Obviously it's been SEVERAL months since I've blogged about the pregnancy. This only means that we've been extremely busy getting everything ready for our little guy to arrive.
One of our biggest projects was adding on a playroom to the house. And we did so with much success and much appreciation because, quite honestly, we've run out of room in this house! Agh!
Another big task at hand was clearing out Jon Jon's room. This was the room that collected anything and everything for the two and a half years that we've lived here. So I had to start from the bottom up with finding every little thing a place of its own. But it's done, and now we have a sweet nursery taking its place (pictures in another post!).
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, October 26, 2009
And the Excitement Continues...
The "big reveal" today was only the beginning of our celebration!
Before we left the ultrasound room, my Dad pulled out a blue teddy bear because he just "knew" he would have a grandson. Of course when asked where the pink teddy bear was, he pulled that one out, too! Hehe!
They did the same thing for Ava, but this time Ava got to keep the spare pink bear for herself. She was very excited about that! She still doesn't quite understand what's going on with having a baby brother, but she does understand the excitement taking place!
After we left the doctor's office we headed out to celebrate at Texas Roadhouse. The deal was supposed to be that if it was a boy, we were going to eat at Parrain's; if it was a girl, we'd eat at Mike Anderson's. But John thought it appropriate to celebrate the news of a son at a steakhouse. We gotta get that boy used to his steak and potatoes early, right?
My parents surprised us with a sweet gift. We collect Willow Tree figurines. When we found out Ava was a girl, they gave us one that symbolized parenthood. And they tied a sweet pink bow to hers (with a blue one in the bag "just in case!"). This time they gave us another figurine, but instead of a bow, my Mom tied a blue ribbon on the baby to look like a tie! It was hilarious!
They also had a gift from Big Sis Ava to give to her baby brother. It was a sweet hat and booties. And Big Sis, of course, got her own gift...a purse, which she always loves!
After dinner my Mom and I continued our tradition of shopping as soon as we find out what the baby is! So off to Babies R Us and Burlington we went. Unfortunately boy clothes aren't quite as cute or plentiful as girl clothes, but we dug deep and found some sweet outfits for our little Jon Jon.
Enjoy the pictures highlighting our big day!
A proud big sister showing off the blue teddy bear in the waiting room...
Thank you, Mom and Dad! We love this special gift!
Texas Roadhouse...
We had to order the Baby Blossom....isn't that only appropriate? We thought so!
Ava's gift to her baby brother...
Trying to wear his hat!
Wearing her Dora surprise from MiMi after our shopping trip...
All of the goodies we found while shopping!
Another gift from Ava to her baby brother....and I'm sure she'll be playing with this sooner than we think!
Proud MiMi and Papere....now they'll have two granddaughters and two grandsons!
Sporting her new Big Sister PJs she got from her buddy, Rex, for her birthday!
Before we left the ultrasound room, my Dad pulled out a blue teddy bear because he just "knew" he would have a grandson. Of course when asked where the pink teddy bear was, he pulled that one out, too! Hehe!
They did the same thing for Ava, but this time Ava got to keep the spare pink bear for herself. She was very excited about that! She still doesn't quite understand what's going on with having a baby brother, but she does understand the excitement taking place!
After we left the doctor's office we headed out to celebrate at Texas Roadhouse. The deal was supposed to be that if it was a boy, we were going to eat at Parrain's; if it was a girl, we'd eat at Mike Anderson's. But John thought it appropriate to celebrate the news of a son at a steakhouse. We gotta get that boy used to his steak and potatoes early, right?
My parents surprised us with a sweet gift. We collect Willow Tree figurines. When we found out Ava was a girl, they gave us one that symbolized parenthood. And they tied a sweet pink bow to hers (with a blue one in the bag "just in case!"). This time they gave us another figurine, but instead of a bow, my Mom tied a blue ribbon on the baby to look like a tie! It was hilarious!
They also had a gift from Big Sis Ava to give to her baby brother. It was a sweet hat and booties. And Big Sis, of course, got her own gift...a purse, which she always loves!
After dinner my Mom and I continued our tradition of shopping as soon as we find out what the baby is! So off to Babies R Us and Burlington we went. Unfortunately boy clothes aren't quite as cute or plentiful as girl clothes, but we dug deep and found some sweet outfits for our little Jon Jon.
Enjoy the pictures highlighting our big day!
A proud big sister showing off the blue teddy bear in the waiting room...
Thank you, Mom and Dad! We love this special gift!
Texas Roadhouse...
We had to order the Baby Blossom....isn't that only appropriate? We thought so!
Ava's gift to her baby brother...
Trying to wear his hat!
Wearing her Dora surprise from MiMi after our shopping trip...
All of the goodies we found while shopping!
Another gift from Ava to her baby brother....and I'm sure she'll be playing with this sooner than we think!
Proud MiMi and Papere....now they'll have two granddaughters and two grandsons!
Sporting her new Big Sister PJs she got from her buddy, Rex, for her birthday!
Our Baby Boy's Name...
Many of you may already be aware of what the baby's name will be.
John is a junior, so we are excited to continue the name. That said, our little guy will be named John, III.
Mommy will call him Jon Jon and/or Johnny. That way I'll be able to distinguish between the hubby and the son.
Hey, I just said "son!" I've never had one of those before!
John is a junior, so we are excited to continue the name. That said, our little guy will be named John, III.
Mommy will call him Jon Jon and/or Johnny. That way I'll be able to distinguish between the hubby and the son.
Hey, I just said "son!" I've never had one of those before!
IT'S A BOY!
Hopefully most of you are aware that we will soon welcome a baby boy into our family in March!
According to the poll I had on this blog, 80% guessed it was a boy! So kudos to you!
What a great day filled with wonderful news! Here's how it went down.
My Mom and Dad met us at the doctor's office to get a glimpse of the ultrasound. My mother-in-law couldn't make it due to a work conflict, but she was on the speaker phone when the tech shared the news! We were all beyond ecstatic!
Soon after she shared the news, the tech began her overview of how the baby is developing. They do this at the 20-week mark to make sure he is growing as he should. Isn't it neat to be able to say "he?" :)
I am happy to say that everything checked out fine. His heartbeat was 140 and he currently weighs 13 ounces.
After she wrapped up the half-hour-long ultrasound we began our phone calls! Well actually I called my brother, Mike, from inside the ultrasound room because I couldn't wait to tell him he was going to have a nephew!
Then I got to see my doctor. She listened to his heartbeat, which sounded great, and answered the few questions I had. She said that at my next appointment I will have another ultrasound due to the baby being in a breeched position. They couldn't get an accurate reading on all parts, so to be thorough, they'll take another look in a month.
Check out the ultrasound pictures below! I'll try to explain as best I can what you're looking at. Thankfully the tech labeled most of them.
Pretty self-explanatory! IT'S A BOY!
Arms covering his face...
Hand covering his face...
Another shot of the arms...
A foot!
Another picture of the foot...
The one on the left is the nose and lips (though I don't see it!) and the one on the right is his cute face...
Different shot of the foot...
Legs!
According to the poll I had on this blog, 80% guessed it was a boy! So kudos to you!
What a great day filled with wonderful news! Here's how it went down.
My Mom and Dad met us at the doctor's office to get a glimpse of the ultrasound. My mother-in-law couldn't make it due to a work conflict, but she was on the speaker phone when the tech shared the news! We were all beyond ecstatic!
Soon after she shared the news, the tech began her overview of how the baby is developing. They do this at the 20-week mark to make sure he is growing as he should. Isn't it neat to be able to say "he?" :)
I am happy to say that everything checked out fine. His heartbeat was 140 and he currently weighs 13 ounces.
After she wrapped up the half-hour-long ultrasound we began our phone calls! Well actually I called my brother, Mike, from inside the ultrasound room because I couldn't wait to tell him he was going to have a nephew!
Then I got to see my doctor. She listened to his heartbeat, which sounded great, and answered the few questions I had. She said that at my next appointment I will have another ultrasound due to the baby being in a breeched position. They couldn't get an accurate reading on all parts, so to be thorough, they'll take another look in a month.
Check out the ultrasound pictures below! I'll try to explain as best I can what you're looking at. Thankfully the tech labeled most of them.
Pretty self-explanatory! IT'S A BOY!
Arms covering his face...
Hand covering his face...
Another shot of the arms...
A foot!
Another picture of the foot...
The one on the left is the nose and lips (though I don't see it!) and the one on the right is his cute face...
Different shot of the foot...
Legs!
It's a ???
We are excited to announce that we are having a BOY and are absolutely ecstatic about the news! Pictures to come later...we're going shopping!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Today's THE Day...Boy or Girl?!?
I honestly didn't think I could make it this far without first going to an ultrasound office to get a glimpse of this baby! But we made it, and now the official ultrasound will take place today at 3 pm! I'm sure they'll be late (what doctor's office isn't?), but at least we'll be that much closer to the ultrasound machine that will share the wonderful news of what we are having!
I will be honest. It does not matter to me at all if it's a boy or a girl. When I was pregnant with Ava, I secretly wanted a girl first so that I could play dress up! Ha! And my wish was granted. She's the most fun baby doll I've ever had!
If we have a boy it would complete the family "picture." And John would have a fishing and workshop buddy. If we have another girl, it would be fun to see two sisters grow up so close in age.
Bottom line...we pray for a healthy baby, boy or girl! Whatever the case, God has graciously blessed us with another miracle to love and spoil.
Stay tuned....we'll update everyone as soon as possible!
I will be honest. It does not matter to me at all if it's a boy or a girl. When I was pregnant with Ava, I secretly wanted a girl first so that I could play dress up! Ha! And my wish was granted. She's the most fun baby doll I've ever had!
If we have a boy it would complete the family "picture." And John would have a fishing and workshop buddy. If we have another girl, it would be fun to see two sisters grow up so close in age.
Bottom line...we pray for a healthy baby, boy or girl! Whatever the case, God has graciously blessed us with another miracle to love and spoil.
Stay tuned....we'll update everyone as soon as possible!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Fun Baby Facts at 20 Weeks
It's gettin' good now!
- The baby may be roused from sleep by external sounds or movements.
- The baby's hair will be visible, though with no pigment yet.
- Even though the eyelids are fused, the baby is making blinking movements.
- The spine, ribs and long bones of the arms and legs have hardened into bone.
- The baby now weighs about 10.5 ounces and is about 10 inches from head to foot. But with this child and his/her tall genes, he/she's probably 20 inches! Ha!
- The baby may be roused from sleep by external sounds or movements.
- The baby's hair will be visible, though with no pigment yet.
- Even though the eyelids are fused, the baby is making blinking movements.
- The spine, ribs and long bones of the arms and legs have hardened into bone.
- The baby now weighs about 10.5 ounces and is about 10 inches from head to foot. But with this child and his/her tall genes, he/she's probably 20 inches! Ha!
Halfway There!
Today I am 20 weeks. This translates to one half of the pregnancy down, one half to go. Though if things turn out the way they did when I was preggo with Ava, I will not go another 20 weeks....just another 18. Hey, I'm cool with that.
Friday, October 9, 2009
A Whatchamacallit?
I am part of a group at church called MOPS. It stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. It's a great organization of wonderful ladies. I truly feel as though I've found my peers. Many of them are also stay-at-home Moms who exist to provide the best life for their children.
Anyway, they do fun things during the year. And here's one as an example. At the beginning of each meeting they ask if anyone's pregnant. I missed the last meeting where they did this, so this past Thursday I had my turn to share the news that I was 17 weeks pregnant. You then get to pick a string out of a bucket. At the end of the string is a candy bar, and that candy bar is supposed to indicate to you what you're having!
Well I happened to pick a Whatchamacallit candy bar! So that means that a prediction couldn't be made at that time. I thought that was quite funny and very creative.
If any blog readers out there are interested in checking out one of our MOPS meetings, we'd love to have you join us. I guarantee you'll love it! Let me know if you want some info.
Anyway, they do fun things during the year. And here's one as an example. At the beginning of each meeting they ask if anyone's pregnant. I missed the last meeting where they did this, so this past Thursday I had my turn to share the news that I was 17 weeks pregnant. You then get to pick a string out of a bucket. At the end of the string is a candy bar, and that candy bar is supposed to indicate to you what you're having!
Well I happened to pick a Whatchamacallit candy bar! So that means that a prediction couldn't be made at that time. I thought that was quite funny and very creative.
If any blog readers out there are interested in checking out one of our MOPS meetings, we'd love to have you join us. I guarantee you'll love it! Let me know if you want some info.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
16-Week Checkup
I had my monthly checkup with my doctor Monday afternoon.
She listened for the heartbeat and detected it immediately with the Doppler. It was absolutely amazing to hear such a strong heartbeat. She said the baby had to be right there to get such a good reading. Our little one is cooperating already! Woohoo!
Everything else checked out just fine. I inquired about getting the flu shots, both the seasonal one and the H1N1 one. She highly encouraged me to get both of them.
My next appointment is the BIG appointment! :) We will find out on Monday, October 26th at 3 pm whether we have a little girl or boy!
Let the countdown begin!
She listened for the heartbeat and detected it immediately with the Doppler. It was absolutely amazing to hear such a strong heartbeat. She said the baby had to be right there to get such a good reading. Our little one is cooperating already! Woohoo!
Everything else checked out just fine. I inquired about getting the flu shots, both the seasonal one and the H1N1 one. She highly encouraged me to get both of them.
My next appointment is the BIG appointment! :) We will find out on Monday, October 26th at 3 pm whether we have a little girl or boy!
Let the countdown begin!
Flutters!
I will officially say that on Sunday, September 27th, I felt the baby's first flutters! I think I felt it before then, too, but I wasn't 100% sure. On Sunday night I put my hand on my belly and concentrated. And sure enough I felt the baby! It was a wonderful moment!
On Monday night John tried out his luck. He felt the little one move, too! We're so excited!
On Monday night John tried out his luck. He felt the little one move, too! We're so excited!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Baby's First Blanket
The sewing bug has hit. This is a big deal because my Mom has always wanted me to pick up that hobby, but I never thought much of it due to my lack of patience! But it's important that I at least learn some of the skill since it goes back to my great grandmother's days who used to sew carnival gowns and wedding dresses.
Well I am happy to report that I bought my very own sewing machine about two months ago and have many projects to my name now, mostly for Ava! She has somewhere around ten pillowcase dresses! What can I say....they're easy!
These last couple of days I decided to branch out a bit and make something for the new baby. And so a baby blanket was born! I can honestly say that I enjoyed this project. It took me a bit longer than a pillowcase dress, but the upside to that was that I got to think the entire time I sewed the blanket about our sweet baby wrapped in it when he/she graces us with his/her presence!
Anyway, here's the final product...
Well I am happy to report that I bought my very own sewing machine about two months ago and have many projects to my name now, mostly for Ava! She has somewhere around ten pillowcase dresses! What can I say....they're easy!
These last couple of days I decided to branch out a bit and make something for the new baby. And so a baby blanket was born! I can honestly say that I enjoyed this project. It took me a bit longer than a pillowcase dress, but the upside to that was that I got to think the entire time I sewed the blanket about our sweet baby wrapped in it when he/she graces us with his/her presence!
Anyway, here's the final product...
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Fun Baby Facts at 14 Weeks
Now it's gettin' good and interesting...
- The baby can now squint, frown, grimace, possibly suck his/her thumb and even make pee pee!
- He/She measures about 3 1/2 inches--about the size of a lemon--and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces.
- The baby's toenails begin to grow from their nail beds.
- The baby can now squint, frown, grimace, possibly suck his/her thumb and even make pee pee!
- He/She measures about 3 1/2 inches--about the size of a lemon--and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces.
- The baby's toenails begin to grow from their nail beds.
Successfully Entering the Second Trimester
I am 14 weeks, which means I have officially and successfully begun my second trimester. This is a big deal because the chances of miscarriage have dropped considerably at this point. I'm also supposed to get some of that energy back. Crossing my fingers...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Second Doctor's Appointment
I had my second OB appointment Monday morning.
We started off with another ultrasound. This one was to test the nuchal translucency, which is a new test my doctor performs at the 11-13 week mark to test for the risk of Down's Syndrome. The baby's numbers came back just fine.
The heartbeat measured at 164 beats per minute, and we got to hear it loud and clear. He/she was a busy body, too....doing flips, stretching and wiggling its little body. Fun to watch, that's for sure!
After the ultrasound I saw my doctor. She reported that all my tests from my previous visit came back negative. Great and whew! We discussed things like the darn swine flu, and she assured me that the best thing I can do at this point is wash, wash, wash my hands and stay away from large crowds of people. Glad John likes to go to Wal-Mart these days for our grocery shopping! :)
I go back for my next appointment September 28th. To my knowledge, this one will be ultrasound-free. Darn. But at the one in October, I'm sure I'll get one. And that's when we'll find out if we're having a boy or a girl.
So for now, enjoy the latest pictures!
Our cute little alien!
Sweet profile...
Another profile...
Legs!
Look close. You can see the fingers on the hand!
Another hand picture...
We started off with another ultrasound. This one was to test the nuchal translucency, which is a new test my doctor performs at the 11-13 week mark to test for the risk of Down's Syndrome. The baby's numbers came back just fine.
The heartbeat measured at 164 beats per minute, and we got to hear it loud and clear. He/she was a busy body, too....doing flips, stretching and wiggling its little body. Fun to watch, that's for sure!
After the ultrasound I saw my doctor. She reported that all my tests from my previous visit came back negative. Great and whew! We discussed things like the darn swine flu, and she assured me that the best thing I can do at this point is wash, wash, wash my hands and stay away from large crowds of people. Glad John likes to go to Wal-Mart these days for our grocery shopping! :)
I go back for my next appointment September 28th. To my knowledge, this one will be ultrasound-free. Darn. But at the one in October, I'm sure I'll get one. And that's when we'll find out if we're having a boy or a girl.
So for now, enjoy the latest pictures!
Our cute little alien!
Sweet profile...
Another profile...
Legs!
Look close. You can see the fingers on the hand!
Another hand picture...
Fun Facts at Twelve Weeks
Well, we seem to be moving right along with the pregnancy. I'm almost out of my first trimester...woohoo!
Here are some neat facts to accompany the twelve-week mark:
- The baby is beginning to move its thumb in opposition to the other fingers.
- The sucking muscles are filling out the cheeks, the tooth buds are present under the gums, the esophagus and windpipe are present, and the voice box is present.
- The baby will begin to making breathing, sucking and swallowing motions.
Here are some neat facts to accompany the twelve-week mark:
- The baby is beginning to move its thumb in opposition to the other fingers.
- The sucking muscles are filling out the cheeks, the tooth buds are present under the gums, the esophagus and windpipe are present, and the voice box is present.
- The baby will begin to making breathing, sucking and swallowing motions.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Fun Baby Facts at Ten Weeks
- The baby's fingernails begin to grow from the nail beds.
- The thyroid, pancreas and gallbladder will complete its development this week.
- The tooth buds for the permanent teeth begin to develop, as do the membranes that will make up the vocal cords.
- The baby's growth has slowed somewhat. He/she now weighs about a half an ounce and is about 2.5 inches long.
- The thyroid, pancreas and gallbladder will complete its development this week.
- The tooth buds for the permanent teeth begin to develop, as do the membranes that will make up the vocal cords.
- The baby's growth has slowed somewhat. He/she now weighs about a half an ounce and is about 2.5 inches long.
Is It Really Over?
I waited a couple of weeks to mention it just so that I didn't jinx myself. But I'm pretty sure I'm over the nauseous phase of the pregnancy....at least for now!
It still shows up every now and then, but definitely not as bad as it was for those few weeks before and during vacation.
Whew!
I can't recall exactly how long it lasted with my first pregnancy. I thought it was a bit longer than this, but I'm certainly not complaining.
One difference I am noticing this go round is that I'm experiencing more headaches. Many of you know that I suffer from migraines. I never had one migraine when I was pregnant for Ava. And the headaches I'm experiencing this time may not be quite as bad as a migraine, but it's very similar. I've taken just one Tylenol so far, and it didn't do anything. I'm really trying to not take anything if it's not necessary, at least in the first trimester.
Okay, enough rambling. This is a boring entry, huh? :)
It still shows up every now and then, but definitely not as bad as it was for those few weeks before and during vacation.
Whew!
I can't recall exactly how long it lasted with my first pregnancy. I thought it was a bit longer than this, but I'm certainly not complaining.
One difference I am noticing this go round is that I'm experiencing more headaches. Many of you know that I suffer from migraines. I never had one migraine when I was pregnant for Ava. And the headaches I'm experiencing this time may not be quite as bad as a migraine, but it's very similar. I've taken just one Tylenol so far, and it didn't do anything. I'm really trying to not take anything if it's not necessary, at least in the first trimester.
Okay, enough rambling. This is a boring entry, huh? :)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
First Doctor's Appointment, First Ultrasound
My very first doctor's appointment was Monday, August 10th. We had been looking forward to the day for a long time because we knew we would get to see the baby on the ultrasound.
As soon as the tech turned on the machine, we could see the baby! He/she was still very small, but we could distinguish its head, body, arms and legs. He/she even did a little wiggle for us! That melted our hearts! And the most amazing thing to me was seeing that heartbeat. Such a miracle!
The heartbeat registered at 175 beats per minute. Whoa! I can't seem to remember what Ava's was at this point, as I didn't keep track of it. But John and my Mom seem to think her's was in the 150's. They say anything at 150 and above is a girl, according to the old wive's tale. We shall see!
Before I share the ultrasound pictures, I'll talk a bit about my actual appointment. Everything checked out just fine. My actual due date, as determined by the doctor, is March 13th!
She also ordered some bloodwork, which I took care of that day. I even had to do my glucose testing. I wasn't expecting that, as I didn't do so with my first pregnancy until I was past 20 weeks. I guess each pregnancy is different!
Okay, now on to the pictures!
It's so hard to see some details here. The actual picture we have, not the scan, is a bit clearer.
As soon as the tech turned on the machine, we could see the baby! He/she was still very small, but we could distinguish its head, body, arms and legs. He/she even did a little wiggle for us! That melted our hearts! And the most amazing thing to me was seeing that heartbeat. Such a miracle!
The heartbeat registered at 175 beats per minute. Whoa! I can't seem to remember what Ava's was at this point, as I didn't keep track of it. But John and my Mom seem to think her's was in the 150's. They say anything at 150 and above is a girl, according to the old wive's tale. We shall see!
Before I share the ultrasound pictures, I'll talk a bit about my actual appointment. Everything checked out just fine. My actual due date, as determined by the doctor, is March 13th!
She also ordered some bloodwork, which I took care of that day. I even had to do my glucose testing. I wasn't expecting that, as I didn't do so with my first pregnancy until I was past 20 weeks. I guess each pregnancy is different!
Okay, now on to the pictures!
It's so hard to see some details here. The actual picture we have, not the scan, is a bit clearer.
Vacation
We took a nice, long, much-needed family vacation to the Smoky Mountains at the beginning of August. It was peaceful and relaxing, and I want to go back as soon as possible!
While on vacation, I continued with the nausea and the fatique. With John, my parents and my mother-in-law there, they all took great care and making sure I didn't do too much.
The one event that had us anxious to get back was knowing we had my first appointment the following Monday and that we would get to see the baby on the ultrasound! Please see the next post for the results.
While on vacation, I continued with the nausea and the fatique. With John, my parents and my mother-in-law there, they all took great care and making sure I didn't do too much.
The one event that had us anxious to get back was knowing we had my first appointment the following Monday and that we would get to see the baby on the ultrasound! Please see the next post for the results.
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