Already Halfway Through!

I’m not writing as much as I would like to. Part of it is me getting home completely exhausted at the end of my work day. I keep running in my head all the things I need to write about, but then never get it done. So here goes.

A few days shy of week 20, my dear husband (DH) and I went for the anatomy scan at the hospital. We were excited as it was going to be the longest and most detailed ultrasound and we were going to find out the sex of the baby. This was the first time DH was present at an ultrasound. He was really amazed, took some videos and pictures. It was sweet to see him so excited. I was lying there, just trying not to fall asleep.

We did find out that our little baby is a boy. The ultrasound tech said it was very clear that it is a boy. I’m happy. I didn’t really have a preference. I would like to have 1 boy and 1 girl and I didn’t mind the order in which that came. Although, I always thought that it would be nice for a little girl to have a ‘big brother’. Let’s see if that happens in a few years! J

We got tons of pictures of the ultrasound. We could see our son (yeah, I guess I can say that now!) open/close his mouth, stretch out, move a lot. It is becoming more real, although I do often forget that I’m pregnant. I am definitely showing now, but not enough to make it obvious.

The most exciting news has been feeling the baby move. A few days after the ultrasound (so at week 20), I clearly started feeling some movements. I felt some stuff before, but I wasn’t sure if it really was the baby…but now I’m sure. It’s pretty clear. It’s been fun to feel him. I like keeping my hand on my tummy as much as possible (while watching TV, while lying down, while on the bus) to feel him. DH can’t feel him yet though. I look forward for him to be able to feel the baby too. It’s something that  is nice to share.

This past weekend I bought the first set of baby stuff. Compared to other women that I discuss with online, I’m a little late. Most of them have bought tons of things, including cribs, toys, clothes, diapers…this weekend, I really went out to buy  myself some maternity work pants and bras, but then decided to stop at the GAP since I had a $20 coupon. I went in and headed straight to the sales rack. Baby clothes are so cute, but they can be so expensive…so I decided not to go crazy. I got 4 onesies and with my coupon, that came out to $5.43. I think that’s quite a deal. I got home, took pictures of the clothes and sent it to my sister. Today, I also sent the pictures to my parents.

I had what they call ‘sciatic pain’. It’s a sharp pain on the left buttocks. Basically, whenever I would get up after sitting for a while, I would feel the pain and have a hard time walking. I remember feeling a slight discomfort at week 7 onwards, but recently it got much worst. I often had to limp for  a while before being able to walk properly. My chiropractor and my fitness trainer gave me a couple of stretches to try out and recommended I roll on a foam roller or tennis ball. Last week, I worked out 4 days and suddenly the pain stopped.  I think I need to stay active – at least, that’s the learning I took from this experience. I haven’t felt the pain in over a week now. Knock on wood!

I feel a little ashamed of the fact that I don’t feel connected to the baby yet. I thought I would feel connection and love as soon as I found out the sex and then  I thought I would feel it when I started feeling him move. But still nothing. I always thought I’d be the kind of person who would be totally in love with my unborn child…I sure hope this doesn’t mean I’m a bad mom. I hope that will change soon. My DH though, has been really cute. Whenever he gets home he says hi to me and then rubs my belly and says ‘hi baby’. He often kisses my belly and talks to the baby. I haven’t been able to just talk to the baby yet, but I do try to sing out loud and play the piano often for him.

I do feel a little overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. I need to seriously start a baby registry, but I don’t know what to get. That’s my main problem. Some of my friends who were recently pregnant said they would help me out. I do need help. I’m so clueless. I’m hoping to get most of what I need through gifts so that we don’t have to spend too much. Since DH is starting his business, he is not earning a salary yet, which means I’m the breadwinner. I think that we’re doing really well, but I guess we don’t have as much money as we did a few months ago. Ideally, I would love for the baby to have his own room, to decorate it nicely for him, like most women do…but I think we’ll keep things simple. We live in a 1-bdrm apartment and although we are looking for a 2-bdrm, it might not happen since rental prices in this city are skyrocketing. Anyway, we’ll probably put the crib in our bedroom and make one of our dressers the ‘baby’s dresser’.  I know that the baby doesn’t really mind if he has his own room or not...but I still wish I could do that for him. 

I’m still feeling good, not sick, not in pain. I feel lucky that it’s been so good so far. I know many women who are already suffering at this stage. This baby has been good to me. J

Heartbeats, Announcements & Ultrasound

It’s been a little while since I wrote a post. My mother came to visit for 2 weeks and now my in-laws are here for another 2 weeks. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks and a lot has happened.

I did some research online on the best way to break the news to loved ones. I liked one suggestion, which was to ask someone to take non-stop pictures while you’re announcing your pregnancy so that you have a series of pictures depicting people’s reactions and emotions. So, I decided to do that, but to go one step further and also ask someone to record it on video.

 

Announcing to your maternal grandma

So, on my mother’s second day here, we took her to a beautiful spot in Seattle. It’s a lookout and you can see the lake, the city, the Space Needle…it’s the spot from where all postcard shots are taken. My husband gave someone our camera and gave someone else his iPhone (for the video recording). He told them that we’re making an announcement and we wanted to capture it. I’m so glad we did! At the moment, when you break the news, it’s hard to be aware of everything. It just goes by so quickly. But when I looked at the pictures, I could really see my mom’s surprise, excitement, tears. It was great. The video too is amazing. I’ve watched it several times already.

Announcing to your paternal grandparents

We did the same with my in-laws. We took them to a different location and got 2 people to help us out (one for the picture, one for the video). Those pictures too were amazing. The video was nice, but I wish we had told the person to come a little closer so that we could have heard everything. But anyway, it’s really precious to be able to look back at all that.

We announced to my dad over Google Hangouts and recorded that too. We did that with my brother-in-law as well. Now, I just need to tell my sister, who apparently is too busy to video chat with me for 10 mins.

During my mom’s visit, at about 12 weeks, we all (mom, husband and I) went to the doctor to hear the baby’s heartbeat. It’s sooooo fast. I was relieved that we could hear it, because I still don’t feel pregnant…so any reassurance that there’s actually a baby in there makes me happy. I’m still not feeling nauseous and I’m not as tired as I was before. I also haven’t gained any weight (on the scale) but can see my belly protruding a little.

This morning, I went to the doctor’s office again. This time, for an ultrasound that would detect if our baby might have any chromosome abnormalities (down syndrome, etc.). It’s part 1 of a two-part test.  They also drew a blood sample from my arm. I’ll know in a week what our chances are. I’m not too worried though.

The nicest part though about today’s visit was actually seeing the baby. The first time (at week 6), all I could see was a little cocoon that didn't look anything like a human. But today, I could see the baby’s 2 legs, 2 arms, fingers, face, brain, spine…wow it already is a little person!!!

I’m officially on my second trimester. It’s now ok to start telling people. Ideally, I’d like to tell my sister before I tell others…I hope that will happen this weekend.

Your First Picture

I went to get my first ultrasound yesterday. I had to come in with a full blader, that means with 3 glasses of water in me. That alone was a feat.

The nurse put a warm gel on my belly and I saw you for the first time. You look a little like a peanut right now. You're about 1 cm long. That's it, just 1 cm. I saw your heat beat, which was really cool. The nurse said your heart rate was 130bpm. That's fastest than my heart.

The next part was a little weird. She had to go through my vagina to get a clearer picture of you. I could see everything on the screen. We looked at you from all kinds of angles and the nurse took a bunch of measurements.

I thought I was at 6 weeks and 6 days, but apparently, you are 2 days older. As of today, you're 7 weeks and 2 days old.

I was mostly relieved that you're still in me. I haven't felt many symptoms other than tiredness (I know, it's a good thing). And with all the spotting, I was worried that something might be wrong. But, you're exactly the size you should be. Your heart is beating, so I'm happy.

This Saturday, your dad and I are going to a little session/workshop at the hospital where we are going to learn about this thing we got ourselves into. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm looking forward to it.

Your dad has been wondering if it's a good idea to keep this a secret from his parents and wait until they are here in August. He really wants to tell them and hear all the advice they might have for me; well, for us. We haven't decided what to do yet.

My mother will be here in about 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to sharing the news with her and showing her your picture.

Oh, well, here it is. This is you right here.

Baby at 7 weeks and 1 day. 1 cm long