A Special Anniversary

Matt and I celebrated our 8th Wedding anniversary on December 21. We went out to The Keg for a delicious dinner, in which I ordered steak and lobster, and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. It kinda hit us that this was our last anniversary just him and I. It wasn't a sad thought, just a realization that our lives are going to change very soon, we're not going to be just Matt and Suzie anymore. We are going to be Matt, Suzie and Jelly Bean. Wowza. So much to look forward to.

The evening of the 21st saw us at the annual Burton Christmas Party. For those of you who know the family, you understand when I say it is an energetic evening, filled with fun and lots of volume. We love it. This year, Matt's brother's wife is also pregnant, about 6 weeks behind me, and so we took a few pics of our bellies. We also got to see Matt's little 2nd cousin, Harper, who is just 6 weeks old. Matt rocked him to sleep, and we both melted a little. He is going to be such a great daddy, and the next time he rocks a little baby to sleep, it'll most likely be our own--how crazy is that?!?!?!?

My Pet Alien ( 29 Weeks )

Ever seen that alien movie where the alien erupts from some ladies stomach--that's kinda what I'm feeling right now. Jelly Bean is moving and kicking so much lately. For instance, as we speak, I'm pretty sure he/she is trying to pry their way out of my ribs. It doesn't hurt, but sometimes becomes a little uncomfortable, especially when he/she's movements interfere with my stomach. It really is like having a little alien inside me, just waiting to get out.

On a different note, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my maternity clothes---I went shopping this week and got some great deals. I cannot believe I haven't done it sooner. I think we should incorporate elastics into all our clothing. One cannot lose when there is elastic waistlines involved. Just think, over-eating at a holiday meal would not longer need to see a popped top button, and I do believe that pregnancy panels would solve a lot of problems when it comes to low rise jeans. **SIGH**...I really think all us ladies should consider adapting the elastic panel as a true fashion statement beyond pregnancy--at least until I can fit into my skinny jeans again--that way I won't feel alone, and you too can experience the freedom of a flexible wait band.

IT'S A BOY!!! ...

...at least that's what I'm guessing. It's true, we still haven't found out, and we still don't know, but it seems like everyone that we know are having girls. And the numbers gotta even out at some point right? That, and the fact that we have set girls name, but for the life of us we can't come up with a boys name that pops as much as the girls name we have.

So...that's my logic. No ultrasound confirmation, no ring test, no tummy analysis, no crazy hippy voodoo stuff, just a gut feeling. We'll see if I'm right.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm actually hoping for a girl, for two main reasons. First, the name thing. Second, I had millions of younger brothers but no younger sisters. So I've never had a little girl to take care of and protect. And I kinda want that ok?

The Beginning of the End...

Today, we are officially 27 Weeks, 3 Days. We also had our first appointment with our OB/GYN today--a doctor that won't be mine for long, because she is slated to give birth herself at the end of December. I'm a little disappointed, because she is awesome, but I suppose she's entitled to have a baby too.

So much has been going on lately! Matt and I moved into a brand new house, which has taken a lot of effort--for Matt especially. A pregnant woman is fairly useless when it comes to moving boxes. Thank goodness for a strong husband and good friends and family, or it would have never happened.

Last week, I did a test for gestational diabetes. I had to drink a rather distasteful drink, and then had a bunch of blood drawn. For some reason, my doctor ordered the LONG test, where I had to fast for 8 hours previous, then drink the drink, then wait an hour, have blood drawn, then wait ANOTHER hour, and have more blood drawn. Wasn't my favourite way to spend the morning, but everything came back normal, so I suppose it was worth it.

It is hard to believe I am nearing the end of my second trimester. The time has gone by so fast. I feel the baby kick all the time now, and my belly is definitely noticeable. In fact, I can rarely go anywhere without having someone comment on it. Matt and I are getting more and more excited, and can hardly believe things are moving so quickly. We have been reading up on all sorts of baby/birth related things. There is so much to learn, and so much to absorb.

I am so loving being pregnant, and have frequent conversations with my little Jelly Bean. It is amazing how much you can love someone you've never even met.

Oh--an here's a pic of me, taken today, for all those who like Jelly Bean Belly updates :)

Checking Up

I had another pre-natal appointment this morning, my last with my family doctor. Next time it's off to meet my OB/GYN.

I thought I'd write a little about what goes on, mostly for my remembrance, but feel free to laugh along if you'd like.

Pre-natal's, for the most part, are pretty painless. The first one I had wasn't pleasant, but I don't know many women who would call a pap smear and internal exam something to enjoy. DEFINITELY NOT ME! However, all subsequent visits have been a harmless routine, and really something to look forward to because they mark the passage of each month of pregnancy.

To begin with, all exams start with a urine sample. I try to schedule all my appointments in the morning, partly because I hate waiting around a crowded doctor's office, and partly because I never seem to have trouble going on command in the morning. Now, peeing in a cup is not something that you easily master, at least not for me; rather, it has taken a few tries to finess the art of peeing without... ... ... ... dripping...eek... But, master it I have, and today was my most accurate round yet! Yay me! Plus, good news: No sugar or protein present! Double Yay Me!

After the, uh, sample, is most least favourite part: The Weigh In. I know that this is necessary, and the weight really doesn't bother me that much, but I'm sorry, stepping on the scale, and watching the bar meet, then exceed, then WAY exceed your normal mass is a little...hmmmm...unsettling. Especially when the nurse is doing it in KG, and the scale is different, and you about have a heart attack because your pretty sure you didn't weight THAT much on the scale at home. (She did inform me of this little tidbit, after I about jumped off the scale in tears and shock...the pound conversion was much more comfortable.)

After the scale--blood pressure. I have watched enough medical dramas to know that normal BP is 120/80, but the nurses never seem to want to let on where you're at. No, they like to keep you in suspense and let the doctor tell you, which is fine, but a little annoying. Plus, I think they have commented on the fact that I have goose bumps every time, whatever that means. Oh, and lesson #1 involving Blood Pressure: don't wear a shirt that you can't roll/push the sleeves up. They make you disrobe to gain access to the fleshy part of your arm.

Then the doctore usually comes in and you play a bit of Q&A with them. This is the part where if anything weird has happened, you get to tell them, and they get to explain. For instance, I had a little light headedness yesterday and almost passed out while teaching a class full of grade twelve history students...super fun...apparently in your second tri, your blood pressure, which is already low at this time, can plummet if you are on your feet for prolonged periods of time. Lesson learned.

Next, comes my favorite part--you get to hear the heartbeat. Our little Jelly Bean is one active fetus and moves around like crazy. But wow, when the doppler machine finally catches up to him/her, that little heartbeat comes through, and I'm pretty sure my heart bursts. Matt gets a really wondrous, proud, look on his face, and all is well in the world. This little moment definitely makes the visit, and suddenly, peeing in a cup, stepping on a scale, and all the other jazz takes a back seat.

You just have to marvel at the amazing thing that is growing and developing right there inside you. I know we do. :)

A Jumble of Stuff...

What can I say? 24 Weeks yesterday. Sometimes I feel such a jumble of emotions and sensations that it is hard to put into words. Perhaps, it is pregnancy hormones, or just the complete overwhelming nature of having another human being, being manufactured inside of you, but it is an understatement to say that I have my ups and downs.

For example, random things make me cry--strike that--Random things can send me into hysterics. Not crazy, psycho, your-not-a-nice-person hysterics, just bawling fits that leave me breathless, and Matt unsure of how to comfort me. Like the other night when we started watching 'Panic Room', and old movie with Jodie Foster and Kirsten Stewart. Kirsten's character played Jodie's daughter and had a scene in the movie where she goes into diabetic shock. I've seen the movie a few times, and it's never bothered me before, but I broke down into a ridiculous crying fit. I was fine after a while, but for about 5 minutes I was inconsolable. Is it bad to admit that sometimes I am absolutely terrified to be a mom? Sometimes I think about all the things that can go wrong, and I about drive myself crazy.

Now, please don't misunderstand me. I have my sanity at times too. I am mostly excited about being a mom. I have absolutely loved being pregnant up until this point, and plan on continuing to love it. I really do look forward to the challenges motherhood and parenthood in general will present, but I would be lying if I didn't admit to the fact that, every once in a while, I completely lose it and bawl my eyes out with fear, worry, and frustration at not being able to control everything. My mom says I'm normal. So does my sister. So I guess I will just continue on this journey, enjoying as much as I can, with as much heart as I can, holding onto Matt's hand for dear life, and praying that someone else watching over me, Matt and our little Jelly Bean, who knows a lot more than us, has it all under control.

:)

I JUST FELT MY BABY KICK!!!

Like 4 TIMES!!! It was wicked awesome! I felt it a little before, but not as clear as this time! And then it kept kicking! This is my most intellectual post yet!!!

And no, I'm not hurt. (Ram)

The Stuff of Dreams....

So, lately I have been having the weirdest, most vivid dreams. Those of you who know me know that I'm not exactly a light sleeper, and have been known to have a few nocturnal encounters, (sleep walking, talking, arranging cereal boxes while not awake....etc....) and naturally, I've always dreamed, but somehow these dreams are different.

Sometimes, the dreams freak me right out. I won't tell you any of my scary ones, quite frankly, I don't really want to relive them, but last night, I had dreams that made me laugh out loud, so I thought I'd share.

Tomorrow I'm 23 weeks pregnant, and about to start my 6th month. I'm getting bigger, well my belly is. My pants are tight, my shirts are riding, and I sometimes feel as if I'm losing my ability to see my toes. To put the icing on the cake, last night I had a dream that went something like this...

I was out shopping, in a mall, looking at Halloween candy. I was wearing my favorite pair of pre-pregnancy jeans, when all of a sudden, my belly exploded (not literally, but it got big) and I split my pants. Mortified, I ran into the nearest store, bought another pair, and no sooner had I done up the top button, when I split those pants. I kept running store to store, desperately trying on pants, and bursting each right open. I finally woke myself up, and once I realized I was awake, I couldn't help but chuckle. I don't know what the dream meant, but maybe it IS time to go maternity shopping for real... :)

A Jumping Bean

Having a baby brings more cool things and changes everyday. Jelly Bean has been kicking fairly regularly now, and I have been so looking forward to sharing with Matt. However, Jelly Bean appears to know whenever I call Matt to come look at or touch my stomach, so for the past little while we've been playing a bit of a game, that goes something like this:

I am getting ready for bed, lying down, and enjoying watching/feeling the show in my stomach. Jelly Bean will be attempting what I think, are pretty amazing acrobatic feats, and I call to Matt, thinking he'd want to join the party. Matt will come running, ready to participate in the marvel, he'll put his hand on my jumping belly, and then, without fail, Jelly Bean goes quiet. Matt will sit for a bit, ask me if the baby is moving, and though I want to say yes, that little JB has decided to indulge in a sudden bought of narcolepsy.

This has happened multiple times, so finally, Matt and I decided we had to be a little more tricksy if he ever wanted to see/feel Jelly Bean kick. We developed hand signals, which basically involve me frantically waving at the right time, and trying not to laugh.

Finally, just the other night, Matt was able to be sneaky enough and not only SAW our little Bean jump, but FELT it too. I sometimes forget what it must be like for Matt to not be as intimate with the whole pregnancy thing as I am. I get to feel everything, and he just has to trust me. When he felt the movement of our baby he got the biggest grin on his face and said "Whoa." It was the best thing ever. We have a little Jumping Bean, and now Matt knows it too!

Beautiful Bella Band

As I have been mentioning, my growing Jelly Bean has been making my pant life uncomfortable for the last little while. SO, today, when yet another pair of jeans just wouldn't do up, I decided it was time to stop squishing my poor little JB and do something about the situation. I know that it is ridiculous, but I have a hard time buying things for myself--I love to shop, but when it comes down to purchase time, I hesitate and feel guilty, and end up with nothing. (Just ask Matt, it drives him bonkers.) I have been in a few maternity stores as of late, just looking, but I am a complete deer-in-the-headlights when it comes to buying. But today, it was the last straw. I gathered enough courage, and on the recommendation of a good friend(thanks Ceri,) went looking for the Bella Band.

It is nothing special, just a piece of stretchy material that goes around my waist, but Hallelujah! For the time being, I can still wear some of my old pants, BUT keep them unbuttoned and breathable, without running the risk of exposing more than I anticipated. It is SUCH a relief. I would recommend the thing (even though it was $40) to anyone--Jelly Bean is happily kicking away, and I am enjoying the luxury of popping my buttons--on purpose!

So all you moms to be (and I know quite a few): feel free to check it out:

http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband.html

An Early Lullaby

It's been a few days now since we've been back from Hawaii, and it's back to focusing on reality. And right now, our reality is definitely making sure we are ready for this baby!

Suzie has been on me a little bit lately for not blogging enough. My only problem, as I tell her is that I have a hard time blogging without some good inspiration! Especially because I'm not the one carrying the baby, and not the one with the changing body and feeling the kicks and so on.

But the other day, I got the BEST inspiration. I walked upstairs to our bedroom to the cutest scene! Suzie had fallen asleep in our bed with headphones on her belly, with Anna Netrebko playing on her iPhone. The funniest thing was that she fell asleep to her own lullaby. I can only wonder if the baby did too?? Now, my choice of music may have been slightly different than the opera diva that Suzie chose, so I'll have to start putting my foot down and making the baby listen to some good classic rock as well.

Anyhow, it was so cute that I couldn't resist taking pictures. Hope you're not too embarrassed honey!

And So It Begins

I am 21 weeks today! I am feeling the baby kick quite frequently, and I am so looking forward for Matt to be able to feel it too. We are really beginning to anticipate the arrival of our little Jelly Bean--not that we weren't before, but it just feels more real now that I am actually able to feel something going on.

We had a big family get together this weekend with Matt's family, and one of the highlights (aside from the food, which I really seem to enjoy lately) was seeing our little niece Kali, who just turned 1 at the beginning of October. She is SUCH a doll. All smiley and cute, running around, giggling and being a cuddly joy. I must admit, I won't say that I officially want a girl, because really, I'd love a boy just as much, but that little darling sure made me think about all the fun baby clothes I could get. In fact, we received our first gift of baby clothes from Kali's mom and dad (thank you Jara and Andrew) and they were so precious, I had to take a picture of them. Plus, they are the first baby outfit I have ever owned that was meant for me, well, my baby.

I have refrained from buying ANYTHING baby thus far, for a couple of reasons. One, I don't want to go crazy. Making the choice NOT to find the sex out of the baby, means that I could buy a lot of neutral colours, but I don't want my baby to only have that as an option. My plan is to get the basics in neutral, and then, once we know what to really buy, have fun going outfit shopping. Two, as wonderful as Matt is, he is not a baby clothes shopper. Most of the time, I think he follows me into stores because he loves me, but really, he'd rather be looking at guitars. So, I need some sisterly, or at least a few female friends to shop with, and I just haven't had a lot of time to do that yet. But, thanks to the cute little yellow outfit, my clothing appetite has been wet, and it might be harder to resist those adorable little booties and onesies in the future.

An Amazing Vacation.

Well, as most of you know, Matt and I took a trip to Hawaii starting October 5th. We decided this was a good time to have one last trip to our favourite island State. The next time we go, we'll have a little Jelly Bean to take with us, which is really fun to think about too, but this was a fantastic way to have a little mommy-daddy time before we're actually Mommy and Daddy. The last week or so, we have seen quite a few changes in our little belly. I started the week feeling an occasional kick, and by the time we got on the flight home, I was being regularly pummeled from the inside--nothing too strong yet (Matt can't feel it yet) but way more frequent. Also, it appears my belly has grown quite a bit. I got home and can't do up most of my jeans, which is not how it was when I left. For those of you wanting to track my belly, I've included a pic of me on my way up Diamond Head.

It was so fun being in Hawaii with Matt. I couldn't go surfing, but we still had a blast snorkeling and swimming, hiking and sightseeing and spending time on the beach. I must say, I fell in love with Matt all over again every time we saw a kid/baby at the beach. All he could talk about was how fun it will be to bring our own little Jelly Bean to Hawaii to play--and trust me, he will!

Flying was pretty fun--I have never used a planes rest room so much. I kept trying to take little walks around the plane, but there isn't a lot of places you can go. We bought neck pillows because we had a really long flight from Chicago to Honolulu, and I was very happy that we had them.

I would say that one of my favourite thing about going to Hawaii was being able to wear a bathing suit with cleavage....I know, I know... perhaps a tad inappropriate, but seriously, I've waiting a long time for my girls to show off a little. It is so, so fun. So go ahead, judge me, but I'm still going to be beaming. :)

We hit 20 weeks on the trip--half-way---holy cow!!!!!!!

We Are Having A ....

Ha ha! Just kidding--I'm not going to tell you what we're having--in fact, I don't know, and neither does Matt, so don't bother asking. We had our final Obstetrical Ultrasound today, the one where you COULD find out the sex of the baby, but we held true and we told the tech right away that we didn't want to know. So other than reporting that our baby is a squirmy, stubborn, amazingly wonderful thing, we have no other news.

To start the ultrasound, as all mothers can tell you, you have to drink a Litre of water at least an hour before the appointment. No big deal, right? WRONG!!! I have never been so uncomfortable in my life. My pants, which are already a little tight, were excruciatingly snug with my bursting bladder. By the time the appointment rolled around, I was dying. My bladder felt so full, my teeth were floating. The tech laughed at me as I came in, like a duck, waddling to the exam table. And then, then the fun began. I laid on the table and the tech put the jelly on my belly (hee hee, a rhyme)--by the way, the jelly really is cold--and then started pushing. I-Yi-Yi--If I thought I had to go before, with the added pressure, I was about ready to have an accident right there on the table.

And then, I got distracted, and suddenly wasn't so worried about my achingly full bladder. There was Jelly Bean--bigger than before and looking beautiful. Matt was called in and Jelly Bean gave us a high-five on the screen, showed us a foot, and rolled around a bit. The heart was beating at a speedy 150 bpm, and apparently, the ventricles showed good symmetry. I can't believe Matt and I MADE this!

After Matt got to enjoy the show, he was escorted back to the waiting room, and the tech did a bunch more measurements. Stubborn little Jelly Bean wasn't the best at cooperating. Either JB was laying on the wrong side, or rolling around too much to get the measurements quickly. I couldn't help but think that Jelly Bean reminded me of how Matt talks on the phone--pacing and moving and not even close to sitting still. There is no mistaking who the daddy is!

Whoever little Jelly Bean is like, Matt and I are all a glow and so very happy. We are having a beautiful little Jelly Bean and that means more than I ever expected!

Kicking and Screaming!

I felt Jelly Bean kick for the first time today--I've been feeling "bubbles" for the last little while, but nothing I could definitively say was a kick--but today it happened!!! A real, live Kick---which brings me to the screaming part--that was me. I sat straight up, gasped, and announced, to all the people I work with, the big event. And then, true to my pregnant form, I got all teary and had to text Matt. I don't care if everyone around me thinks I'm crazy--JELLY BEAN KICKED ME! :) It was AWESOME!

18 Weeks and Counting...

I had another prenatal appointment on Friday. Everything went well. The doctor I have really is great, and I'm glad I have her. I got to hear the heart beat again, which is still the most amazing thing ever.

I'm really looking forward to all the amazing milestones that are coming up in the next few weeks. Things like feeling the baby kick, and our last ultrasound (which comes up next Friday), and growing a real baby belly.

We're looking into getting a 3D ultrasound and prenatal classes too. All of it is coming so fast and we are both really excited.

That Awkward, In Between Stage

When I was 13, I was doing the most important thing it the world. I was making the biggest statement I possibly could. I was growing my hair! It was 1992, the beginning of the infamous grunge era, and I wanted to be right in the thick of it.

Getting Through Mid-Length

One of the things I hated the most about growing my hair, was that awkward in between stage, when the hair just looked too long, too short, or too something else. It just didn't look right. It wasn't quite covering my ears, and wasn't heavy enough yet to lay down nicely. So it went everywhere.

Suzie has been having some of the same complaints lately about being pregnant. She keeps saying how she wants to get through this in between stage, so she can just look pregnant already! In stead of...well...ummm....well, I'll just leave it at that.

Jelly Bean's First Contact

One of the most amazing things that is happening right now though is that, well, Jelly Bean is hardly a Jelly Bean anymore. We read in one of the many books that we have that he/she is about six inches long right now, and Suzie is starting to feel the first signs of movement!!! ....she thinks anyway.....I guess she wouldn't really know from experience. So I guess you could say that this is Jelly Bean's first communication with us! The first of many of course, and in 16 years we'll likely look back and wish for this type of communication again.

We go for our third ultrasound next week, and it's the one that would usually tell us gender. But of course, to increase the dramatics of the BIG day, we're not finding out!

17 Weeks and My Special Pillow

I'm 17 weeks today!!!!! Holy Cow! Where is the time going? It was the last weekend of summer, and we are moving through so fast. There are some big things coming up in our lives, and it's not just involving Jelly Bean. I am hoping to finish off at Fanshawe College and start supply teaching soon, I'm teaching music lessons and tutoring in the evenings, Matt is teaching guitar, playing hockey twice a week, we're going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks, and so much more. Life is so busy and wonderful.

I have also found my new favourite way to sleep. I am finding laying on my back is getting a little uncomfortable, given that it I am not in that position long and feel the urge to visit Tinkle Town, so side sleeping is where it's at. But, in order to be comfortable, I have taken to sleeping with a pillow by my side and hugging it tight.

Some of you may be asking why I don't just use my sleeping ailments as an excuse to cuddle with my husband, and I would have to answer by saying that Matt has this habitat of imitating a radiator, which makes it difficult to sleep. (Imagine trying to snuggle with a someone who feels like a cup of HOT, hot chocolate...not cool...not cool at all....) So, My Special Pillow is my new best sleeping buddy. It is in a lovely blue pillow case with clouds. No, it's not a full body pillow, but for now it is doing the job and allowing me to sleep a bit more soundly, which is a very welcome thing (I'm sure Matt would agree.)

I HEART Yoga Pants

Oh my, oh my. I thought yoga pants were comfortable BEFORE I was pregnant, but now that I'm nearly 17 weeks along, they have become my best friend. I must admit, there is NOTHING better then coming home from work, taking off my uncomfortable pants, and slipping into my stretchy, move-with-me, yoga pants. I would wear them to church if I could.

I'm getting to that awkward, "not-ready-for-maternity-pants-but-getting-uncomfortable-in-regular-pants" stage, and the stretchy, black, miracles I have worn out every day this week, have been my saving grace. All I can say if "God Bless My Yoga Pants!" May they live to stretch with me until the end of my 9 month journey and beyond!!!

15 Weeks

Life is great! I am feeling better then ever. My nausea is all gone now, and though I sometimes still feel sluggish, I am really getting excited about becoming a mom. I haven't bought anything yet, but I have definiately been having some fun looking online for some of the newest baby gear. Although, I must admit, it is crazy how much you can spend. I found a pacifier the other day that was $189.99!!! Granted, it was made of platinum and coated in crystal, but my goodness, WHO BUYS A SOOTHER FOR $189????!?!?!?!?!

So far, I am still not really showing, just a little bump. I'm really okay with that, and I'm doing my best to stay active and in shape. Now that I seem to be putting the nausea and fatigue behind me, it seems to be getting easier.

I'm going to do my best to keep you updated with pictures of my ever-growing belly. Right now, this is a good base line. Really, I've put on a few pounds, but it is hardly noticeable (at least that's what everyone should tell me :) ). So for now, it's a little anti-climactic.

Enter Second Tri!!

Feels like I'm back in business school, where the 9 month school year was broken up into 3 trimesters. The first trimester was the shocker. All the changes from the new schedule, adjusting to the new life and so on.

By the time second tri came along, we had all gotten into the groove, knew what to expect, and there were relatively few surprises.

By the third trimester, the workload was getting heavy, we didn't feel like working as much, and we just couldn't wait for the light at the end of the tunnel.

See honey! I have been pregnant!

Moody? Who Me? Couldn't Be.

Okay, so I might be a little guilty of succumbing to hormones and being a touch moody, and maybe a little sensitive. I promise, normally I am a level-headed, grounded individual (at least, that's my story) but lately I seem to have moments of unprovoked snappiness and have occasionally burst into tears. Poor Matt does a good job of handling these bouts of emotion, and I am doing my best to combat them by getting lots of sleep and breathing deeply. As it stands, I think I succeed about 90% of the time; however, that varies depending on the day. So, if by chance you catch me on an off day, please forgive the crazy pregnant lady, and remember that my sanity is underneath my hormone fogged brain, just waiting to get out. :)

A Beating Heart...

I saw my doctor today, and though I was a little nervous, and my doctor was running late, it was a really cool experience. I found out I am normal in all areas. Good blood pressure, good weight gain thus far, good on all my blood tests, but perhaps the coolest thing was the fact I got to hear our baby's heart beat.

My doctor, who I REALLY like, put the Doppler machine on my little baby bump (it really isn't a belly yet, in fact, it's barely a bump) and I was able to hear the little flutter of Jelly Bean's heart. It was so cool. I got all teary. Jelly Bean's heart was beating at 160 bpm, again a normal measurement, and the doctor said that he/she was being very active and moving around. She had to keep moving the probe to keep the heart beat coming through. I wish Matt could have been there!

It was so amazing. I still have a hard time believing that Matt and I are pregnant, but after a day like today, I'm starting to believe it a little more. Thus far, we have been really blessed, and it looks like both me and Jelly Bean are healthy and growing the way we should. Here's hoping it all continues that way!

Pregnant Brain!!!

Ok, so we've had 2 (two (ii)) very funny instances of pregnant brain so far. Sooo....here we go:

Incident 1:

Last week I dropped Suzie off at work and then headed to work myself. When the work day was done at 4:30, I drove over to Fanshawe to pick her up. As I was pulling in the driveway, I got this text from her:

"Matt!!!! I can't find the car!!!!"

You see, sometimes she'll take one car to work and I'll take the other. Lately though we've been driving together. So not being able to resist playing along, I called her up and asked:

"What do you mean you can't find the car???!!! What happened??"

"I don't know...I think our car was stolen!!! I'm on my way to security right now to report it!!!"

She was COMPLETELY freaked out. Totally thought the car was stolen. So then I finally responded:

"Relax hun, I drove you this morning".

Incident 2:

This just happened today. I forgot some papers that I needed before I left for work today so I asked Suzie to go into the basement and take a picture with them on her iPhone and email them to me.

Minutes after she sent the emails (for which I was very grateful) she texted me saying how she couldn't find her keys anywhere! So she picked up the spare car key and headed to work anyway. So after work she spent an hour and a half looking for them again. They were nowhere. The last time she remembered having them was at the gym on Saturday. She even was suspicious of me using them and not putting them back.

That suspicion lead her to finally check the basement by my computer. It was late in the evening by this time. And...guess what!!! They were there!! Right by my computer monitor!! But guess what else!!! They were even closer to the papers she had taken pictures of that morning JUST before they went missing!!!

I'm sure there will be many more pregnant brain stories to come, so I'll be sure to keep posting for your entertainment...and mine!

On a more serious note, I thought I would post the video slideshow that we used to announce the pregnancy 6 days ago. And it was ALL Suzie! She spent quite a few hours on this video, and even more watching it over and over again! Enjoy!

13 Weeks

Yesterday, I was officially 13 weeks pregnant--only one more week and my second trimester starts. I'm still so overwhelmed. We told everyone the news, and both Matt and I are getting more excited. It is hard to believe we are a third of the way through this whole experience.

The biggest thing I've noticed this last week? I have been craving salty foods like crazy. On Friday, Matt ordered pizza, and put green olives, black olives, tomatoes, and mushrooms on my half, and OH MY HECK--I was in heaven! It was so good. All I could think about was the next slice. (I'm drooling a little now...) So now, I'm very into artichoke hearts, olives, capers, pickles, anything with a salty bite. I don't know what that means, but that is definitely one of my strongest cravings to date.

Other than that, life is fairly normal. I'm still not showing, although a few of my pants are getting a little snug, but not enough for maternity wear. I have a doctors appointment coming this Thursday, and I'm hoping I get to hear Jelly Bean's heart beat for the first time. I'll keep you posted.

We see and announce!

So it was 2 days ago that we finally decided to tell everyone about our new addition to the family! After nearly a month an a half of keeping it a secret! I also told everyone at work, which was really fun as well.

The most amazing thing that happened this week though was the ultrasound. The last ultrasound we had was a 8 weeks, and this new one, at 12 weeks was SO much different. We saw the baby kicking and moving around and everything! It was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. It made my first day back from vacation much more bearable.

Breaking the News

Well...cat's out of the bag--Jelly Bean has officially been announced to the family. For the Burton's we created a video, which Matt is going to post later, and sent it to everyone, and I must say, the reactions we got were great!

For the Butler's, we called and talked to everyone. When we told my dad he started chuckling and then it became a full on belly-laugh. My mom let out a scream/giggle. It was priceless. We've waited a long time to have the news to share, and then it seemed that once we had news, that it took a long time for us to share. Now that we have, I guess you could say it is a little more real.

Needless to say, I'm so excited/overwhelmed/nervous/so happy. This is the start of a brilliant adventure!

Week 12 Day 1

Today was a really big day. Matt and I were able to go to my second ultrasound and see Jelly Bean. It was so crazy. We did go to an ultrasound when I was about 8 weeks pregnant, but we couldn't really make out Jelly Bean's shape. All we could really see was the little flutter of its heart. Today was much different.

Jelly Bean has grown so much! They are now 5.5cm from crown to rump, and looking more like a baby every day! It was amazing to see! Matt and I were staring at the screen, just looking at the outline of our baby, when all of a sudden, Jelly Bean decided to put on a show! He/she started kicking and stretching and moving like crazy. It was one of those moments when time stood still. We were mesmerized! We both teared up and started grinning. I can hardly put the feelings into words. I was captivated by this tiny little life inside me, moving and stretching. It is amazing how fast Jelly Bean has grown, and how humbling this experience of becoming a parent is. This whole pregnancy thing has suddenly become a lot more real.

I can honestly say, I have never experienced anything like this, and I am SO glad I have Matt to share it with--Just think, we are going to be parents!!!!