Sunday, November 6, 2011

10 weeks and I don't know what a Kumquat is!

Hello!  I am 10 weeks prego today and loving it!!!! I feel like I'm inching towards the "safety zone" and this Thanksgiving will be the best one of my entire life!  I scared myself last week by getting on th scale and thinking I had actually gained about 14 pounds but after drinking insane amounts of water (and yes, passing a lot of gas, I know...gross!) I stepped back on the scale and I'm back to only having gained 9 pounds.  Ok, I know that is a lot fo 10 weeks but it is nice to know that I was uber bloated and retaining water.  I feel like my stomach and tummy are my own today.  I'll probably take a picture because these days don't happen very frequently. 



So little Liam or Emmy is 10 weeks today and the size of a kumquat.  Ok, for the sake of sounding completely ignorant, I don't know what that fruit is and I've certainly never eaten one.  I don't know how big they are or relative size that would put the baby at right now.  Next week the baby will be the size of a lime!  I KNOW LIMES! I love gin and tonics! :)  I can't believe it will be so big already!!  According to my information resources, the baby is a full and complete little person, just miniature.  All the major organs have formed, it's kicking and moving around and teeth and nails are growing! How exciting!  So, since I don't know what the heck a kumquat is, I found all these plastic "figures" on the interwebs resembling a 10 week old fetus.  I know it may be a little creepy, but I find it helpful imagining what my little Lambert pea looks like in there!!!!




This last picture is a little wierd, but it helps to envision where the little sucker is! :)

Friday, November 4, 2011

Little Liam or Emmy's heartbeat...

I bought a fetal doppler heart monitor.  I think I finally had a breakthrough and figured out how to use it.  Here's the video.... oh and PS...I cannot get enough Orange Juice these days....especially at bedtime!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

My reading list...

What are other moms reading? I wonder. Here are my faves so far! And as an added bonus they were all thrift store finds minus the Publix baby book.



Symptoms and other things...

It's 4 am and I'm up...peeing, sneezing, grazing...what's new?

My allergies have been heigtened for the past 2 months by about 200%.  People at work must think I'm constantly sick as I'm sneezing all day long.  I go through tissue boxes like toilet paper, no jokin' hoboken!

I need to start consciously engaging in activities like my mom did with me when she was pregnant to help stimulate the baby.  She painted constantly and listened to classical music constantly!  I have my violin and need to buy some sheet music.  And, although I haven't really seriously played in many years, I want to have those good rush of feelings that playing gives me.  I want the baby to feel that.  I want to remember to blast my favorite music while I'm cleaning the house just so the baby is exposed.  I should start reading more and not pregnancy books, but actually reading.  I know this may sound silly, but I think early exposure to these types of things does have an impact on the child's life later.  If anyone's out there, what do you think?

I'm cautiously optimisitc that things will work out this time.  I don't know when the safety zone begins.  I have friends who miscarried into their 2nd trimester.  They say you can breathe a sigh of relief after the 12 week mark, but knowing my skeptical and cynical tendencies, I'll probably be scared shitless up until my water breaks! :)

The exhaustion is starting to subside.  I say starting because I've been able to stay up until about 10pm the last few nights.  I am excited to report we put an offer on a house last week and it was accepted over the weekend.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that the home inspection goes well and everything moves forward without a hitch! It's in an AMAZING school district, where http://www.greatschools.org/ rates all 3 schools a grade of 10 out of 10.  That was the 2nd most important factor in finding a home after proximity to my mom and dad's home.  My mom has lovingly offered to keep the baby when I go back to work and I couldn't imagine anyone else taking care of my little one besides my mom and grandmother.  It's a fixer upper, but it's beautiful and we'll have plenty of room to grow!  I'm so very excited!

For the sake of posterity, I suppose I should include some information about what is going on in the world so that one day I can print out these blog posts and insert them into Baby Lambert's baby book!  The economy is at an all time low and Greece is at risk of defaulting and taking down the EU with it.  There are "Occupy" Protest/movements springing up everywhere across the country fighting for the 99%.  The focus varies, but is mainly targeted and finding justice for the people and holding big banks accountable for seriously questionable business practices.  People are fed up with doing so much more with so much less.   I personally support the movements, but fear that the rioting bad seeds may put the people who are peacefully protesting at serious danger.  We are moving to the conservative suburbs of Atlanta, Marietta to be exact, and in order to keep things on a more even keel I'm planning to remove my liberal stickers from my car.  I don't think it's best for us or our future little one.  One thing I've learned in my adulthood is that you can't always let people know who you are! :)  I'll save my stickers for one day when we live in a more tolerant place like the pacific northwest. 

Ok, it's almost 5am and I think I'm going to try and get a few more Zzz's before my alarm goes off at 6:45. <3

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Hungry for eel.

This baby sure does love it's sushi...

Came home with uncontrollable urge to eat some Green Dragon Rolls from Mint 2.  I love the shit outta that place its so tasty!  Eel is on the "can eat" list by the way...because it's actually cooked.  Yes I love eel and yes even before I got pregnant.  Please, no judgment :)  I also had a tunafish sandwich for lunch today.  No more seafood for like a month!!!!!! I promise!



Weird, because last time I was pregnant Ian and I went to Nori Nori (an overpriced Japanese and Sushi Buffet) and I almost gagged when I saw all the food and smelled the aroma of fishy bits.

I think I've survived on ground beef, eel, and ice cream for the past month or two! :-)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Fetal Heart Doppler

So Ian was shocked to know that I could buy a little machine to hear the baby's heartbeat (especially this early!).  I went online and found what seems to be a pretty reliable Fetal Heart Doppler and was lucky enough to find this great review for it on YouTube.  I purchased it in blue (here's to wishful thinking!) and I hope it works so I can keep it and use it for baby no. 2 one day! :)

I think this Canadian girl is just the cutest and I think she's about my size/weight which relieves me that I got the right size.  I hear if you're on the chunkier side, it may be harder to hear the heartbeat and feel any kicking or movement. 

Olives and Grapes - Anatomically sized snacks at 9 weeks!





The sweet pea is now an inch long -- about the size of an olive or grape!  Baby Lambert is finally starting to resemble a human and all the essential body parts are formed!  The heart is dividing into 4 chambers and teeny tiny teeth are starting to form.  No longer does it have a tail :-)  The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Baby's eyes are fully formed, but the eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. My little sweet pea has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. EAR LOBES! :)  The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. It's finally time to start gaining some weight!  Woops, got a little head start on that one ;-)

I still don't really look pregnant, but my pants don't really fit anymore and I'm definitely bloated beyond imagine!  I feel like a hot air balloon took up residence in my belly about a month ago and just won't budge! Morning sickness seems to hit in the late afternoon and has made post-lunch afternoons at work much harder to stay awake through!  Luckily I have not had to vomit (except that once) but the nausea is unbearable at times.  The exhaustion and aches and pains have started to subside, but still rear their ugly head around 8pm when normal people are enjoying down time and I'm fighting to keep my eyelids wide open.  Emotions and mood swings.  Check!  My hormones are hysterical and I must admit to crying at work for no reason, screaming at my fiance and thinking "what am I doing???" in my head, and getting really irritated for things I cannot control. I'm sorry. Luckily I read  that most women find that moodiness flares up at around six to ten weeks, eases up in the second trimester, and then reappears as pregnancy winds to a close. Woo hoo!



Mom took me shopping over the weekend and I got some cool stuff including a sweet pea themed baby book.  I cannot wait to paste my ultrasound pictures into it! :)  I went to a friend's Halloween party last night and despite it being one of my favorite holidays, I was just not into it this year.  I usually like to feel sexy on Halloween, and this year I feel fat and there's just something about pregnancy that does not make me feel sexy :)  So, low effort costume this year, but anywho!  Next year will be much better :-)

Hot Mama! Meow!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Babys first hat!

So I must admit this is a tad presumptuous, but call it wishful thinking! I'll sew on a big red "S" for Superman when we officially hear its a boy. Otherwise, ill sew on a flower :)

Keeses sweet pea! I love you even though life is not fun right now!



Monday, October 24, 2011

8 weeks 1 day

Add extreme back pain and dizziness to the mix today. I am so uncomfortable every time I have to move. Every part of my body hurts. I am dying for a swim. Unfortunately its almost November. I may have to join a gym strictly for the pool privileges! Big fat bloated tummy. This is my first maternity shirt!


Saturday, October 22, 2011

Baby fashions

I know its really early, but I'm much more optimistic about this baby. This pregnancy feels way different than last time in a much more encouraging and hopeful way!  So we stopped by a Goodwill yesterday because I wanted to check out their selection of baby books. Well I found some really great onesies too! Babys first fashions!





Friday, October 21, 2011

8 weeks photo

I'm not showing yet but I'm gaining weight. This is my first photo starting to track my belly growth!


On Sunday....

The baby will look like this! Wow! Tiny human!


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Fotos


6 weeks

7 weeks

Ultrasound Update

It occurred to me that I never posted an update regarding my scary ultrasound day!  Turns out, the little sweet pea is growing on schedule and the heartbeat is a whopping 123!  I was told that anything in the range of 110-160 is normal and that he's cooking right on schedule at 7 weeks.  Great news.  No follow up U/S was scheduled, thank GOD!  The next time I go in is my new OB appointment in November and then my follow up anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks! Hooray!!!!

Maybe this little monkey will stick around this time.

Ugh...

I'm officially a cow.  My blueberry sized baby apparently now weighs 7 pounds.  Yes, that is how much I gained in one month.  SERIOUSLY!  The little chunkster has been forcing me to eat crappy and unhealthy and about twice as much as normal.  Why oh why have I been cursed with a man who weighs 140 and eats cherry pie and red bull for breakfast?  The man can devour a bag of kit kats or nutty bars faster than a cat can climb a tree.  What does this mean for me, oh fat pregnant one? So, my discipline has slipped, ok?  Yes, I admit it.  The only thing maintaining me at the chubby and curvy side of fat-ass and not over the edge of unfortunately overweight is my food intake discipline.  You might think I eat a LOT of crap, but you'd be wrong.  I just don't have any motivation or energy to get up off my ass.  I wish I could say I had the discipline to force myself to exercise everyday, because I'm educated enough to know that exercise gives you energy.  But whatever, I'm freakin' tired all the time and I'm in my first trimester people.  I sleep in my car during my lunch break. My bedtime is preferably around 8:30, and I don't mind admitting that to anyone who is interested.

I'm pissed off that I had to buy a belly band at 7 weeks pregnant.  I'm irritated at the fact that I'm so bloated and constipated I can barely function.  I feel the most unattractive I think I can possibly feel at this point and dammit, I'm not even showing yet.  Did I mention that my breasts feel like punching bags?  Yeah I think they joined fight club while I was asleep one night.  Is it possible to outgrow your bra at 7 weeks?  If I keep this up, what's next? My shoes will probably stop fitting by next month. Ugh. I feel like crap. Horrible day for the self esteem. Someone light my pants on fire, I need a good workout...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Baby Throw - Crochet Project

Thanks to pinterest, I've found an easy, beginner baby blanket pattern that I think even the most procrastinating and ADD part of me can finish! See below...reminder to self - must get some soft baby yarn soon.


Free Crochet Pattern: Limeade Granny Throw Lion Brand® Tweed Stripes
Pattern #: L0684

Rating: 4.8 (based on 4 reviews)
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SKILL LEVEL: Easy

SIZE: One Size
About 36 x 36 in. (91.5 x 91.5 cm)
• 753-213 Tweed Stripes Yarn: Limeade balls
$ 47.92

• Lion Brand Crochet Hook - Size I-9 $ 2.45

• Large-Eye Blunt Needles (Set of 6) $ 3.59

Limeade Granny Throw
Lion Brand® Tweed Stripes
GAUGE:

Rnds 1 and 2 = 3 in. (7.5 cm). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.


THROW
Ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Sl st in top of 2 dc and in ch-2 sp.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-sp (corner made), ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp (corner made), ch 1; rep from * 2 more times; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Sl st in top of 2 dc and in ch-2 sp.
Rnd 3: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-sp, ch 1, *3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1; rep from * 2 more times, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Sl st in top of 2 dc and in ch-2 sp.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-sp, ch 1, *(3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) to next corner ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch-2 sp, ch 1; rep from * 2 more times, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) around; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Sl st in top of 2 dc and in ch-2 sp.
Rnds 5-28: Rep Rnd 4.
Rnd 29: Ch 1, 3 sc in same ch-sp, *sc in each dc and ch-1 sp to next corner ch-2 sp, 3 sc in corner ch-2 sp; rep from * 2 more times, sc in each dc and ch-1 sp around; join with sl st in beg ch. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.


ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES
Click for explanation and illustration
beg = begin(s)(ning) ch(s) = chain(s)
ch-space = space previously made dc = double crochet
rep = repeat(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s)
sc = single crochet sl st = slip stitch

Halloweenies....

So, I have to say that next to Christmas, the holiday I'm most looking forward to being a mom on...is of course Halloween.  No longer does that holiday mean getting dressed in a skimpy outfit to troll for guys and having the excuse of Halloween to look like a tramp (yes, I subscribed to the Mean Girls' ideals of Halloween), but now it means dressing up my kids in clever, well-thought out costumes that don't cost a fortune or require me to become a costume designer! :)  I heart Halloween!


Source: None via Asia on Pinterest


Scary day

Ultrasound today.  Hoping to see a faster and more regular heartbeat.  I don't want the outcome to be the same as last time and it's particularly scary because the timing of my last miscarriage coincides with this ultrasound.  I don't know what I'll do if I don't hear a heartbeat today.  Especially, since Ian is leaving me on Monday.  (Not permanently of course, but he'll be gone for a while).  I'm just so .... I'm at a loss for words.  I haven't even let myself really feel pregnant up until now.  I thought buying a little onesie would make it VISUAL and REAL. But, it feels like someone's baby shower gift.  I'm hoping to see progress today.  I'm hopeful, but skeptical.

I want to blink and wake up to Thanksgiving morning at my parent's house.  With Ian and my grandmother there and knowing I've entered my 2nd trimester.  I want to wake up and fast forward a month.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Belly band

I have officially reached the very bloated stage of early pregnancy.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Nerves and hunger and hormones, oh my!

Feeling really nervous and anxious about the possibility of losing this little one inside me. There is so much going on in life right now that I think its beginning to get to me. I wish I could hit pause and go on vacation. Le sigh, alas this is adulthood and reality and real life. I feel like I'm spinning eight plates in the air hoping none of them fall and shatter.
By the way it really pissed me off when people suggest "to take it one day at a time." As if taking two or three was even an option. Perhaps I should blog more often. This always ends up being a cathartic process, blogging.

My little sweet pea's first outfit!


Names we love love love...

William Henry Lambert
or
Emiliana Grace Lambert

6 weeks and counting...

Our little sweet pea is 6 weeks old today. The tiny little heart that's just begun beating showed up on my very first ultrasound today.

Our little Sweet Pea Lam Bear ;-)
You're six weeks and one day old today, however you are measuring at 5 weeks and 6 days.  Catch up little baby, we want you to stick around! We already love you so much and cannot wait to meet you and kiss your sweet face!  You're my little sweet pea, perfectly sized and with a growing heartbeat.  Keep growing little seed, I want to meet you!

 

This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that I'll be spending so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If I could see inside my uterus, I would find an oversize head and dark spots where my baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as my own — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, my baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a pea in a pod.

The baby's jaw, cheeks, chin, eyes, ears, and nose are beginning to form what will eventually become one adorable face. In addition, baby's kidneys, liver, and lungs are developing, and heart is now beating 80 times a minute (and getting faster every day). 

At 6 weeks pregnant, the baby's placenta is developing and won't be ready to take over its role for a few more weeks. Until the placenta is mature enough, the yolk sac (a balloon-like structure that is as big as the baby) is providing my little sweet pea with his or her nourishment. The yolk sac will start to disappear completely when the placenta is ready – around 9 or 10 weeks of gestation. 

At this point in fetal development, your baby's hands and feet are connected with a layer of webbing. They don't be separate and distinct for several more weeks. From pregnancy week 6 onward, your baby is undergoing dramatic change. He or she is developing all of his or her major organs (heart, lungs, brains, liver, stomach, etc.). 

It's been a tough past 4 weeks.  I can barely stay awake most of the time.  I sleep every chance I get and have not felt guilty at all for doing so!  Also, I'm really hungry and moody and my boobs feel like they got into a fight, all sore and swollen.



Next week, you'll be this much cuter!