carrie's first pregnancy

Woohoo! I'm 11 weeks today, and we've told *almost* everyone about the baby. We're seeing Aunt Signe tomorrow, and then telling the rest of our friends who still don't know. But once family knows, I'll post it on my main blog, and I'm sure word will start getting around :)

I'm still feeling great, and it was really fun back in NY telling Joe's family. We waited until we got there on Thursday, and everyone was home for dinner. Joe's grandmother commented that my skin looked "rosy" before we even said anything, which made me laugh. And then when Joe said we had news, she shouted "I knew it! You're expecting!" and we all had a good laugh. Lots of hugs and excitedness, and then the rest of the weekend we discussed names and nursery ideas :)

We got home on Wednesday afternoon, and then got a call from Joe's mom saying her neighbor has the shingles (the same neighbor we hung out with over the weekend). They were really worried that it meant they exposed me, and that I was at risk of having the baby being born with a birth defect. I was sure it was fine, and called the doctor just to make sure. Sure enough, since I had the chicken pox when I was younger, I can't catch shingles from someone else. Had I NOT had chicken pox, I could have caught it, and then the baby would be at risk, but my doctor isn't worried at all, so neither am I :)

Baby is growing, and I managed to gain some more weight over the weekend. I'm up to 4.5 lbs total as of this morning. Not ideal, and not the 2 lbs I was hoping to maintain for the next two weeks, but I guess it's not terrible. My work pants still fit, and the maternity jeans are the most comfortable pants I own :) I'm no longer craving cheese like mad, and I'm back to feeling normal, and don't have any pregnancy symptoms anymore. That's not a complaint, believe me! :) Here is what is going on with baby this week:



So baby is hiccuping, but yeah, I don't feel a thing :) Next week (at the 12 week mark) I'll post an updated belly shot, even though I don't feel like I've changed at all. We have our next appointment on Wednesday morning (they bumped it from Monday)... and we get to hear the heartbeat! Then the following Monday is our 1st trimester screening ultrasound where Joe will get to see the baby for the first time :) We can't wait!!

11 weeks

Posted by carrie at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, I'm not officially 10 weeks yet (still have two more days), but I'm off to New York for the holiday weekend, and I won't have access to a computer until we get back on Wednesday. By then, I'll be almost 11 weeks, so I figured now was as good a time as any to talk about how baby is growing for the next week (from babycenter.com):



Lots going on with baby this week :) We are travelling up to NY to tell Joe's family the good news, and I can't wait! We are leaving in the morning, and then arriving in the early afternoon. We'll hang out at his house til his parents get home, and then hopefully we can hold off on telling them until we get to his grandparent's house for dinner, and tell all four of them at once. If we can't get them together, we will probably tell his parents first, and then go visit his grandparents the next day, and tell them the news then. We don't have any special way to tell them... I think we'll just blurt it out ;) Either way, everyone is going to be very excited! Then we get to travel to Syracuse and tell our friends the news... and by then everyone should know! We can't wait!

So I'll be gone from tomorrow through next Wednesday... wish us luck (and cheap gas) ;)

As for how I'm feeling... still feel great! My pants are getting more snug, as the scale inches up another lb (bringing me to a total of 3lbs gained so far). I bought some bella bands to get me through work, since I can't afford to get suit pants just yet. So far, I can still button them and they look fine... but on my way home in the car, I need to breathe! ;) So I know it's just a matter of time before I need to use them. Other than the weight gain, and some slight pimple breakouts on my hairline (seriously, they are crazy, but luckily they are small enough not to show much)... I wouldn't know I was pregnant :) I'm still thanking the heavens that I've had it so easy so far, and hope it keeps up!

Anyway, we're off for vacation, and will post when we get back! Happy Memorial Day!

9 weeks 5 days

Posted by carrie at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Woohoo! I'm finally 9 weeks pregnant today, and starting my 10th week. This week marks the time that the baby graduates to officially becoming a "fetus", even though I don't really like the sound of that word. Anyway, here's what is going on with baby this week:



We only have 5 more days until we see Joe's parents and grandparents, to tell them the good news :) We're driving up to NY on Thursday morning, so we're planning on telling them over dinner that night, when they are all together. It's gonna be great! Then on Tuesday, we're driving up to Syracuse to tell our friends Shawn, Missy, Bob, and Kim the good news. They were so clever with telling us when Missy was pregnant with baby Will (Shawn brought down personlized golf balls that had "Baby Cornell" engraved on them), that Joe and I are trying to think of something equally as fun to tell them our news. Someone online suggested cookies/brownies with "Baby Nelson" written on them... that might be perfect :) Either way, they'll be excited! Then we're coming back on Wednesday, and the 2nd dr. appointment is on Monday, where we get to hear the heartbeat via the doppler. Fun!!

So far, I'm feeling better. The weight gain I had over last weekend has gone back down (I'm still eating a lot, but not gaining), so I'm still only at a 2lb gain so far for 1st trimester. I had to miss my yoga class last night, as I didn't get out of work in time, but I am planning on going on Saturday instead. My bloating has subsided, and though I've felt tired for a few days (like I have to nap when I get home from work for 20 min), it's nothing crazy. Still craving cheese, so I bought a block of cheddar from the store, and have been snacking on that little by little :) Hey, it's got calcium and protein, so it can't be too bad ;)

9 weeks

Posted by carrie at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

What a great Mother's Day! I flew to Michigan on Saturday morning, and was about to burst with the news. My mom picked us up, and when we got home, I gave her and my dad their tshirts saying "We found these in DC, and thought you'd like them". My mom reads hers out loud... "World's Best Grandma???... What?!?! Are you serious!?!?" and then the squealing and hugging commenced :) I made her open the card to read the due date, and then she proceeded to call my neighbor Shirley to exclaim "I'm going to be a Grandma!" :)

It was great! Then we went out to dinner with my mom's side of the family, and I got to share the news with all of my aunts over dinner. Everyone was very happy, and I am so lucky to have such a supportive family. They are already planning the baby shower for late September in Michigan ;)

I also spread the news to work this morning. I was asked if I'd like to be placed on a project with a year commitment, but knowing I'd need 6-8 weeks off at the end of the year put me in a bad position. So I told my supervisor and our team lead my situation... so much for waiting until July :) I just didn't want to get put on a client site knowing I'd need 2 months off, and causing a huge commotion when I could have just told them in the beginning.

So now all we have left to tell is Joe's family, over the Memorial Day weekend. Then everyone will know, and I can stop keeping the secret!

Still feeling great, and only gained 1/2 a pound over the weekend :) My mom said she never got morning sickness with me or my sister, so I do believe I can say I'm home free on that one :) Woohoo!

8 weeks 4 days

Posted by carrie at 8:01 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, it's official... I'm finally REALLY 8 weeks today :) So what's going on with baby? Well, he/she's the size of a quarter, and here's how he/she is doing (from babyzone.com):



Fun! We're finally off to Michigan tomorrow morning, and I can't wait to tell my folks! I got my mom a "congrats new grandma" mother's day card (yes, they actually make these), and a tshirt that says "World's Best Grandma". I also got my dad a shirt that says #1 Grandpa, and my plan is to give my mom and dad the shirts, saying "I found something in DC I think you guys will love", and then make my mom read the card :) I can't wait!!

And I have to put in a plug for GAP maternity. I walked in there last night desperate to find jeans that fit (and god forbid maybe a little flattering) so that I didn't have to lounge in sweatpants all weekend, and I totally scored on some size 12 (woohoo, 14's were too big!) long and lean jeans (my favorite). They also were having a sale on shirts, so I got 3 long sleeve t's for $30. So comfy! And actually flattering!!! First time I didn't feel like a stuffed sausage ;) They had some really cute shorts and shirts... now I know where to go when I need something to wear later this summer :) I also found a coupon code for Ann Taylor Loft maternity (LOFTMOM25 - 25% off your entire order, and free shipping), and found some really cute work shirts there! So now I know where to find work appropriate maternity clothes :)

I also started my prenatal yoga class last night, and loved it! Typical hormonal me though... at the point where we are supposed to be relaxing and just listening to the soothing music, I catch the lyrics about a mom singing to her baby, and I start *crying* in yoga. Seriously, I'm not joking :) They were happy tears, but god, these hormones are something else! I'm going to keep going to yoga on Thurs and Sat (when I'm in town)... and I'm actually sore (in a good way) today from all the stretching and toning. Should help my ickiness feeling, and help when I eventually go into labor.

Anyway, I'm going to try and leave work early today to get home and pack, and try to contain my excitement for tomorrow!

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

8 weeks

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

Saw this online today, and thought it would fun to try and guess the sex of the baby based on old wives tales :) The ones in bold are the ones that are true for me so far:

It's a boy if:

You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the extra weight out front
Your belly looks like a basketball
Your areolas have darkened considerably
You are carrying low
You are craving salty or sour foods
You are craving protein -- meats and cheese
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
Your hands are very dry
Your pillow faces north when you sleep
Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
Your urine is bright yellow in color
Your nose is spreading
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles
You are having headaches
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number

It's a girl if:

You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
Your left breast is larger than your right breast
Your hair develops red highlights
You are carrying high
Your belly looks like a watermelon
You are craving sweets
You are craving fruit
You crave orange juice
You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
Your face breaks out more than usual
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
Your breasts have really blossomed!
Your pillow faces south when you sleep
Your urine is a dull yellow color
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number


So based on this, we're having a boy! Only 12 more weeks until we find out for sure :)

7 weeks 6 days

Posted by carrie at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

Nothing like pregnancy to make you feel like a beached whale. I'm not even 8 weeks along yet, and I feel enormous. Part of it's bloat, part of it is the weight I gained over the past year, that I didn't lose before getting pregnant. When I first started dating Joe, I was a size 8, weighing 127 lbs. I was proud and comfortable at that weight, and had maintained it for about 2 years. At our wedding 2 years later, I was a size 12, weighing around 143. In the past year, I've gained about 5 more lbs, and my size 12's were a little snug. So knowing I can't lose any weight now that I'm pregnant, I went to Old Navy last night to get a pair of jeans that were comfortable, even if it meant buying the dreaded size 14 jeans. I haven't worn that size in over 5 years... close to the highest weight I've ever been. Seeing that number just kills me... but I sucked it up and tried them on anyway. I am glad to say that they are too big... but the size 12's are still too small.

So I give up. I'm trying really hard not to eat my weight in food, but this queasiness stuff makes it hard to quit snacking. I've been tracking my calories in babyfit.com, and so far, I've still only gained 2 lbs. If I can maintain that over the next 4 weeks, I will have reached my goal (and doctor suggested gain) of only 2lbs in the first trimester. I'm eating more salads and fruit... but yeah, I still feel gross. Not exercising hasn't helped either. I really don't like walking for hours on end, and I'm not allowed to run. So I'm going to check out the prenatal yoga class near my house, so that at least I'm doing SOMETHING to keep moving. I just hate this gross, puffy, squishy feeling. I have the bonus that at least it's nice weather, so if I do wind up going for a walk, it's not freezing outside :)

Anyway, I just hate clothes other than tshirts and sweatpants right now. I long for the day when I can go running again...

7 weeks 4 days

Posted by carrie at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

First "official" appointment today! Apparently the sonogram technician didn't write down the new due date she told me... she used my original due date, so I'm back to being due on 12/19. It's odd... but oh well. I guess I'll be due anywhere from 12/9 through 12/19... it's just a guess anyway. But for symptoms/tests sake, I'll go back to my original due date, to calculate how far along I am, until the doctor tells me otherwise. So today I'm no longer 8 weeks 6 days... I'm back to 7 weeks 3 days.

The exam went really well... Joe was a trooper through the exam, and didn't have much to say. We talked about how I'm opting for the Cystic Fibrosis test (which is just a blood test to see if I'm a carrier), and the Nucheal Translucency test. Which means we get to have another sonogram in about 4 weeks :) I also asked about the food questions... and according to my doctor, deli meat is fine, but watch the sodium on that. She also doesn't recommend any artificial sweetners, so no aspartame, splenda, anything.

Other than that, no exciting news to report. We leave Saturday morning to see my parents, and tell them the good news! Should be a fun time, and I'll officially be 8 weeks by then. Still a *little* early to be broadcasting the news, but since I saw the heartbeat already, our chances of miscarriage have dropped. So here's crossing our fingers that everything keeps going smoothly! :)

7 weeks 3 days

Posted by carrie at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Those of you that know me would find it hard to believe that chocolate is not my favorite food group right now :) I'm seriously always in the mood for cheese, especially if it comes with something salty like crackers, chips, or even bread. I had tostitos salsa con queso dip this week, and I already ate the whole jar. It has never tasted SO GOOD. :) No idea why, but that's what I crave. Someone mentioned baking chocolate chip cookies... and they really did not sound good at all. Very odd! I've also found that I get slightly nauseous if I don't eat every few hours... like right now, I just ate a snack at 10am, but it's 11:45, and my stomach is queasy. Not hungry... just like I've been riding in a car too long, queasy. When I snack, it goes away... so I have a lot of little meals (yogurt, banana, protein shake, string cheese, etc) that I keep with me, and it helps. That, and drinking room temperature water slowly. I don't know if that is the start of morning sickness or not... but so far that's as bad as the nausea has gotten. No sudden urges to puke, but definite queasiness. I'm still praying this is as bad as it gets!

First official doctor appointment on Monday with Joe! I'll be 8 weeks 6 days along, and hopefully I'll get to schedule another sonogram, so Joe can see his baby alive and kicking. Otherwise, we might have to wait til the 20 week mark before I get to see it again.

Anyway, wish us luck that things go well, and I'm sure I'll be back to report it :) Then next Saturday we fly to Michigan to finally tell my family... I can't WAIT!!!!! :)

8 weeks 3 days

Posted by carrie at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments