Letters to a daughter from her parents, starting from before she was born

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

10 week journal

Hey baby!
Update time.  Tomorrow we finally go to the midwife. I'm not expecting another ultrasound, so we might have to use the shrimp picture in our announcement. I'm finally feeling better, in the sense that I'm not sick, but the nausea has come back with a vengeance. I know you're growing but could you take it easy next week? I would like a nice, relaxing, not stressful vacation!
We have a name picked out! Only if you're a girl though...if you're a boy, we're in trouble.  Please consider this as your genitals develop this week.

Thanks,
Mom


How Far Along: somewhere in the 10-11 week mark

Size of baby: My 10 week fruit in a prune, with the average size of 1.2 inches, and .14oz


Gender: No idea...I'm still rooting for a girl, but think you're a boy!

Movement:  Only in my dreams (literally I keep having dreams about when I can feel you move!)

How I'm Changing: Not much difference this week.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I go to the midwife tomorrow. I'm refusing to step onto a scale until then.

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing my 'maternity' skirts that my friend made me. I bought some new shirts from Old Navy as well.  I've got two pairs of capri's that 'fit' but sitting, they have to be unbuttoned and half unzipped. It isn't sexy, at all.

How I'm Feeling: I was GREAT last week...this week, you must be growing a lot b/c I feel like crap.  I've been pretty tired the last two days, but the pukey feeling all this week has been worse than ever before in this pregnancy, and nothing is really helping it.

Sleep: I was sleeping pretty well, but lately I've been getting up a little more. I think that if I don't wake up, I feel more rested and less nauseous. So, let's work on letting me sleep more!

What I miss: energy...and feeling like I have any semblance of control over my life and responsibilities.

What I'm Eating: I made this mistake of getting cereal and I'm eating that as a quick 'meal' of sorts. I just don't have the energy to make much, and strong smells make me SO sick.  One of those smells would be your dad cooking garlic and shrimp at 8am.  Thinking about it is making me gag.  Not cool, dude.  

Cravings: not really, although Molly put down a container of raspberries and I demolished almost the entire thing.

Best Moment this week: Tomorrow we go see the midwife!!  The 'a-ha' moment as I came up with our girls name was pretty rad!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

9 week journal

Let's just say that 8 weeks wasn't terribly kind to me, and ignore the lack of posting lately.  I first got a cold, and then woke up from a nap a few days after I'd recovered from that, with horribly swollen lymph nodes.  I'm not sure what was going on, but it appears I fought it off, and came out on top.  


How Far Along: 9.5 weeks (although I'm still claiming I'm at least 10 days farther along!)

Size of baby: Apparently you're the size of a kumquat, or green olive. .9 inches, .07 oz AND a doppler device might be able to pick up your heartbeat! 

Gender: We don't know...but we should take some bets.  

Movement:  We can't wait to feel you move.  

How I'm Changing: As my uterus is growing, it feels like a hard dome that I can cup my hands around by putting them flat facing in on my hips. It's amazing, and seems to be getting bigger. 


Total Weight Gain/Loss: Since I had lost a few pounds before getting pregnant I'm not sure where to start my weight gain from...but it's definitely more than I'd like, and I'm cutting back on the crappy food and how much/often I'm eating.  I'm doing so much better. 

Maternity Clothes: Yep! Jefe made me 3 skirts, and we went to Old Navy yesterday to buy some shirts.  

How I'm Feeling: AWESOME! I feel like I could do anything right now.  The last 48 hours have been FABULOUS, and I'm sleeping.  The nausea isn't there much, the food aversions are going away, and I haven't found myself gagging at the trash in at least a week!  I am a little worried about my back aching, but I made an effort to sleep with a pillow between or under my legs and it seemed to help.  

Sleep: I'm sleeping 8 hours at night for the first time in months. 

What I miss: losing weight:-/.  It's really difficult to go from losing weight consistently to gaining, and not feeling like you can exercise like you used to. I hope I can start doing Zumba again, even if it's at a much reduced intensity.  I need the movement.  

What I'm Eating: too many carbs :(.  Some jerk invented white cheddar cheetos, and I made the mistake of buying some. I also apparently really like jell-o. I need to really eat lots more protein though.  

Cravings: nothing crazy.  

Best Moment this week: Feeling human again!!  


We go to the midwife next week! On Monday we go to see the birthing center, and then Thursday is my first midwife appointment, and we'll meet the doula I interviewed.  I have a good feeling about this.  Pregnancy has, overall, been pretty easy.

Pictures: I don't look any different...so there's not really any point in posting them right now.  I can feel it, and I know it's getting bigger, but since I have belly fat already, it's not terribly obvious.  

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Papa Bear

Dear baby,

In 2009 (I think...) when dad was out of work, and Valentine's Day was upon us; your father came up with a brilliant present.  I've liked other present's he's given me since, but this one was, by far, the most amazing thing anyone had ever done.  

He made me a website. He made a website called 'candy hearts' and every Sunday it would change to a new something sweet. It ran the gauntlet from funny sayings like "what's that got to do with tacos?" to "I love you" in as many languages as he could find.  Actually, I think the language thing was a filler, since he had to think of something like 2 years worth of Sunday's to fill up.  When he ran out of material two years later, he turned it around, and it started to do it again, in reverse. 

I have to admit that I haven't been checking it weekly, and I should.  It makes me feel so wonderful, and so close to your dad.  Today I checked it, and it brought (justified) tears to my eyes.  

Here's a screen shot:
I don't remember saying this, but I'm sure it was in a chat before I learned how to spell out the word 'you' to avoid dad's wrath.  Just a head's up, he's a little anal about grammar, and spelling, and....yeah; I'll leave it at that.  I can't wait to see him in pain in the ass papa bear mode. I love you Aaron!  

Love,
Mom


Thursday, June 6, 2013

7ish week baby belly

Dear baby,
I keep telling dad that we need to take these in the same spot, same clothing, each week; but you'll soon learn that we can be a little flaky at times.  I've developed a sore throat, and carrying the laundry up the stairs today turned into an unexpected trial, because breathing isn't terribly pleasant when you have a sore throat.  

Every time I sing one of my songs I think of you. I find myself constantly wondering how you'll be, and who you'll be. Who's personality will you have? Will you have my eyes, nose? I can't wait to meet you baby.  There are so many people here that are excited to meet you, and I won't be lying to say that we've waited our whole lives for the opportunity.  

Here's my picture--the upper part of my belly is definitely bigger than it was 3 weeks ago.  I don't know what is bloat, and what is baby...and my eating habits still aren't stellar.  Sorry kid, but you make me hungry and queezy at the same time, so I hope you like peanut butter cap'n crunch and apple sauce.  

We still haven't told the world about you.  I'm not sure when we will, but I've found the most adorable announcement that I want to use, so you're going to be announced in style.  We aren't super organized people, so be proud of this ;).  

Love, 
Mom