June 17th Check Up

I went to the doctor last Wednesday. It was just a routine 15 minute check up. I weighed in and have gained about 12 pounds to date. Supposedly your suppose to gain in between 10 and 15 pounds so I'm right where I need to be. It still is no fun getting on that scale when you know the numbers can jump so drastically from the month before when you came in, but she did say the baby would double from last visit to this visit so that accounts for the extra 5 and a half pounds. We discussed c-sections and birthing classes and also got to hear the heartbeat. She said that as of now I look good for a vaginal birth but we would reconsider towards the end when we saw just how big Liam is going to be. She also said she didn't feel the birthing classes were necessary so I'm not sure that Richard and I will attempt those. We will see. My next visit is in three weeks. I'll have to drink the sugar drink and get my blood drawn for the glucose test. I'm not looking forward to it, but again it's part of it. His heart beat was at 159, she said he was excited. I think he always is. I can almost constantly feel him moving now even standing up, that is until someone wants to feel him kick and then of course his stops. It is such a surreal feeling to have a living being constantly moving in your body. It's just to hard to explain to someone who hasn't felt it.

This week we got the room painted with taupe and cream stripes. It's so cute. We went furniture shopping and I found exactly what I want from JCPenny but when we went to order it the shipping cost an extra 250 dollars so we decided to put it off for a bit. I don't know what I really want now but we will figure something out. I'm just glad the guest room and his room are semi-complete and painted now. I have 17 weeks left if I go full term which is really just 4 months. Ready to see what this baby looks like. I really would love to have a maternity photo session around 30 weeks or so. I have to capture this big belly, even though it's not my favorite :). There's just a lot to think about.......

Update

Well it's been about three weeks since I last updated. I think I have definitely grown since then and have been feeling a variation of different yet new symptoms. The doctor told me that between my 18 week visit and my visit coming up next week at 22 weeks the baby would double in size and I would blossom out too. She was certainly right. I have a definite pooch now and can feel my sides stretching and aching almost daily. At 18 weeks I had gained 7 lbs and I think I have probably added on about 4 or 5 more. We will find out next Wednesday. Typically you are supposed to gain anywhere between 10 and 15 pounds at this point. Oh the joys of weight gain. I haven't been eating a lot, am walking everyday, and trying not to eat to much if any junk food. I think every body is just different in how and where they gain weight. It seems to be all belly/chest now :) But it has been hard to see myself gaining weight. I have always been a petite person but I think its hard for any woman to see the scale increase daily! That has been hard.

The aching, stretching stomach has been uncomfortable too. It feels like I just have aching sides all the time. It almost as if someone is pulling down on my stomach. No stretch marks, yet though. I'm trying to be really conscious of that. My doctor said they are genetic and my mom never got any herself so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Let's see, another symptom....how about sleeplessness and restlessness at night. I wasn't sleeping to bad until the past few weeks. Getting up to use the bathroom on top of feeling uncomfortable in almost all positions is already getting me at 5 months! I can't even imagine what it will be like at 8 months. Oh joy. I'm going to have to invest in a body pillow to prop my stomach up on while I sleep :). I miss sleeping or just being able to lay on my belly!

Other than those things I'm not feeling sick or to tired. I feel pretty normal other than the few aches, pains, and frequent potty breaks! :)

Liam is so active now. I feel him every time I sit down. The kicks are getting a lot stronger and a lot more spread out across my belly. I can actually see my belly moving now! He is about 7 inches or more. Comparable to a large banana in length. I can't believe he's already that big. It's still hard for me to imagine that there is a human life growing inside of me. I don't think it will seem completely real until I hold him.

I'm hoping to start the nursery soon. I've been working on the guest room and will move into that next. Well that's my update for now. I'll update again after the next appointment. :)

It's A BOY!!

I have to say that last Wednesday was an emotional one. I will go ahead and admit that I was bit sad to hear it was boy at first. I had secretly hoped it was a girl the entire time and Richard's hope for a girl added that much more to the disappointment I felt when I first heard the news. It was an emotional ride home to say the least. I was feeling guilty for being upset about a boy, feeling nervous about the idea of raising a boy, and a little shocked to be honest. I guess I had always seen myself as having girls. The appointment/ultrasound went wonderful. I have gained 7.5 pounds so far and Dr. McGuire said I couldn't have a more perfect baby. Every thing measured well and he is developing perfectly. She said he was actually measuring a week ahead because of how LONG he is. Since his daddy is 6'4, I sort of expected that! She also commented on his second toe being longer than his first, just like Rich's ;). Below is a link to the ultrasound....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9N1-2XREoI

Needless to say the shock has since wore off and the idea of a baby boy has begun to set in. My parents were ecstatic seeing that my dad has never had any boys around, and he was even more thrilled to find out his middle name was Morgan after him and his father. He even cried a little for me :). Everyone else's reactions were wonderful. My sister screamed at the top of her lungs and my friends were really supportive and sweet. I'm excited to raise a boy with Carrie. Hopefully Mayer and Liam will be great friends!

If I could chose the gender of my children it would be a baby boy first. I will get my Liliana Rose one day :) She'll be a wonderful joy but this baby boy will be the perfect first addition.Everyone has told me that raising boys are easy and less expensive and that its good to have that older protective brother first. I have to insert a note my wonderful friend Corrie wrote me about having a boy. After reading her letter I was so relieved and have since gotten secretly excited about the idea of having a sweet baby boy who loves his momma. Below is her letter.....

With a boy, you will have this connection-- can't really be explained-- that is so tender and precious. He will light up your heart. With a girl, there are times when you would feel in competition with her for Richard's affection (at least I used to) and sometimes you would miss being the only girl in his heart. But having a boy, you are giving him an HEIR...Many couples try over and over again to have that first boy, and you are having one the very first try!! This boy will be a Van Kluyve for the rest of his life, and will be Richard's legacy. Boy's are also easier than girls-- emotionally, and with clothes, etc...and although you are looking forward to doing all the girly stuff with a daughter one day, boys are an easier way to learn how to be a mommy..honestly. Then when you have a daughter, you will have a lot of the difficult new experiences already under your belt. Not only that, but I have two older brothers...and let me tell you...I wouldn't trade that relationship for ANYTHING. Stan, especially, has been a rock in my life and I cannot imagine not having a protective older brother!! Now, when you have a little girl, she will have an older brother to protect her and drive her places before she gets her license and fight off her suitors and...and...and... The list is endless. Not only that, but one day your son will be an adult himself, and when he looks at you with such love and devotion, you will be reminded what a miracle from God he is. There is a friction you will feel with a girl, emotionally, that though you wouldn't trade her for anything, can be very frustrating. You won't have that friction with a son.

She always makes me feel so much better. So the planning begins. After telling everyone about the news and letting the news sink in, I am ready to start getting ready for this little guy. I can't wait to see his room finished and imagine him being in it. I'm going to try and enjoy these last few months with my hubby though because I know it will never be the same. I am looking forward to the change though. I think having a family will draw us that much more together. We are already talking to him and singing to him. He will have to get used to the idea that his parents are crazy, crazy in love and crazy about him :).

So here's to our baby boy, that will be spoiled rotten, dressed to the max (thanks to dad), and deeply loved. :)

I love you Liam Morgan already more than you know!

Dear Baby

I'm in my 18th week and tomorrow at 9:45 we are finding out what this little booger is. For four and a half months I've carried this little bean with me, and tomorrow I will finally feel truly connected. I'm anxious and excited. Either way, boy or girl, I know this baby will be more loved and more spoiled than it can ever imagine!

This baby is the first grandchild on both sides of the family. Richard's side has all boys and my said has many girls, so either way everyone is ready to know. I'm excited to start getting ready for this little one. Nursery, clothes, the whole works! I think after tomorrow this whole pregnancy will feel that much more real!

I've been feeling good. I can tell my stomach is stretching and moving by the pressure and achiness but other than that, I don't feel pregnant much anymore, that is until I feel the squirming going on inside. The movements are still sporadic but more consistent. It's hard to describe to someone what it exactly feels like. Just like tiny pops and jolts of popcorn in your lower tummy. Tomorrow we will get the whole anatomy screening. We will see its face, lips, hands, legs, etc...finally it will look like a ready baby instead of a tiny bean. :)!! I wrote a short letter to this little one and am posting it below. I'm more or less doing this so that I can print these blogs and put it in his or her baby book as a record of how he/she was carried into this world. Wahooo for tomorrow!


Dear Little One,

For as long as I remember, you have been on my heart and in my thoughts. Growing up all I every wanted with my life was to love a child. Only the Lord could have foreseen what my life would look like, and even then as I played with dolls HE knew I'd be sitting here now with you inside me. He's knitting you together perfectly for his will, and I am already completely astounded at the miracle that you are. You've already taught me patience and perseverance, and I am utterly looking forward to meeting you. Whether or not you are a boy a girl, you will be loved for the gifts and talents the Lord is instilling in you as we speak. You will be shown His love, taught how to be honest, patient, and most importantly loving. There are so many wonderful things I want to teach you and show you, and I am grateful to have been given this chance to carry such a miracle into this world. Your Dad and I promise to love you unconditionally for our entire lives and for our everlasting lives with Him.
I love you, Mom :)

16th Week

Here's a pictures of what a baby looks like at 16 weeks.

I'm coming to the close of my 16th week. I am heading strong into my 4th month. It really does seem to go by fast. Well at least at times. I am ready for it to though. This week I've experienced a lot of firsts. On Monday, I started feeling movement for the first time. I might have been feeling it a few weeks ago, but I officially recognized it as being the baby this week. It feels like tiny popcorn inside your belly. I just love to imagine what it's doing inside there. :) Everytime I sneeze, it moves a little :). Wednesday night (5/6) was the first time that Richard felt it with his hand. He was to cute about it. He was grinning from ear to ear, and I was laughing at him because he kept saying "shhhh" "shhhh"! I asked told him it didn't matter if I was talking or not and he said it helped him "concentrate" more if I was quiet. So every night since then we get in bed together and his hand travels right to my belly. To me the baby is most active mid day and right when I get in bed. That may be because I am sitting long enough to notice it moving but it is a fun treat at night for the both of us. Physically I've been feeling pretty normal. I've just started getting those side muscle ache's from the streching today. It feels like I just worked my abs out for hours. I guess it comes with the streching, but it's not a lot of fun. It's hard seeing your body change so much. Get ready girls it will all be different! Other than feeling tired at times, I'm doing good. Only 10 more days until we know what this little one is! I am ready for that! Ready to see this baby again on ultrasound too. It's comforting though feeling it move now. I'm still finding myself a little leary of all the attention. I'm not one who likes attention in the first place and it seems that's all I'm getting. I know it will only get worse too. I'll take it in stride! We are going to try and narrow down our names this week so that we can have our name to anounce when we find out what we are having. :) I got a few baby gifts this week too:) A bottle warmer unit, some stuffed animals, and a swaddler. I can't imagine what the first grandchild will rake in :). Poor spoiled thing. Well today was my first Mother's Day. It was exciting to hear. Sometimes I'm so ready to meet this little life and at other times I'm trying to soak in all my quiet moments with Rich :). Oh the wave of emotion it all brings. It truley takes over all parts of you but as everyone says "It will all be worth it."

On to week 17! I can't believe there are 40!

15 Week Appointment

Yesterday was my 15 week check up. Same ole' same ole' though. I got weighed, got a few questions answered, and heard that heartbeat on doppler. That is always comforting. At first she couldn't find the heartbeat and said the baby was just moving to fast for her to catch it. Then she realized that she needed her other wand that that measured shorter depths. She said because I was petite I didn't need the deeper depth wand. So she went and got the shorter one and immediately there was the heartbeat. Fast again first starting at 159 then jumping up to 163. I asked her if she thought girls had higher heart rates and she said that in the last trimester girls almost always have higher heartbeats. She said that is why delivery nurses can guess what your having by the heart monitors. She said it's hard to tell when babies are this small and that most babies at this stage measure anywhere from 150 to 160. So we will see. I also have still only gained 3.5 pounds. I was sure I had gained more but nothing yet. She said that she's seen some mothers not gain anything until after 6 months. So I figure that 3.5 at 4 months is pretty decent. I can definitely feel my uterus moving up. It's to the point now that Richard can feel it too. It starts real low and is slowly making its way toward my belly button. I think have have felt a few different movements but she said that most mothers don't fully recognize a baby kick until around 18 weeks. She said I may be feeling something but because I haven't had a baby before I could easily mistake it for gas or simple rumbling. Since all your organs are being shifted around it's easy to feel anything weird at this point.  So we find out in three weeks what this little one is. Hopefully I will really narrow down some names in that time frame. I'm hoping to get a baby name book I can mark up soon. Once we find out what this little one is the room and everything will start taking shape. Then the excitement builds even more. I'm trying to post a video of my baby's heartbeat from yesterday but it won't up load, I might try later. 

14 Weeks

Well nothing much exciting has happened in the past two weeks with the pregnancy. My belly is growing though. I've felt reasonably good. I guess it's true, after 12 weeks you start to feel a bit normal again. I have to admit though that 9 months is truly a long time for your body to feel so abnormal. Everything is focused on and geared toward making this life inside of me. It is still so crazy to think about. I've decided that the first 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy are just not fun. You just feel tired and not normal. Nothing about you seems to be the way it was. I often asked myself if I'd ever feel normal again :). Its just that in the first few weeks you don't feel pregnant, you feel bloated, and you just feel weird. You can't feel the baby or know what it is you just are in waiting mode. I hate to complain because I have it it reasonably well with little sickness. I'm just tired of feeling like I'm living in a foreign body. I know I have 6 more months of this too. Once we find out what it is in four weeks and I can feel this little baby moving, I think I'll feel wonderfully different. I'm just venting a bit :). I'm preparing all you unpregnant women for what may come. You may love being pregnant though. A few symptoms I've had lately are weird aching pains in all over my stomach. Stretching, moving, pulling aches that are just plain unnatural. I guess my belly is just shifting and rotating and making more room. I've also had a heightened sense of smell. I can smell EVERYTHING even when Richard doesn't. It's strange. I also have the weirdest aftertaste after everything I eat. I just want to brush my teeth all the time. Strange happenings I know.

I'm posting the last picture of my belly. It's ever growing. :) That's about it for now. Off to play bunco tonight! :)