carrie's first pregnancy

Well, it's not *technically* 5 weeks later, but if the kid is growing that fast, I guess it really is :) So here are some updated belly pics, although nothing has changed:





And a side by side from the first photos:



So yeah, no difference :) I think I've got a while before anything changes, even though my clothes feel tighter! No maternity pants yet ;)

8 weeks

Posted by carrie at 6:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

So far, I haven't had any food aversions... everything still sounds pretty good. If I was getting sick however, that might change. I've been craving pasta and pizza more lately, especially macaroni and cheese. Haven't made it yet, but definitely been on my mind a lot. And nachos. But those were always among my favorite foods anyway, so that's not out of the ordinary ;) I have been wanting to eat shrimp a lot more... but I limit myself to about once a week. Which is weird, because I'm not a seafood lover! :)

8 weeks

Posted by carrie at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, with my new due date, I'm officially 8 weeks today (so starting my 9th week) :) Here's what is going on with baby this week:



So basically, he/she looks like a gummy bear at this point :) Probably about the same size, too :) I'm still feeling fine... still get cramps, but no more spotting, so all is well. No nausea (thanks for the spelling help, danielle)... and I'm beginning to suspect that I'm going to be one of those lucky ladies that doesn't throw up during her pregnancy. Whew! My clothes are getting tighter though... my shirts don't fit my chest and my pants are snug in the hip/thigh/belly area. I've only gained 1.5 lbs, so I know my eating isn't to blame. I'm hoping it's just bloating, because I really didn't want to have to go out and get maternity clothes this early. My hair is as shiny as ever, and my skin hasn't gone crazy yet, thanks to all the water I've been downing :) We have our first "official" doctor's appointment on Monday... hopefully with good news from the blood test they did last Friday.

I'm getting my hair cut today, so I'll probably post 8 week belly photos later on (I swear it hasn't changed much though) :)

8 weeks

Posted by carrie at 6:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

After the most stressful morning of my life... I finally got into the doctor, and she checked me out. She couldn't find anything wrong, but she said because I was spotting, we need to find out why. Then she gave me a referral for a sonogram, to make sure baby was ok. Something about reading the word "bleeding" and "viable" just totally got to me, and I immediately started tearing. The waiting room was tough... I had to keep reminding myself that things could be fine. So the ultrasound technician showed me the screen, and went right for the baby. At first, I just saw black... and my heart stopped. Then I saw the baby... and then the heart beating :) I still started crying, and the tears really came down when she pointed and said "there's your baby, and here's the heart beat", and turned up the volume. I was SO relieved that the little guy was doing just fine. I got a photo, and of course scanned it in when I got home:



He/she is even measuring ahead of schedule... so I'm now due December 9th, and I'm 7 weeks and 3 days along, already in my 8th week! :) Wow! But they did find something to be concerned about... apparently I have a cyst on my ovaries, which is what was causing me cramping and spotting. So far it's nothing to worry about, but I think they just keep an eye on it, and I'm ordered to put my feet up and relax this weekend. No problem! ;)

So here's a big sigh of relief for baby being ok!

7 weeks 3 days

Posted by carrie at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

So I knew it was only a matter of time before something happened. Last night around 7pm, I was driving to meet friends out to dinner, and I started getting some sharp cramps. Seeing as how I have felt nothing til this point, it kind of scared me. They were sharp enough that I had to take some deep breaths, and wait for them to subside. Well, about an hour after that, I started spotting :( So I got home, took it easy, but the cramps are still there, just not as severe. I know cramping and spotting are common... but just to play it safe, I called the Dr. this morning. Turns out they want me to come in, so I have an appointment this afternoon, to see what's going on. *sigh* I'm 6 weeks today, and scared that we might be losing baby. Granted, the spotting isn't red, which would signal something more serious, so there is still a good chance that everything is ok. But it's still scary, and this morning is going to really drag on until I know what the verdict is. Send good thoughts that the baby is ok, and we make it through!

6 weeks

Posted by carrie at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments

Oof. Daycare is my #1 concern right now (after the baby is healthy of course)... out here, the centers fill up ridiculously early, and the waitlists are terrible. Just as an example, my work has a center that gives priority to our employees... and I'm #95 on the waitlist for infants. Several have told me that I should have a backup plan, because often I will not get in by the time I need it, and most likely won't get accepted until my child is a toddler. So frustrating! I did visit a center this morning though, that there are only 2 infants ahead of me for the month of February :) So I have a decent shot at getting in there when I need it. And the ladies there were awesome! They did a lot of fun activities, and really keep the parents involved. But in the event that we don't find a daycare spot, when I reach the 6 month mark in my pregnancy, I'll start scouring the nanny shares and in home daycares in my neighborhood, trying to find someone to fill the gap for the first few weeks or months. Beyond that, well, I'm not sure what I do. But we'll figure it out if it got to that point. I only get 6 weeks paid maternity leave (8 for c section delivery), and an additional 2 weeks parental leave... so that's a max of 8-10 weeks after baby is born. It will be hard, but we need both incomes, especially mine (and all the insurance and benefits that comes with them). Here's hoping something opens up for us!

Last night we made it out to dinner, and then Joe gave me my anniversary present: a book on how to decorate kids rooms and nurseries, and paint samples :) This was his thoughtful attempt at doing "paper" for the 1st anniversary, and also show that he knows how much I wanted to paint the baby's room, even though we are renting still. I loved it!! He had complained last month about how useless it was to paint something that we have to paint back before we move... but he apparently gave in :) So now we get to think of fun nursery themes... I'm thinking of ducks and frogs... but then we saw a Peter Rabbit theme in the book last night, and now I think that would be really cute. So we'll see... definitely fun to look at though!

5 weeks 4 days

Posted by carrie at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today is our first wedding anniversary! :) Joe and I will be keeping it low key, since our jobs are keeping us pretty busy... but our plan is to go to La Lomita's tonight for dinner, which is where we ate the night he proposed, and it's also our standy-by favorite place to go :) I got Joe tickets to see one of our favorite comedians, Eddie Izzard, and he's giving me my gift tonight at dinner :)

Baby is still here, although I still feel no symptoms. It's a little nerve wracking, since I have no way of knowing that things are going ok... no nausea, cramps, bloat, headache, still weigh the same... nothing's changed. Which I guess is nice, but yeah, even something small would help put my mind at ease.

Joe's been pretty cute. Last week (the weekend after we found out) he came home with ice cream, ginger ale, and sparkling cider in a champagne bottle to celebrate :) It's things like that, that remind me why I love him so much. He's really excited, and it's been fun reading through the baby books with him, and telling him all the stuff that's going on. I picked up a crapload of reading material from Amazon... The Baby Book, Caring for Your Baby and Your Child (Birth to Age 5), Happiest Baby on the Block, Heading Home with Your Newborn, So That's What They're For, and The Nursing Mother's Companion. I asked for referrals from other women, since I need at least *some* idea of what to expect when baby comes home. As of right now, I'm totally clueless... I think I've changed maybe 5 diapers in my life, and the only toddler experience I have is watching friend's kids grow up every once in a while. The last two books I got are on breastfeeding, since I hear that is also quite a challenge, and not as easy as you would think it would be. So I've got a lot to read for the next 9 months :) At least I'll feel semi-informed though! I also found a website with video instructions on correct latching techniques (www.kellymom.com), and also found out the local mom's group in my neighborhood (Moms On The Hill) has a La Leche group that meets... so I can reach out to people nearby with questions about breastfeeding challenges when the time comes.

So yeah, just still in preparation mode, and trying to remain optimistic that things are going ok, despite my lack of symptoms. Two weeks from today is our first appointment... hopefully I can make it til then, and hear the baby's heartbeat!!

5 weeks 3 days

Posted by carrie at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, I'm officially in my sixth week, and here's what is going on with baby this week:



Woohoo, the alien is getting bigger :) Still don't feel any different, but I still have one more week before it's common to experience morning sickness. My eating has been really good this week, and I haven't gained any weight. Our anniversary is on Monday though, and we're going to La Lomita's for dinner. Yum! I could eat their chips and salsa all day :) That, and we're thawing the top layer of our wedding cake, so I'll hopefully have good cake to eat all week ;) I'm still trying to eat really healthy stuff, lots of fruit and veggies, and a TON of water. My skin has never looked so good! :)

5 weeks

Posted by carrie at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

So being RH negative isn't as bad as it sounds, apparently. While talking with the nurse on the phone yesterday, she explained that the antibodies could affect my next pregnancy, but to prevent it, they give you a shot at 28 weeks, and then again a few hours after you deliver the baby. So I'll be fine :) Phew!

No other news to report, but it's still really hard not telling my family! Well, my sister knows, but no one else. I talked to my mom on the phone yesterday, and she was talking about our upcoming trip on Mother's Day, and how she is arranging a dinner for my Grandmother and her siblings on that Saturday. Whoo boy, guess the whole family is finding out that weekend! :) At least by that point, I will have had my first ultrasound, and hopefully heard the heartbeat, so that I'll feel more confident with how everything is going. As it is, I have no symptoms to report, so other than the disappearnce of my period I would have no idea I was pregnant! Most of my friends out here in DC know already, and it feels so good to talk openly about it, and not have to sneak and tiptoe around. Another coworker just announced his wife was having a baby in October, so that means I'll be the 3rd person this year to have a baby on our team. I wish I could tell them now, but I still plan on waiting until the 15 week mark, to be sure everything is ok!

4 weeks 6 days

Posted by carrie at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

Ok, it's not really a "scare" since there's nothing wrong, but I found out today that my blood type of O- means that my RH factor is negative... and since Joe doesn't know what his blood type is, our baby could inherit an RH positive or an RH negative type. If it's RH positive, that means I have to be monitored, in case I develop antibodies against the baby :( Here's more info on what that means... but yeah, here's hoping Joe is RH negative, so that I don't have to worry about it!

4 weeks 5 days

Posted by carrie at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

Here's what is going on with baby this week:



Joe didn't want to look at the photos in the book, but it just made me laugh. I had to tell him if he thinks THAT'S weird, how would you feel if it were INSIDE you??? :) It's a very odd feeling to think that something is growing... but in a cool, weird way. I thought I'd be way more creeped out knowing all the stuff, but so far I'm just the opposite :) Still no symptoms... I've heard week 6 and 7 are the magic weeks for morning sickness to appear, so wish me luck!

4 weeks 3 days

Posted by carrie at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

So I'm still getting the hang of counting weeks. My ticker says I'm 4 weeks, 2 days along... but in the pregnancy books, that means that I've completed 4 weeks already, and I'm into my 5th week. Wow! So I got to read a whole nother chapter in the book :)

So we told a bunch of our DC friends this weekend. First it was our softball team, since I won't be playing, and didn't want to fake a limp or illness for the next 8 weeks. Then we hung out with our close friends on Saturday night, and when they asked about house buying, we told them about our "situation" :) They were all really happy for us... and it feels good not to have to be so sneaky. I may be jinxing myself, but oh well... now we just have to tell my parents, Joe's parents, and his brother that he's going to be an uncle! :)

Still no symptoms... we had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant last night, to celebrate our one year anniversary early. This upcoming weekend is a work party, and then our first softball game on Sunday... and then Monday is our real anniversary, and we're going to our favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate. No margarita's for me... but I'll definitely be all about the salsa! :)

4 weeks 2 days

Posted by carrie at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

I may not feel like flashing my belly as it grows, and really I don't like it now... but I know I'm going to be AMAZED at how it changes over the next few months, so here's the first :) At 3 weeks (not showing at all):









Ugh... so much for getting in shape before baby ;) At least I'll have before photos, to strive for once he/she gets here!

3 weeks 6 days

Posted by carrie at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

Phew! No work traveling :) And, my office mate is being reassigned to another project next week, so I'll have my office to myself for a bit. Just in time (and hopefully for a while) for any morning sickness to kick in. Now I can puke in private! ;) I'll miss my office mate, but yeah, I was wondering how I was going to handle hiding my symptoms!

3 weeks 6 days

Posted by carrie at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments

Well, I don't think the tiredness was a pregnancy symptom. I feel fine today, so maybe I was just overtired from the past week, as the excitement from Monday wears down :) No other symptoms to complain about... I still feel fine! I'm nervous about my food intake though. I have been counting points for so long on Weight Watchers, that I'm not sure what my "normal" point range should be. I don't want to diet, but I don't want to just let it all go, and gain a million pounds while pregnant either. So for now, I'm just eating when I'm hungry, and not stuffing myself. I'm also eating good fruits and veggies, organic yogurt and milk, and drinking only water. Sometimes I'll have a Crystal Light packet, despite the aspertame concerns. It's only like 1 every other day... not that big of a deal. I also don't plan on cutting out deli meats, but I will refrain from caffeine, soft cheeses, and tuna.

I found out today that I might have to travel for work for 3 days at the end of April. *sigh* I'll be right at 6 1/2 weeks, when the dreaded morning sickness symptoms usually start. I'm really praying that they don't kick in, or else it will be really hard to explain myself to work. I didn't want to tell them that early, but nature may force my hand. It also meant that I had to move my first doctor appointment (well, ok, technically my 2nd), to the following Monday, May 5th. Joe would have had a hard time making it on a Friday morning anyway, so Monday works out much better :)

So that's all the news so far. This week has flown by... in stark contrast to last week's agonizing wait :) Every day I kept waiting for my temps to fall, but each day, they stayed the same. I have to say, I'm still nervous that they are not that high, and I half-keep waiting for them to drop. It still doesn't feel 100% real yet... I think I'll need more symptoms or that first heartbeat for it to really sink in.

Someone on the nest yesterday asked about if you and your husband talked about how you'd raise your kids before you decided to have them. Honestly, Joe and I didn't have a sit down, heart-to-heart about it, but we were both raised very similarly, have the same values and goals, so I don't think our parenting styles will be that different. We're a long way away from "time outs" and allowances... and I think a lot of that stuff depends on your kid's personality. So we'll make sure we keep the communication lines open, but other than that, I don't have any specific plans for how to raise our baby. I'm not that well versed in child care anyway, to know what my options are... so it will definitely be a learning experience for both of us! :)

And as for how we decided we were ready? Basically, we waited until we were in a comfortable financial position (especially to afford the $1500/month daycare out here), and then once we were, it just felt like it was time. I still go through periods of "what did we do?"... and I'm really scared I'm not going to know what the heck I'm doing... but I also know that I've got a lot of support from people in my life, who will be there for me to reach out to with any questions I have. So that was enough to let me know we'd be ok... and so here we are :)

3 weeks 6 days

Posted by carrie at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

It could be my first "symptom"... or it could be that I'm just over tired. Either way, I almost passed out on my way home from work tonight, and took an hour nap after walking the dog. I was so exhausted... but now I'm awake and back to cooking dinner. So if it continues, it sucks... but if that's all I have, I'll take it :)

Other than that, nothing new to report. These first few weeks, I don't change much. It's really, really, really hard not telling everyone. I know why you should wait... in case something happens. But god... it would make it so much easier if everyone just knew already! It's going to be a long 8 more weeks...

Only 3 and a half more weeks til our first appointment though! :)

3 weeks 5 days

Posted by carrie at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

And, one more for good measure:



:) Just so we're clear ;) BFP = big fat positive, as in positive pregnancy test, for those not in the know.

Dr. appointment today went well. I actually talked to the doctor for a second, but when he realized that I was only 11 days past my ovulation date, he told me it was really too early to test for anything. They had mistakenly had me come in for what would have been my visit at 8 weeks... so they apologized, and rescheduled for 6 1/2 weeks from now. Which is good, because I thought I was only seeing the NP, and I didn't come prepared with my 1,001 questions. That, and Joe wants to come with me to ask his own questions, and it would help to have him with me for support.

Anyway, so yeah, other than just confirming I'm pregnant and my due date (I was right, 12/19/08), I got a bunch of fun pamphlets and booklets, and handouts about all the testing they do, to scare the crap out of you. Seriously... those things are frightening... especially when you read the one about a needle going through your abdomen, and that there is a 1% chance of miscarriage as a result! Whoo boy! Good thing I have a while before it comes to that decision.

For now, I just get to bounce along for a few weeks, and enjoy knowing without feeling any symptoms :)

3 weeks 4 days

Posted by carrie at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Oh... and if I've told you, and you read this... do NOT tell my mom yet!!! If she finds out before Mother's Day, it will totally ruin the surprise :)

Posted by carrie at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

I wanted to start a blog about my pregnancy journey seperate from my main blog mainly because a) I can't tell everyone yet, it's too early and b) not everyone wants to read about my pregnancy woes/thrills :)

So yep, for those of you that found me here... I'm pregnant! I've been charting and testing since February... and yesterday morning I saw the faintest, faintest lines:



Yeah, you really have to squint, but they're there!! And as they say, a line is a line, no matter how dark. I told Joe early, but he didn't want to get his hopes up until I took another test this morning. So I did, and voila:



Much darker this time! I called my Dr. to set up my 1st appointment at 8 weeks, and they want me to come in at 2pm today to verify that I'm actually pregnant. So that's fun! I'm only seeing the Nurse Practitioner, but it's still my first official dr. appointment as a pregnant lady :)

Now to break the news to everyone... first will be key friends that would kill me if they didn't find out first... then I'm waiting until Mother's Day to tell my mom. I'm planning on getting her a frame with "future baby Nelson" inside, as well as a Grandmother's Mother's Day card. It will be great, since she's been hinting at grandchildren for a while now :) Then we break the news to Joe's parents on Memorial Day, when we travel to see them for the weekend. I'm so excited!!! It's going to be so hard to wait to tell most people. But Joe is really nervous that we should wait til the 12 week mark, in case anything bad happens. My view: I'm going to need support if anything happens, so I need my key people to know what's going on.

Anyway, as far as how I feel... no symptoms at all! I feel completely normal... and I'm sure I'll miss this time when/if morning sickness kicks in at 6 weeks :)

So according to due date forcasters online, my official due date is December 19, 2008 (a week before Christmas). So Joe's birthday is Oct 21, mine is Nov 19, and baby's is around Dec 19 :) All right in a row! Should make for a fun fall from now on :)

Anyway, I'll update with more after the dr. appointment later today... I just wanted to kick this off, since I still can't tell anyone, and I'm so excited!!!! :) :) :)

Posted by carrie at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments