My appointment today went very well.  I met with one of the other doctors in the office, Dr. Rexroth.  Since any of the three doctors may be on call when I go into labor, its office policy to meet with the other doctors at least once.  Dr. Rexroth is very nice, very intelligent, but looks exactly like my cousin.  It was rather weird having my cousin look-a-like measure my tummy and listen for Emerald's heartbeat.  Suffice it to say, I hope he's not on call when I go into labor. 

The heartbeat was in the 140s, so still great.  My growth has been normal, so that's good too! 

My next appointment is May 8th and I will be having a diabetes and anemia test done. 

Emerald finally cooperated with Daddy and let him feel her move and kick.  Last night, she was really active, so I had Dan put his hand on my tummy and she continued kicking away.  He was so amazed and excited!

My friends Stacie & Cindy are planning my baby shower (along with the help of my sister Joyce) for June 21st at 1 p.m. at the Grand View Village community center in Cedar Rapids.  Stacie will be sending out invitations probably about a month before hand.  Stac is such a sweetheart for working so hard on the shower. 

Dan & I have had so much fun perusing through the baby sections of all the stores.  We've picked out what we want for the major things (crib, furniture, play pen, car seat, baby swing, stroller), but we're having a hard time figuring out a theme.  I found bedding that is pink with kittens, but its very pricey.  So I haven't decided if we'll bite the bullet on it, or if we'll settle for something different that isn't so expensive. 

I bought some onesies yesterday - couldn't resist!  One is pink with a kitten... another is blue and says "Daddy's Girl" in pink.  So cute! 

This coming week, I'll be stopping and getting paint swatches to figure out what shade of yellow we'll be painting the nursery.  I'll be working on taping everything off so Dan can paint the room.  So much to do yet before Emerald's born!!

I'm also going to mod podge Emerald's name, but we have to pick out a theme for her room first.  I'll just get the wooden letters and the other supplies, then find the matching paper once we've decided on the theme. 

My next OB appointment is April 10th.  I'll be meeting with one of the other doctors in the office. 

The baby's kicking away today!  That is, until Dan puts his hand on my tummy to feel her.  She's quite sassy and stops kicking & moving every time Dan tries to feel her move.  He's only been able to feel her once, which he thought was really awesome.  It's too bad she won't let him feel it a little more often. 

Since I'm transferring everything over from MySpace, I have to play a little catch up!  I promise to keep this up to date!!  Below are my blogs from MySpace:

3/26/08
Things are going well overall.  I’m still having issues sleeping (can NOT find a comfortable position!).  I sleep with extra pillows all over the place - it’s tolerable, but not perfect.  About the only time I slept well was when I napped in my recliner. 

So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to experiment a little and this past Friday, I slept in the recliner for the night.  Dan, being the sweetheart he is, slept on the couch because he said he was not going to sleep in bed without me, if I was sleeping downstairs. 

Well, I ended up pulling a muscle in my back.  I’ve been struggling with it since then - it’s much better than before, but still gets a little sore by the end of the day. 

Otherwise, everything is going great.  School’s going well (other than the unsolicited pregnancy advice from a rather loud, obnoxious classmate - such as "don’t worry about eating healthy because it doesn’t matter" or "you have to get rid of your cats" or some other drivel that I had already stopped listening to - I think it’s much smarter to listen to my doctor). 

Emerald is sure enjoying kicking her mom!  She’s definitely active - which makes me just thrilled because it shows she’s healthy.  That’s all that matters - a healthy little girl!!;

3/16/08
I had my appointment on Thursday and had another ultrasound done. The baby is developing normally - perfect little hands & feet, great heartbeat (141), brain developing perfectly... basically - a perfect baby (anyway, that’s how I took it!).

And fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), the baby was not shy in the least, so we were able to find out that we’re having a girl!  Emerald was more than forthcoming... everytime the ultrasound lady went in that general area, Emerald seemed to be saying "Hey, look at me!  I’m a girl!"  Dan’s already said that we’ll have to break her of that habit!! 

We are just beyond thrilled.  We wanted to have a girl, we thought it was a girl, so it’s just great to know that we’re really having a precious little girl.  Before Dan’s mom passed away, she expressed MANY times that she longed for a baby girl to hold and spoil.  We just know that she’s ecstactic for us in heaven.  It’s still hard though because Dan & I know that she would’ve been the best grandmother ever and we sure wish that she could’ve made it a couple more years, to at least hold her granddaughter once.

As I eluded to, our daughter’s name is Emerald Irene.  When I lived in Des Moines, I processed healthcare enrollment forms and once I received a form to add a new baby and the baby’s name was Emerald Tyger (first & middle name).  I fell in love with that name at that moment.  After Dan & I had dated awhile, I told him that I loved the name Emerald.  Fortunately, he did too!  Plus Dan was born in May, so his birthstone is the emerald.  We decided on Irene as the middle name, because that was my Grandma’s name.  I miss my Grandma enourmously and wish she could be here to share this, but I know she’s very proud and happy up in heaven. 

Emerald’s been kicking the crap out of me lately, but that’s ok.  I love feeling her move & kick.  It’s the greatest feeling in the world.  On the ultrasound, Dan got to see her kick and he was just in awe.  He loved the ultrasound because he really got to see our daughter and his voice is brimming with love when he talks about her.  He’s going to be a GREAT dad.   

That’s all I know for news - and of course, the pregnancy is the biggest part of our lives right now anyway!  It appears that spring is finally here and not a moment too soon either!! 

2/25/08
I have daycare all lined up for the baby - my best friend's mom is going to watch the baby.  She runs a daycare out of her home and I'm getting by rather cheap!  Only $100 a week, which is a steal for a baby these days.  If she has the baby for 40 hours (which she'll have the baby for longer than 40 hours), that's only $2.50/hour. 

I started feeling the baby move.  What an awesome, weird feeling!  Dan's a little bummed he doesn't get to experience it. 

That's all the news I have for now!  More soon!

2/9/09
I had another OB appointment yesterday afternoon.  I finally got to hear the heartbeat!  What an amazing sound!  The baby is still healthy and doing very well.  I'm so excited!  My next appointment is on the 13th of March.  I'll be having another ultrasound and if the baby isn't shy, we'll find out what we're having!  My due date has also changed to July 30th. 

1/22/08
Although we're hoping for a girl, I hear my brother-in-law has been doing chants for a boy.    The girls are outnumbered by the boys on both sides of the family (especially on Dan's side - 3 boys to me!), and I hope that we can even it out a little!!

1/12/08
My first doctor's appointment went very well.  We couldn't hear the heartbeat using the doppler, and my docotor's office, they require to confirm heartbeat, so I ended up having my first ultrasound.  The baby is doing great!  The heartbeat is 164, the baby is 5 cm long, is active, growing like a weed, and doing very well.  We couldn't be happier!!!  And of course, since I had an ultrasound, we got to bring home some pictures!  Dan scanned them and I have posted them in the "Our Baby" album.  My doctor said in the next couple weeks, I should begin showing and getting my "baby bump." 

I called my mom this morning to tell her how the appointment went and she's very happy that everything is going so well.  She told me that she's making the baby two blankets - one for the baby shower and one for when the baby is born.  She said the one for the shower has teddy bears with blue & pink bows and has angels on it.  She said she had to find one with angels. 

So, all in all, everything is going well.  My next appointment is February 8th.  I'll keep everyone updated with how we're progressing!! 

1/5/08
I was finally able to tell my friend Stacie about the baby.  I wanted to tell her in person and last night, Dan & I went out to supper with Stac & Tony.  As I expected, they're very happy for us.  We found out that Tony's brother & sister-in-law are expecting and due August 10th and Tony's friend Ben is unexpectedly expecting.  The girl (woman) is due July 15th. 

This coming Thursday, we're going to hopefully hear the baby's heartbeat.  Stac said (since she's had 3 kids, she knows the whole process) that sometimes they can't hear, but not to worry.  But she thought since I'm so small, they shouldn't have any issues hearing the heartbeat.

Dan's coming to all of the appointments... by his own choice.  He even came to the appointment when all I did was meet with the nurse and she gave me a bunch of information (what kinds of OTC meds I can take, what I can and can't do, etc.). 

Last night I felt completely awful when I got home.  I don't know if it's something I ate, or because I stuffed myself silly... or a combination of the two.  I know that I still felt crappy this morning.  I certainly hope that after the first trimester, this feeling nauseated and "icky" most of the time goes away.  At least if the nausea goes away, I'll be happy.  I'm at 10 weeks right now, so another 3 weeks or so and I'll be in to my 2nd trimester.  Seems to be flying already. 

Anywhos... Now the only person left to tell is my friend Cindy.  Hopefully we can get together soon.  Dan called to my parents' house on Thursday to talk to my dad about something, and my mother answered the phone.  We're both impressed that SHE asked about ME.  She wanted to know how I was feeling and how everything was going so far.  I'm happy that she's supportive, but it's just not like her, so it's very different. 

I'll keep everyone updated on my progress!

12/26/07
Ok, I can finally share my good news since both Dan's and my family have been told.  I found out the Monday after Thanksgiving, that Dan & I are expecting!  WooHoo!  We're due August 3rd.  We're so insanely excited and thrilled beyond belief.    On January 10th, we're hoping to hear the heartbeat at my doctor's appointment.