So we're now at 16 weeks! I had another appointment on Thursday to hear the heartbeat again. I was so excited: there is something extremely reassuring about hearing it. I'm growing by leaps and bounds which means the baby is too. Baby Mauldin is now the size of an avocado. The week that it was the size of a lemon, I bought a lemon at the store and drew a face on it. I "swaddled" it in a paper towel and took it to Jared while he was studying and said "It's your turn." He got a kick out of it.
We leave to go on our Christmas vacation this week. I'm so happy I'm showing so that the fam can see. I'm still feeling really well. I had a little bit of weird stomach feeling last week. It started with some indigestion then just strange twinges. The doc said to keep some liquid antacid on hand and that the twinges were probably things just stretching and moving. I figure if the baby is growing faster, then so is my tummy. I've done much better in the past few days. I've also read that now is about the time I may be feeling the baby start to move! I cannot wait to feel it move! I also read that the baby should now be able to hear me talk, so I'm going to start singing and talking to it extra and maybe read out loud when I can. I really love going into the "baby room" and thinking about how I might decorate and just imagining the baby being in there next year. Sometimes as I go down our stairs, I imagine myself carrying the baby downstairs after a nap. It may be silly, but I guess that's the "mommy" feeling that I'm starting to acquire.
Work is wrapping up. I just work tomorrow and then I'm finished for about a month. Jared finished with work/school on Friday. He did great on his exams. We both feel very fortunate to have a lot of time off this Christmas. We will get to see most of our families and spend tons of time together. We are very blessed! Jared has recovered from some injuries so he is getting back into cycling and running, while continuing to swim and surf when he can. I'm still running though, I promise I take it easy. Bernie and I went for a great run today. The weather here was perfect- about 65 degrees. It was beautiful. We went on a run that has a great view and I felt so good! Bernie is a great running companion.
On Friday morning I was baking for hours just to give treats to neighbors and friends and to take to work and the Army/Navy party we went to on Saturday. Jared asked me what on earth I was doing baking so much. I stopped in my tracks and realized that I didn't normally bake that much, I said maybe it was the pregnancy or maybe it was just because I like to bake. I realized though how good I felt and how much fun I was having. All that to say, life is good! God is good!
We'll find out January 14th what the sex is. I'm going to try to figure out how to put one of those polls on here so that people can vote on which they think it will be. We're so excited to find out.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Baby Mauldin- Week 8 Ultrasound
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
160bpm
On Friday, Nov. 17th, we had our 2nd appointment to check on the baby. The doctor used the doppler to hear the heartbeat: 160bpm!!! That's so fast! My bloodwork all came back fine and the doctor said everything is good. What a good report! Every appointment brings on a little bit of nerves (the first one more than this one, of course). Jared went with me and we got in and out a lot more quickly than the time before. It's so fun to see the other pregnant women going in and out.
The doctor felt my belly and said that I feel more like 14 weeks than 12, but I've only gained 3 pounds- probably because I didn't ever get sick. I can feel the baby bump and it seems to be growing quickly. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it feels more firm than I thought it would. I bought 3 pairs of maternity pants last week. I wanted to be set for the holidays. The next few weeks will be very busy with Jared's family in this week (so exciting!) for Thanksgiving, then two full weeks of work and prep for Christmas, and finally our trip to Alabama and Texas for Christmas. I actually wore the Bella band today. It's this crazy band you wear around your waist/hips region over the top of your pants, so that you can unbutton your pants to make them more comfortable. It looks more like a tube-top or a miniskirt. It was much more comfortable!!! I'm definitely in the in-between stage where I can still wear my normal pants, but, if I eat too much (and you know how that goes around the holidays), my pants are NOT comfortable. As soon as I think you can tell in a picture, I'll post one. I plan to have Dan, my brother-in-law, take a good picture of Jared, me, and Bernie this week, so I'll probably post that one.
I wouldn't say I'm feeling all energetic all of a sudden like I thought I might at the start of the second trimester, but I am feeling pretty good. Jared and I went to bed by 10 last night and slept until 7:30!!!! I guess he needs lots of sympathy sleep too : )
Like I said, we're having Jared's mom and dad visit this week. It's so good to have them here. Jared's mom is an awesome cook and is taking care of a lot of it for me, since I still have to work this week. I love Thanksgiving and this year I think I am more thankful than ever for life and the blessings God has given us. We seem to be making more and more friends that have had trouble conceiving or cannot conceive and I am just incredibly thankful for our baby and for not having to try too long. We tried for about ten months (Jared was gone a couple of those) and even that was so hard! Each month is more and more stressful and you start to feel more and more hopeless. God is faithful though. I do want to say though, if you know of people in your life who may be trying or are around the age of trying to have babies- be sensitive!!! It was sometimes difficult to even answer the question, "When are you going to start trying?" I'll give you a hint- most people who are trying won't just come out and say it. Just be easy on those 20 or 30 somethings out there. It's hard- it's much harder than I thought, at least.
Anyways, I'm thankful for each of you. I'm thankful for the abundance of life- may we not take it for granted. May God bless you all this Thanksgiving.
Another update in two weeks- my next appointment is Dec. 9. No ultrasound then, so we aren't going to know the gender of the baby until after Christmas, but I'll hear the heartbeat again and just get checked out one more time before the holidays.
Until next time-- Katie and the bun-in-the-oven
The doctor felt my belly and said that I feel more like 14 weeks than 12, but I've only gained 3 pounds- probably because I didn't ever get sick. I can feel the baby bump and it seems to be growing quickly. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it feels more firm than I thought it would. I bought 3 pairs of maternity pants last week. I wanted to be set for the holidays. The next few weeks will be very busy with Jared's family in this week (so exciting!) for Thanksgiving, then two full weeks of work and prep for Christmas, and finally our trip to Alabama and Texas for Christmas. I actually wore the Bella band today. It's this crazy band you wear around your waist/hips region over the top of your pants, so that you can unbutton your pants to make them more comfortable. It looks more like a tube-top or a miniskirt. It was much more comfortable!!! I'm definitely in the in-between stage where I can still wear my normal pants, but, if I eat too much (and you know how that goes around the holidays), my pants are NOT comfortable. As soon as I think you can tell in a picture, I'll post one. I plan to have Dan, my brother-in-law, take a good picture of Jared, me, and Bernie this week, so I'll probably post that one.
I wouldn't say I'm feeling all energetic all of a sudden like I thought I might at the start of the second trimester, but I am feeling pretty good. Jared and I went to bed by 10 last night and slept until 7:30!!!! I guess he needs lots of sympathy sleep too : )
Like I said, we're having Jared's mom and dad visit this week. It's so good to have them here. Jared's mom is an awesome cook and is taking care of a lot of it for me, since I still have to work this week. I love Thanksgiving and this year I think I am more thankful than ever for life and the blessings God has given us. We seem to be making more and more friends that have had trouble conceiving or cannot conceive and I am just incredibly thankful for our baby and for not having to try too long. We tried for about ten months (Jared was gone a couple of those) and even that was so hard! Each month is more and more stressful and you start to feel more and more hopeless. God is faithful though. I do want to say though, if you know of people in your life who may be trying or are around the age of trying to have babies- be sensitive!!! It was sometimes difficult to even answer the question, "When are you going to start trying?" I'll give you a hint- most people who are trying won't just come out and say it. Just be easy on those 20 or 30 somethings out there. It's hard- it's much harder than I thought, at least.
Anyways, I'm thankful for each of you. I'm thankful for the abundance of life- may we not take it for granted. May God bless you all this Thanksgiving.
Another update in two weeks- my next appointment is Dec. 9. No ultrasound then, so we aren't going to know the gender of the baby until after Christmas, but I'll hear the heartbeat again and just get checked out one more time before the holidays.
Until next time-- Katie and the bun-in-the-oven
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Baby Blog Debut
As the first trimester is coming to a close, I thought it the perfect time to debut the new Baby Blog. Everything is going great so far. The first trimester went by very smoothly. I had only one week of feeling sick, but I never actually "got sick." I'm very thankful for how well and how easy it went. Time is flying by! With me working, Jared busy with school, and keeping house, the days really go by fast. We keep pretty busy on the weekends trying to see the sights around here and just catch up on errands.
I took a trip in October to see my new niece, Sydney, in Alabama. It was wonderful! I will say, I found out how difficult it is to live away from family when a baby is born. I experienced this with my niece, Elizabeth, a few years ago. That was hard too. It was sad not being there for baby showers and all the excitement, and just the thought of not getting to spend much time with her as she grows. This time was even harder, as it was my sister having the baby. I don't think the pregnancy hormones helped any!
As a military wife though, I've learned that friends become family, and I am very thankful to have already made some friends in Monterey! And, as long as I have my wonderful husband, all is well! Jared has already been so supportive and helpful. He carries the laundry baskets up the stairs and is good to do lots of chores. He's been very interested and likes to talk about the future with the baby. He's into looking at jogging strollers online and picking out a more suitable car for us for when the baby arrives.
It's been so much fun to tell family and friends about the coming baby. I actually got to tell my sisters and grandparents while I was in Alabama, which was so much fun and a huge gift! Our nieces and nephews in Florida were very excited. Jared's brother and his wife have four kids from ages 3-10. They are a blast and we will get to see them at Christmas. One of them has even offered to babysit already!
Jared's parents are coming next week for Thanksgiving and having the "bun in the oven" will make the holidays an even more exciting time. For Christmas we will visit family in Alabama and Texas.
I believe I'm starting to show just a little bit. I don't think people can tell, but I sure can. The jeans are pretty tight after I eat and I'm sitting down. I looked in the mirror last week and said, "Oh well, I don't need to wear this shirt again while pregnant." At this stage it just looks like I've put on a few pounds, but it still exciting!
That's all for now. I'm going to try to post something new about every two weeks! Enjoy!
I took a trip in October to see my new niece, Sydney, in Alabama. It was wonderful! I will say, I found out how difficult it is to live away from family when a baby is born. I experienced this with my niece, Elizabeth, a few years ago. That was hard too. It was sad not being there for baby showers and all the excitement, and just the thought of not getting to spend much time with her as she grows. This time was even harder, as it was my sister having the baby. I don't think the pregnancy hormones helped any!
As a military wife though, I've learned that friends become family, and I am very thankful to have already made some friends in Monterey! And, as long as I have my wonderful husband, all is well! Jared has already been so supportive and helpful. He carries the laundry baskets up the stairs and is good to do lots of chores. He's been very interested and likes to talk about the future with the baby. He's into looking at jogging strollers online and picking out a more suitable car for us for when the baby arrives.
It's been so much fun to tell family and friends about the coming baby. I actually got to tell my sisters and grandparents while I was in Alabama, which was so much fun and a huge gift! Our nieces and nephews in Florida were very excited. Jared's brother and his wife have four kids from ages 3-10. They are a blast and we will get to see them at Christmas. One of them has even offered to babysit already!
Jared's parents are coming next week for Thanksgiving and having the "bun in the oven" will make the holidays an even more exciting time. For Christmas we will visit family in Alabama and Texas.
I believe I'm starting to show just a little bit. I don't think people can tell, but I sure can. The jeans are pretty tight after I eat and I'm sitting down. I looked in the mirror last week and said, "Oh well, I don't need to wear this shirt again while pregnant." At this stage it just looks like I've put on a few pounds, but it still exciting!
That's all for now. I'm going to try to post something new about every two weeks! Enjoy!
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