on the doppler, I just know.  This is very funny to me that I know it's a boy because before getting pregnant, I had my mind set that I was only giving birth to girls.  Being one of three girls, I know nothing "boy."  I'm learning more and more about them as I share my bed, my bathroom, and the refrigerator with my husband and I conclude: boys are smelly, messy, and gross.  How ever will I handle changing diapers with a spray nozzle or creepy-crawlies in my house?!!  Yet, God has given me peace. 

Whatever this baby ends up being, I already love it more than I've ever loved anyone else and I just want it to be healthy! 

There's a Little Human Growing Inside Me!

Today
What a miraculous few weeks it has been for our "Little Bean's" growth!  He/she is making it's presence known as I experience the gamut of pregnancy symptoms: "morning" sickness, fatigue, sudden dire hunger, sensitivity to odors, frequent potty breaks, sore and growing breasts, and other things that I will spare my blog readers with!  Kyle and I have the babycenter app on our phone and track Little Bean's progress.  At six weeks, amazingly there was a beating heart!  Today at two-days shy of nine weeks, Bean's is nearly an inch long (about the size of a grape) and weighs just a fraction of an ounce!  All the important body parts are accounted for and the heart has finished dividing into four chambers! 

I have noticed a small "pouch" right under my belly button that feels more firm when poked with my fingers than the sides of my stomach.  I still fit into all my jeans and have a waistline. 

My hormones are getting crazy but my normal emotional self sort of "prepped" hubby for these hormone fluctuations. Kyle's been a TROOPER, let me tell you!

Often when I'm quiet, I will give praise and thanks to our Lord who has intrusted us with this precious miracle!  God has made his presence known in our lives by giving us this gift.  God's timing is so much better than ours.  We worry about whether we have enough finances, if we are ready for the sacrifice and responsibility of raising a little person but the worry is a lot less knowing that the big man is going to guide us along the way.  WOO!  As I write this I'm still just stunned that this is really happening! 

Our first ultrasound is next Monday.  Hoping to hear Little Bean's heartbeat!!! EEK!!

November 3, 2012
We ran the San Diego 5K Color Run!  We joined our friends Matt and Emily and had a great time!  Baby got a good dose of Artificial Food Coloring that day!

October 30, 2012
Kyle has been so supportive already: making sure there’s water and crackers by my bedside, making me caffeine-free tea instead of coffee, going to the grocery store for a few things, and lots of cuddling!  He and I talked about what is happening and he’s very very excited!!  I am very scared and worried but he assured me that it doesn’t do any good to be that way!

Oct 28, 2012
Thursday, Kyle and I went to the local farmer’s market which is a normal Thursday date night for us.  While there, I was struck with cravings of tacos, then sweet potato cookies, followed by bubble tea.  Kyle looked at me strangely as I declared the need to stop from one food stand to another but I chalked it up to PMS and didn’t worry further.

By Saturday I was two days late and suspicious of feeling “too good.”  I wasn’t cramping, bloating, etc.  By Sunday morning, I picked up a pregnancy test from the commissary first thing. Kyle knew I was suspecting being pregnant and was anxious for me to come home and take the test.  After I saw two very bold lines, I came downstairs and tried to act normal.  I just couldn’t bare keeping the secret from Kyle any longer so I ran upstairs to retrieve the test, stuck it in my jean pocket and met Kyle in the kitchen.  I held it in my hand and waited for Kyle to look down at it.  He just stared…and stared…and stared.  He actually looked stunned!   But I later learned that what he really wanted to do was pick me up and spin me around.  He didn’t because he didn’t want David, a college buddy who we were hosting to suspect anything.  We spent the rest of the day going kayaking in La Jolla Cove with David.  We were both pretty “stunned” that day.