Birthday Fun

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!

We celebrated Kim's birthday this year at the West End.

Group pic...Koda almost didn't make it this one.

Koda was so excited about the cake and did a great job singing the birthday song to his mommy.

Of course he had to help mommy blow out the candles too!

And help unwrap her gifts...

All that was hard work. So naturally, he needed to lay his head down on Daddy's comfy shoulder for a quick second. But remember we're talking about Koda...it was only for a quick second and then he was up again.

Smile Nati!

Mom and Dad having fun?

Tony and Melissa...hamming it up!

Eric, Kim and Jenn...what cuties!

Uh oh...we gotcha! Smile for the camera Chelsea and Mom!

Doctor's Apt - March 9, 2009

I had my last monthly doctor's appointments this past Monday. So now that means I'll be going every two weeks. All I can say is WOW! I am already to the point of going every two weeks.


This past visit went smoothly as have all the others. During this one, they tested me for Gestational Diabetes. So I drank a lovely sugary drink that reminded me a lot of those freezer pops that come in a long slender clear plastic pouch that we used to eat as kids. I really can't remember the name for the life of me. It wasn't too bad, but still VERY sugary. After an hour, they drew blood which is always a treat for me because I have terrible veins in my arms. I mean I have them but they aren't as easily accessible for things like drawing blood. So needless to say, they always have to go "fishing". Not a fun experience for me that is for sure. I was a little nervous about the results because I honestly didn't want to have to go back and do the three hour test. That's where you drink the same sugary drink and then they test your blood every hour for three hours. Yikes! Drawing that much blood and going "fishing" each time seems like a bad dream.


Nevertheless, I got GREAT NEWS! I found out that I tested normal. So no worries about changing my diet and having to go back for more tests. I did find out that I am a little anemic though. Which taking an additional iron supplement will take care of that.


The baby's heartbeat has lowered a bit from our last appointment going from 160 bpm to 146 bpm. The doctor said that this is to be expected and normal. My measurements and weight are looking good too. So in all it was a good progress report.

February 28, 2009 - 24 Weeks

So here are some pictures of me at 24 weeks. I feel like I've grown a lot since we last took pictures. And I am sorry to those that have been waiting for more updates. I wanted to make sure I that spread them out a bit. I keep thinking that if I take too many and too close together that you won't be able to see a big difference in my progress. But I have a feeling that will change now that it seems like I'll be growing at a faster rate now. Its been an amazing journey so far. And its been exciting to hear friends, family and co-workers make comments that its like I grew a belly over night. I do feel like he's definitely had a growth spurt as I can definitely feel him kicking more and they are stronger kicks. This is one of Tony's favorite things right now too.

Some of the things that I've been keeping better track of these days is my water intake. Its been my goal to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to keep both me and the baby hydrated. Plus, this is the best way to delivery all the nutriants to the baby. The only down fall to that is that I have to go to the bathroom about a gazillion times a day and the potiential for feet and ankle swelling are much higher. I've had a little bit of that but not too bad. When it does happen, Tony likes to point out that I've got swollen Platypus feet. Yeah, just what a pregnant wife wants to hear, right? I know he's joking, but unfortunately this is his pet name for my wide feet.

I am also trying to eat plenty of fruits and veggies. Tony thinks Mason is going to love apple juice, apples, oranges, bananas and pickles. Those tend to be my favorite right now.

Walking has been a big priority these days too. The more I keep active the easier delivery will be. Well, that's what I keep telling myself. The weather has been nice enough to walk around the neighborhood with my mom as well as Tony and the dogs. Macy and Molly are having a field day with our walks. My goal is to continue to walk after the baby is born too. This will be a great activity for us do while on maternity leave and to help shed those unwanted pounds before Eric and Jenn's wedding in September as well.

We're having a BOY!

Today was our 20 week appointment and sonogram. Although, I am actually 21 weeks and 2 days today. We found out we're having a little boy. We are so very excited about our news and can't wait to actually start planning for his arrival. It's so nice to be able to say "he" and not wonder if we should really being saying "she."

On top of that news, we also got to see how he's developing. The doctor said his head and abdominal section are growing at the right rate. We got to see his heart and the four chambers that have developed. It was a relief to see them all working together and properly formed. What a miracle! His heart rate was 162 which was a little up from our last couple of visits which were consistently at 160 each time. The doctor said that we should have expected to see the heart rate to go down this month, but since he was so sqirmy it was okay. Our little man is already in training I guess.

Also after reviewing his measurements, the doctor said that I am actually 22 weeks and 3 days instead of 21 weeks and 2 days. She said that we would still go off our due date of June 20th but that the computer could possibly read an earlier due date because boys grow a little faster than girls. But I just look at Tony and think well I am married to a big guy anyway so we might be making a big little guy too.

Here are some pictures of our day at the doctor.

This is certainly a picture that he won't appreciate us showing, but its where the proofs at that...IT'S A BOY!

He's looking right at the camera in this one. You can see his heart too. It's the black spot in the middle of his white chest.

Here's another picture of his face. We wish he would have turned on his side to show us his profile too, but again he was a little squirmy. We were just excited to see his little face.

This is a picture of the bottom of his feet. I guess he has 10 toes? We only hope!

January 31st - 20 Weeks

This is my 20 week photo. It feels like I'm getting bigger little by little. Over the past two weeks it feels like my belly has finally began to show. Most of my friends still don't really think I look pregnant, but it is a definitely more evident in these pictures and when Iift my shirt. I really can't wait to see that round pregnant belly. Now I know I say and wish that now. And down the road I'll probably not feel as comfortable but at least it will be more obvious that I'm pregnant.

A big highlight from this week is that Tony got to feel the baby flutter (or kick). I say flutter because it feels just like a butterfly fluttering in my belly. Tony knows that the baby has been fluttering for me, and he's really wanted to feel it too. I keep telling him that he probably wouldn't be able to feel it since it is still very faint. But this past Wednesday night, (2/4/09) Tony was determined. So when we were laying in bed, he decided to lay his head on my belly. He said he'd lay there as long as it took. Well, to much of our surprise it was only a matter of seconds when the baby kicked him. It was strange because it was a little harder then what I was used to. I guess the baby felt crammed and that was its way of saying..."Give me some room here!" We laughed with excitement. Tony was so happy to finally feel our baby move and get to experience what I've been feeling for a couple of weeks now. We can't wait to feel the real kicks in the future.

January 12th - 17 Weeks (and two days)

This picture was taken on January 12th which was the same day of my doctor's appointment. We took the Quad Screening test which tests for Downes Symdrome and Spina Bifida. We were relieved to find out that the tests came back negative. Our next appointment is on February 9th. We'll finally get to find out if we're having a little girl or little boy. Not only will we find the sex out but our doctor will also get to take a sneak peak of our babies development. We pray that he or she is on schedule and is growing just the way it needs to be at 21 weeks.

People keep asking us what we think we're having. So I guess I'll document our guess. I think I am having a little boy. Now I say this because everyone I know has been saying that since I didn't have morning sickness that it would be a boy. They (whoever they really is?) say that girls tend to come with morning sickness. I guess I also tend to say HE instead of SHE because I have two nephews and that's just what I am used to saying when refering to babies. Tony thinks its a boy too. I am not sure if he has any real theories about it but I just know that from day one he's asked my belly, "How's my little Mason doing?" But I keep telling him that he better watch out. Avery Claire might be getting her feelings hurt.

Either way, we just hope that our baby is healthy and has all 10 fingers and 10 toes. We are really excited to start planning the nursery and picking out colors.

December 28th - 14 Weeks

I know I am working backwards but I wanted to bring the pictures up to date. This picture was taken on December 28th and I was 14 weeks pregnant. This was after spending the morning with Tony's family at the Gaylord Texan. We wrapped up a nice Christmas visit with brunch and then said our good byes to his parents to fly home to Ohio.