Pants all the way up to my bra band

My low rise pre-pregnancy jeans don't fit anymore. I've been waiting for them to be uncomfortably tight. So this past weekend I went shopping with Mom Rosario for maternity clothes. - Thanks for the company mom!

I bought some cute outfits. Below is a fashion show.

Kohls had a great deal going on. Most of the items were marked 30-50% off and we had a 15% off coupon. I bought a black pair of work pants, a pair of jeans and 4 tops. After looking at the receipt I saved $144.81. Thats more than the final total (with discounts) at $126.72. Maternity clothes are expensive!!! But unless I want to wear a brown paper bag to cover up my ever expanding mid-section I guess I have to shell out the money.

My next shopping spree will be to add some color to my wardrobe. Black and Gray is not too exciting.

Enjoy-

She's Only Seventeen

I don't know why, but that is the only line that is running through my head when I think about today. Today we started week 17. The past week has been fun for me. It has made me smile and It makes me feel good that Kelly is feeling good.

After our last appointment, Kelly was quite pleased. She was also quite surprised when the doctor put the Doppler on her stomach. When we first started going to appointments, the ultrasound was down on her pelvis. The next appointment the Doppler was slightly higher but still basically at her pelvis. This past appointment, the Doppler was placed pretty much right below her belly button. Kelly was shocked at how high the doc was on her stomach. Not only was it a higher placement, the heartbeat was coming through loud and clear... much louder than the first Doppler we heard.

It was shortly after this past appointment that I heard the sweet words I have been waiting for. It was music to my ears. I am no longer hearing about worries from Kelly. Instead I hear "I finally feel pregnant." It isn't like we have had any doubts, but this dramatic change has proven that the baby to be is indeed growing quite quickly. It is also a nice change because Kelly has not really had "classic" pregnancy symptoms. There has been no sickness, no change in her sense of smell, no tenderness. She has only really experienced being tired, having to go to the bathroom much more frequently and being hungry. It is the hunger that only a pregnant woman can understand. A pregnant woman's partner may come close, but not really. They just deal with the threats and demands that food appear right now.

As I said earlier, this week has been fun. Now we get to wait for the level 2. Only 21 more days to go.

Patrick

D-Day - December 10th

The Level 2 Ultrasound is scheduled for December 10th! I can't wait to find out what we're having. It sounds like it's going to be a super cool thing to watch!

The ultrasound anatomy scan, or level 2 ultrasound, is an amazingly interesting experience for parents-to-be. Your baby will be measured from crown to rump (and what a cute rump it is!), around her middle, around her head — and that's just for starters. The four chambers of the heart will be viewed, as well as the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, spine, and sex organs (be sure to tell your sonographer if you don't want to know what he or she sees — or doesn't see!). Measurements are taken to make sure your baby is growing appropriately (and that his or her gestational age is still on target). A survey of the organs, including the umbilical cord, ensures that they are developing normally (or identifies any potential problems as soon as possible). The sonographer will also be looking at your amniotic fluid levels, the location of the placenta, and the fetal heart rate. Settle in to enjoy the show: The detailed level 2 scan can take 30 to 45 minutes (depending on how cooperative your little one wants to be during the photo shoot).

144 BPM

Today was our third monthly visit. The heart rate of our little baby was 144 (Pat recorded it on my cell phone)- Most swear it's a boy, some a girl. We'll just have to wait and see. - Not too long though. I've called to schedule our Level 2 Ultrasound for sometime around 20wk, right before Christmas.

I'm starting to feel more confident about this pregnancy. I guess without really realizing it I've been bracing myself for some sort of let down. It dawned on me today in the doctors office when she went for the heart beat and was almost up to my bellybutton with the doppler that this baby IS here to stay, it's growing normally and everything's going just fine. I can't wait to begin to feel the baby move.

It's getting exciting!

It Begins...

Tonight was our first tandem trip to Babies R Us with the sole intention of looking for baby gear for US. We have been there plenty of times to pick up gifts for relatives and friends, but never for us. We had always walked around pointing things out for our "future child" and whatnot. Well, future is almost present. It is very nice that Kelly and I agree on most stuff. We have already picked out bedding, a stroller/car seat travel set and some clothes.

I do have to say I had fun. I think we are lucky that our local Babies R Us is a split store with Toys R Us. I was definitely singing the Toys R Us song to myself while walking through the store. I think that may be what I look forward to the most. This new child will make it totally acceptable to act like a kid again. People will look at me as a fun loving father rather than an absolute moron.

I am thinking that we will soon be making a trip to start our baby registry. For some reason, I do not think that trip will be quite as fun. I do not picture us being quite so agreeable. For some reason I don't think Kelly will be quite as amused at random choices that I make with the little gun. When we registered for our wedding, I scanned a box of Ho Ho's... and yes we did get a few boxes when we opened our presents.

Hopefully being a full time dad will always be this fun. I know not everything will be perfect and there will be some frustration, but overall I hope it is a lot of fun for all three parties... four if you count Cabo.

Patrick

Chicken Pad Thai

Happy Friday!
I'm waiting for Pat to come home tonight so we can go get dinner. I have a craving??? I'm not sure it's a craving - it just really sounds good. I would like Thai food. Not just any Thai food, but Thai food from Green Pea Pod in McHenry.
To get this Thai food we have to drive 40 minutes away. Back to where we just came from! (Medela is in McHenry) Pat asked me if we could go to the Thai food place in Crystal Lake (about 20 minutes away) and I had to tell him no. I only said no because I would be very disappointed if it didn't taste the same. I've never eaten at the place in CL and have no clue how the two Thai restaurants compare to one another.

* Meals more than often now are making me disappointed - they just aren't satisfying.

Why did we have to come home just to back trace our steps? Of course that would be to let Cabo out.

Why couldn't we just pick up the food after work and bring it home, saving a trip? Because I would like to eat there - you get a yummy cucumber salad with your meal if you eat in.

Mmmmmm... Chicken Pad Thai!

Week 15

We've hit week 15. It's hard to believe that we're almost at 4 months. It's going by really quickly.

I continue to be amazed at how my thoughts have changed. The holiday season is coming quickly and I find myself wondering... should we try to find the things we want for the baby? Should we register so that people can buy things that we can use for the baby? I don't need anything, sure there is some stuff that would be cool to have, but this child will need things. That is much more relevant that having some cool stuff that will most likely sit and collect dust in between uses. So I am convincing myself that we should go register for furniture and decorations.

But wait... we don't know what we are having yet. Boy? Girl? I really do not want to decorate neutral... that doesn't even sound fun. Furniture, sure, but paint, pictures, theme... kinda need info first.

Our next appointment is mid November. We will be in week the end of week 17. Can we get lucky enough to find out? Will they even do an ultra sound at this appointment?

So many questions, so few answers right now. They say give it time. I am just not too fond of continuing to wait.

Patrick