Doting Dad I really am very lucky to have such a wonderful husband in Dean, who is already a fabulous Dad. Before we even got pregnant, he was reading the pregnancy books with me. It seems like anytime I try to mention something about the baby, he already knows. (He also knows all about pregnancy insanity- though I still think that I'm barely affected by it.)
He's also got a great source of knowledge from his studies in childhood development and from teaching more than 20 five-year-olds each day. He knows about what a baby can do and feel at different stages and he has so much patience. He's also not afraid to get on the floor and play with little ones.
Of course, I already know a little about the logistics of baby rearing from being the oldest sister of 4 brothers: changing diapers, giving baths, feeding, etc. I know that we will both have much to learn, but I know that we will do it together and help each other when it's needed.
I think that we will make a great team as parents, just as we always have.
2007-11-02 (16 weeks)
I am 17 going on 18 Now I know there are some Sound of Music fans out there who get this reference! Though I'm not an Austrian teenager fated to join the Nazis and hinder the Von Trapps' escape to Switzerland, I am 17 weeks pregnant going on 18. This online journal gets it wrong so I felt like setting the record straight. :)
So what is it like for me to be 17 weeks going on 18? Well, I still don't have much of a baby bump, I may or may not have felt the baby move and people keep saying that I am glowing (though I think they are just seeing what they want to). I'm certainly not trying to sound down, but the truth is that I don't feel very pregnant or even mommish yet. But, I still take my prenatal vitamins every morning and my fish oil pills with lunch (need to give that IQ a boost) and I keep looking for cribs on craigslist. :)
All the mothers I know say that I should enjoy the time that I can easily get out of bed and tie my shoes while it lasts, so I guess I should count myself lucky. Anyway, for those of you who are interested, here is a link to a web site that tells how the baby is developing in the 18th week. The cute picture of the 18 week old sucking her thumb comes from this site. http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/pregnancy/calendar/week/18
2007-10-31 (16 weeks)
Lady in Waiting So I'm anxiously waiting to feel the baby move. Last Tuesday, our doctor said that I would probably feel the baby in the next 5-10 days. Then last Friday, Dean and I went bowling with teachers from his school and two teachers who just had babies said that I should already be feeling the baby after I told them I was 16 weeks along. They both said that I'm probably just mistaking the baby for gas. So of course I now question every feeling I have in my general tummy region. But I still don't think that anything really qualifies as baby movement.
All the web sites say that you will feel the baby between 15 and 20 weeks, so I know there is....
I may have just felt the baby! But then again, maybe not. It is hard to say. I just know that this is the closest thing to a possible baby movement that I have felt yet. I guess if I keep feeling something similar, I will know for sure :)
2007-10-26 (15 weeks)
Now Hear This! We had another doctor's appointment this week and once again, all is well. We heard the baby's heartbeat again and the doctor showed me how I can feel the top of my uterus. Soon, the uterus will move up closer to my belly button and I'll start to have more of a baby bump. I should also be able to feel the baby moving soon!
Dean and I picked out a theme for our baby's bathroom and decorated it this week. Dean had the idea for a colorful sea life theme and we found something that was perfect at Target. It is super cute with sea horses, crabs, fish, turtles and octopi and has all the primary colors. We got red, blue, yellow and green towels, wash cloths, etc. to round out the bathroom. We will probably paint the bathroom later, but haven't decided on a color yet.
According the various books and web sites, our baby is about 4.5-5 inches long from the top of his/her head to his/her bottom (legs aren't measured yet because they are curled up) and weighs about 3 ounces. S/he is also developing hearing now! I'll have to start reading out loud and singing lullabies to him/her. :)
