Week 18

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

This picture looks gross. I haven't felt any movement yet, which I hear is normal for a first pregnancy. Landon thinks he can hear it moving when he listens to my stomach, but I think he's just hearing digestion or something. We have a doctors appointment on Thursday and we'll ask to see when we can find out the gender of this baby. Until then...

Baby Shopping

Today, Landon and I took a trip to Wichita to shop for baby items. The first place we go is Target so that we can compare prices to other stores. I think that for the most part, Target and Babies R Us will provide us with everything we need. Next, we go to a local place called Tiny Tykes Furniture. They had an amazing selection of cribs and nursery furniture. I think we've decided on a crib from there too (see picture). We planned to buy a crib or carseat today, and we finally decided on a carseat.
Our major problem with carseats is our car. It's a 2002 Firebird, which is obviously not made for transporting children. We went to Babies R Us and with the help of the sales person were able to decide on a carseat that would most likely fit our car (see picture). We get home though, and it's a pain to get the carseat to fit in the car without making the person in the front seat suffer. We finally found that if we put it on the passenger side, and have me sit in the front while Landon drives is the only way that we'll be able to manage. We're not selling the car, so I'll just have to be smashed for a year, while the carseat has to be rearfacing. The carseat itself is awesome. It's light and super easy to get in and out of the base. I think that we'll really enjoy it. Stupid car, though.
We also stopped by a baby consignment shop, which would be great to shop in, if we knew we were having a boy or girl. Their selection of cheap clothes was great. We also stopped at the mall to check out JC Penneys, etc. I also like JC Penney's selection of baby items. On a whim, we stopped at Spencers and found a cute onesie (see picture) if we have a girl- if we don't ever have a girl, maybe a neice. By the time we were done shopping, we were both ready to go home and take a nap. Eventually we start buying more things, but we still have 5 months left.

Week 17

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Stupid GPS

So today was the last day of school for all of my students, and the middle schoolers were going on a fun day/field trip to Kanopolis Lake all day. Some how I got myself roped into going with them in the afternoon. I couldn't go in the morning (they were leaving around 8:20) because I still had high schoolers to see. Anyway, I finish seeing my high school students at noon, and start the trip to Kanopolis, which is supposed to be only 15 minutes from Lindsborg. I haven't been there since high school, but had a vague idea how to get there and was pretty sure where the kids would be once I got to the Lake, besides I had the GPS to guide me right....wrong!
The GPS has been requesting a map update for awhile now, but we just haven't gotten around to it. This makes it take longer to find satellites. Anyway, I put in Kanopolis Lake and head off north on the highway that's on the west side of the school. This was my first mistake (should've gone west on Hwy 4 then turn north on 141, which goes over the dam). The whole time the GPS seems to be following me and telling me to take Hwy 4 'til Hwy 141, simple. Well, apparently I don't know which roads are what and I was definitely NOT on Hwy 4. So, I keep going and then the GPS tells me to turn for Hwy 141. I'm looking around and am not seeing anything familiar (I've been to Kanopolis enough to know when I'm actually there or not), and the road the GPS told me to take is a dirt road. I knew that couldn't be right, so I kept going north. Eventually I get to where I can kinda see some buildings (after going through Falun, Smolan, etc.), but they don't look like Kanopolis. Then I see a building that does look familar...it's the stupid gas station/truck stop on the west side of I-135 in SALINA!! I drove way too far north and ended up in Salina! So now I'm atleast 30 minutes late from when I said I'd be at the lake, and am atleast 15 miles too far north. I stopped at the gas station and fiddled with the GPS until it finally found satellites and actually knew where I was.
I finally got to Kanopolis, and knew I was there when I drove over the dam, which when you're in a hurry and coming from the wrong direction is incredibly long. Once I got there, everyone just finished eating and was starting the kids' choice games (which they had to stop every 30 minutes or so to check in to make sure all the kids were still there). I mostly just sat around with the teachers watching the kids and occasionally talking to my students (I only have about 15 students, so the majority of the kids there I couldn't have picked out of a crowd to save my life). Surprisingly, the day seemed to go really well for having 100 or so middle school kids running around a state park and lake. I really like my group of kids there and was interested to see how they related to the other students and who their friends were (this is especially interesting with some of the more involved kids).
I can see myself doing this with my own kids. I'll be one of those parents at the park making sure my kid is playing with the right kids, haha. Watching my students also brought me back to junior high as I tried to pick out the group of kids that would've been most like my friends in school. Now, you should know that the group of friends I had in school were kind of the trouble maker, druggie group. I didn't really find a group like this at the lake, but there were enough teachers around to discourage that kinda thing, lol. So, after the whole GPS incident, the day turned out really well.

Picture from n28ive1's flikr photostream.

2 Year Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 2 year wedding anniversary!!! I can't believe it's been two years already, it's gone by so fast. We're still in love as much and more than we were the day we got married. Things that have changed in two years: I'm done with school. We bought a house and live in McPherson. We're expecting a baby in November.
Our relationship with each other has grown stronger. I didn't really know what to expect since we were in a long distance relationship the entire time we dated and then moved in with each other on our wedding night. However, we immediately separated chores and everything just meshed perfectly. We still kiss each other hello and goodbye (if we're off to work) every morning. After the baby arrives I'm sure a lot will change, but we're both so excited. He's going to be an amazing father. I can't say enough positive things about the love of my life, and I'm so blessed to have shared 2 wonderful years with him. Here's to 60+ more. :)

Week 16

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

Fun Birthday Facts

• If born on your due date, your baby's half birthday will be May 2
• Your baby's birthstone will be Yellow Topaz (Fidelity)
• Your baby's Astrological Sign will be Scorpio
• Your baby's Flower will be Chrysanthemum or Chrysanthemum (Dark Blue, Red and Yellow)
• Your baby will be born in the Chinese Year of The Brown Earth Cow
• This time next year your baby will be 28 Weeks Old!
• Your baby will start kindergarten in 2014, be old enough to drive a car in 2025, finish high school in 2027, and will graduate from college with the class of 2031, give or take a year. Can you imagine?

Congratulations to:
Star and her new daughter, Emiley Elizabeth.
Brent and his B.S graduation from Fort Hays State- Have fun on your trip to China.
Kyle and his A.A. graduation from Hutchinson Community College.
Kelley and her graduation from Sterling High School.
Sarah on her wedding.
Matt and Amber on their 1 year wedding anniversary.

Almost summer

Only 3 more days with students and then summer!!!! I took on 3 students over the summer, so I'll see them for three weeks in June. I can't believe my first year of a real job is almost done. It seems like I just started. My students will be surprised when I come back next year with a huge stomach. I didn't tell any of them. Landon and I have been debating our name choices as we get closer to knowing if we'll have a boy or girl. We're pretty set on Remington for a boy, but I'm starting to not like Garrison so much. For our girl names, we're kinda reconsidering Kilexa. We love the name, but it's too similar to friends' name choices, and our families have never really liked it. I still want a girl's name that can be shortened to Ki, so right now I'm really liking Kaia- Landon isn't set on that yet though. Next weekend I hope to take a shopping trip to Wichita and look at baby stores and see on maybe buying a crib or carseat. I'm just ready to start buying something for the baby.

Minor Complaint

For the last couple days I've had miserable sore throats, apparently when your heart beats more to supply blood to the baby it causes a stuffy nose and even nose bleeds due to increased volume in veins. This sucks, I already have enough trouble with allergies, now the baby's causing the same symptoms. Ha, just wait, he/she will suffer when they get older with allergies too. It's practically destiny- yay genetics.
Really, though, this sore throat thing and the not sleeping through the night due to having an apparently small bladder now, are the only problems I've had thus far with the pregnancy. When the doctor asked how I'd been feeling at our last appointment she seemed almost surprised that I didn't have anything going on. No complications. Sometimes, I'm kinda disappointed about that because it doesn't feel like I'm pregnant. I should be happy I'm this lucky and have low blood pressure (sorry Star).
In other news, I feel like I've finally "popped". To me I look more pregnant now, or maybe it's just more blubber, :). I'll post a baby bump picture as soon as I can get Landon to take a decent one.

P.S. This picture I picked for this post reminds me too much of grad school, boo. ;)

Week 15

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

Only a week and a half of work left before summer!! Even though I'm providing summer services for three students this summer, I'm so glad that summer is finally here. I really need the break, I can't wait.

Nursery

I hadn't originally planned to have a nursery. I was just going to use our guest room the way it is with the crib in there instead of the full size bed. The only thing I was going to change was the wall decor. However, all that has changed. We decided to repaint the room (it really did need it), and put down new flooring. We also decided on a color scheme today. The walls will be blue/gray, trim in a cream white, and accents in red. We'll find unisex bedding and decor in red. Which after a short internet search, is not going to be difficult at all. For a boy, you can go with airplanes, boats, and/or sports. For a girl, you can go with hearts, ladybugs, and red designs. I also want most of our decor to be lambs. We found a super cute swing and bouncer that has lambs on it, and I think it'd be a good theme. It will be fun to get started on this, granted we still have to finish our remodel of the basement. We're putting that on hold though, after we install the carpet, so we can put all the money toward the baby.

To test or not to test

I told my main boss today the news. He was happy, as was my CFY supervisor. It turned out to be kind of a awkward time to tell them, though, due to the nature of the meeting that was scheduled anyway... They were happy though. Now I just have to tell the principals at all my buildings. I also took on 3 students for this summer. One on the other SLPs left during the year, and her kids missed a month of services. Parents were given the option of summer services, and three wanted it. So for three weeks in June, I'll see a couple more kids.

We just got back from the doctor's office for our monthly check up. We got to hear the heartbeat, and it sounds like everything is fine. B/P is fine and everything. She asked us today if we wanted to do the quad test. This test is just a blood test to check for risk of Down's Syndrome, Spina Bifida, or anencephaly. I don't have any of the risk factors for this test, it's just an option. We'll have to discuss it.
I wouldn't do it because: 1) You don't know for sure there's a problem, just a possibility. 2) You get to freak out the rest of the pregnancy and there's nothing you can do. 3) I wouldn't change anything if we found out there was a problem. 4) I think that we could handle a special needs child- I do work with them for a living.

I would find out because: 1) It's better to prepare now for any services the child would need. 2) You would know beforehand, vs. a newborn being rushed away because they come out and the doctors see the problem then. 3) You could begin the grieving process. 4) You could set up a support system and get help that the child might need.

So, I don't know what I'll decide.

Nervous

Tomorrow is the big day to tell the boss the news. I'm really nervous. I know they won't care and will be happy. What else would they expect employing a bunch of women? I'm still nervous, though. I guess my main worry is about what they'll do while I'm on maternity leave. Of course, around the time I'm due is when I have the most IEPs in which I'm the primary provider. I also wonder what they do to find someone to do PRN while I'm gone. That's the thing about being a SLP, vs. a teacher. There are lots of substitute teachers around, but a SLP that can just work for someone for 6 weeks is harder to find. A good thing about my due date, is that after the 6 weeks, I'd only have about a week before Christmas break, so I'll probably use sick days, etc. and just come back after break.

In other news, tomorrow is also another doctor appointment. Not sure what we'll do, but I'm betting that she'll set a date for the gender sonogram. We can't wait to find out what we're having. It will make buying baby things so much easier. Granted, most of the stuff we're gonna buy we're gonna try to get unisex. This is because we want another child after this and we're definitely gonna have hand me downs for things like the crib, carseat, and nursery.

Week 14

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.


To me, the peach from last week is bigger than a lemon, but whatever. In other news. Yesterday (Sat.) was my grandparent's (mom's side) 65th anniversary. It was fun to talk to my cousins and see everyone there. I may post a couple pictures tomorrow. Lately, I have been super tired. Usually I'm not a very lethargic person, but maybe it's just the pregnancy combined with stress of work winding down for the summer. Also, I'm announcing to the boss next week about the pregnany. I'm also irritated about having to wake up in the middle of the night all the time to make a trip to the bathroom. I've always been a heavy sleeper, and once I'm asleep, I never get up until the alarm goes off. But this has been going on for a couple weeks and I'm sick of it. Maybe it's preparing me for the sleepless nights that lie ahead. We'll see.

Baby's First Pictures

We had our first ultrasound Friday. Our due date is still the same. We were surprised at how much you could see. I was not expecting to see movement, or be able to recognize anything. And the pictures she printed don't do justice to what was on screen. It was so cute when the baby moved his/her arms around. I had a flash of a newborn baby doing the same thing. Awww.