IT'S A GIRL!!!

Here I am, just moments before the ultrasound...

And here is our baby girl!!!

Everything looks healthy according to the ultrasound.  We got to see all 10 little toes!  The doctor said by the measurements, the baby is 12 ounces (more than the average 8-10 for her gestational age) and closer to 20 1/2 half weeks (although I know I know that estimated due date isn't correct).  It is good to know that the baby is growing, healthy, and being well-nourished.  She may be a big one!  Her heart rate was 150 beats per minute, and we saw her moving around.  The detail we saw in person was amazing.  As the doctor moved the wand over my belly, we saw every detail about her- every vertebrae, every rib, her nose and eyes and lips, her heart beating.  Although we could only see one dimension at a time, in person, they all came together to show us the first pictures that actually resemble our daughter.   Tyler's convinced she has a little pug nose, even, just like his.

When we got home, Tyler got to feel the baby kick!  Tiana was over and was able to feel it, too.  Friday was really an amazing day of bonding with the baby- finding out the gender, seeing her so clearly, and Tyler feeling her move.  We spent most of the weekend in awe over the daughter in my tummy.  I can't wait to meet her.

My BIG baby...

While I wait as patiently as possible for tomorrow's ultrasound appointment, I thought I'd post photos of my other baby.  He's now 6 months old and 70 pounds.  Hope you enjoy!

By the Numbers

By the numbers (as of today, Tuesday June 23rd, 9:30 pm):

146    days until my due date

5         days until I reach the halfway mark, 20 weeks

65.5   hours until my ultrasound appointment (Friday at 3pm)

8         ounces the baby weighs now, roughly

6         inches from the baby's crown to rump

2.5     average number of times per night I get up to pee

90      average number of minutes between daytime bathroom breaks

>20    number of times today I've felt the baby kick

4         number of meals I've eaten today

>70    grams of protein I consumed today

894    miles away Tyler is right now in Hartford, CT

4         number of non-chewable items I've snatched from Mico's jaws today

5         number of chew toys Mico has laying around the living room

96      pages of Pregnancy & Newborn magazine I read tonight

20      minutes until I fall asleep, if I make it that long

19 weeks!

I'm 19 weeks pregnant today!  The baby is 6 inches crown to rump (that's big!) and weighs about 8 ounces.  Last night we pulled out the tape measure and held up six inches against my belly, and it looked huge!  Here are photos of me this morning:

Saturday evening, we attended the wedding of one of Tyler's best college friends.  We had a great time with friends, many of whom we saw for the first time since telling friends we were expecting.  My dress was a bit of a tent by design (non-maternity!), but I still received plenty of compliments on my belly.  I do think it may have been the last time I dance like that while I'm pregnant, though- my stomach muscles can't quite handle the movements the way they used to now that they're stretching out!

And here, the proud daddy-to-be:

Happy Father's Day!

18.5 weeks

There's a rubberband holding those pants together at the button, which wasn't necessary in last week's photo.  I took this picture yesterday morning, and I swear I've gotten bigger since then even.  Baby and I are hitting a growth spurt!

18 Weeks!

Today I'm 18 weeks along.  154 days until my due date!  Want something to compare that to?  Obama has been in office 147 days by my count (that makes it feel like a long time!) and Christmas is 193 days away (that makes it feel like it won't be too long).  When I think that I am two weeks from being halfway, it feels like a very short amount of time to me.

I had an interesting occurrence today- my first truly weird pregnancy craving.  I was grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and picked up, among other things, peanut butter filled pretzels and wasabi peas.  On my car ride home, I ate them.  Both.  Together.  In the same bite.  My head was telling me that it was weird, that it shouldn't taste good together, that there should be something wrong.  And yet, when I tasted it in my mouth- salty pretzel, creamy, slightly sweet peanut butter, spicy horseradish-y wasabi, crunchy green pea... it just tasted so good.  

I came home and made a more sensible dinner after my snack attack. I sliced a golden heirloom tomato, sprinkled it with fresh cracked pepper and sea salt and drizzled it with extra virgin olive oil.  I have fresh basil in my patio garden, but that just didn't sound good to me (and yet, peanut butter pretzels with wasabi peas did?).  I sliced open a portion of fresh baguette and topped it with half of an avocado, sea salt, and extra virgin olive oil, just as it's served in Spain.  I made mushroom quinoa soup with dried porcini, shitake, black, and oyster mushrooms and quinoa for protein and whole grains.  And, because it sounded good, I heated up two premade Trader Joe's egg rolls.  I suppose it is another interesting combination of foods.  At least this time, I ate each portion of the meal separately.  

Chicago Blues Festival

We spent a good portion of our weekend in Grant Park at the Chicago Blues Festival.  Classical music may make a baby smarter, but I think a good dose of Chicago Blues will give our little one rhythm and soul.