Could It Be . . . Baby???

On Friday (September 2nd), I think I might have felt baby move for the first time!  I was lying in bed, still waking up and yet aware of my surroundings, when out of the blue I felt my muscles in my lower right (front) abdomen area tighten . . . but only in an area about the size of a quarter or 50-cent piece, and almost in a "pushing-out" from the inside sense.  It was so strange; I have never before felt anything like it!  I laid there for awhile longer (hand gently resting on my belly) just to see if I felt anything further, but nothing.

All the books I've read say that I will begin feeling baby move any time now, but that first time moms don't often feel the movement as early as other simply because they don't know what they're feeling for.  I still tend to think I did feel baby, because I've never had that experience before and feel like the muscle "twitch" was too low and isolated to be gas or another explainable movement.  I suppose we'll find out soon as the baby moves more and more as they grow.

I do wish Raleigh got to feel the baby as soon as I do, only because this is so special to both of us I feel a little guilty experiencing this wondrous part without him.  I know that will change and at some point he'll get to feel the baby move too, but I do wish he could do more than listen to my stories of how it feels to have something alive and growing inside.  (Sounds like the plot to a scary movie more than reality!)  The words don't come easily all the time, as what I feel is sometimes tough to describe.

This afternoon I felt like what I can describe as little bubbles popping inside my belly . . . could that have been baby too?  Only time will tell, I suppose, and I look forward to confirming with the doctor next week that all is well and our little one is growing just as he/she should.

The Most Beautiful Sound

Well our 13 week doctor's appointment was on Wednesday (August 10th) and overall, was very "chill" as the doctor put it.  No gown on the exam room table, which meant I got to keep my clothes on; hooray!  I would have gladly dropped trousers for another internal ultrasound if that meant we got another picture of our little one, but the doctor said she'd only do that if she couldn't find a heartbeat which, thankfully, didn't happen.  So . . . we got to hear the heartbeat too!

At first the sound of the doppler machine rolling over my belly just sounded scratchy--like a bad radio frequency--but when she found the right spot and held the monitor still, there it was--clear and beautiful.  It was a very even, fast, and consistently-paced "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh . . ."  About 150 beats per minute she said, more than twice my heart rate.  Wow--so cool!  I only wish we got to hear it longer than the 10-15 seconds we did, as either she or baby (or both) moved and after that, it couldn't be found again and our appointment time was up.

We have one more "chill" appointment in 4 weeks and then a couple weeks after that, our 20 week ultrasound!  That's the one where baby should be pretty big and completely developed, and if we want to find out the sex, we can.  (I'm still thinking we won't, though . . .)  I am so excited!  And so excited to feel baby get larger too.  My belly is definitely protruding and less and less of my regular clothes are fitting.  So here's to a healthy growing baby!

We're Getting Bigger!

This past weekend I went shopping with mom and my cousin Dawn, and picked up my first sets of maternity clothing.  It is so strange to be trying on--and purchasing--pants with expandable belly panels and shirts that appear way to big on the hanger.  I know I'll grow into them (my regular pants won't even button anymore), yet it is still so strange!

Our 2nd doctor's appointment is this Wednesday . . . here's to a healthy and growing baby!

An Inch of Miracle

Oh my gosh--Monday (July 11th) was the coolest EVER!  We had our first doctor's appointment and got to "see" baby for the first time!  We saw his/her whole body from head to rump (a mere 2.19 cm long--just shy of an inch!) and could make out a very strong, beating heart, little legs and arms that would twitch every now and then, and the cutest face (eyes, nose, lips, etc.) I have ever seen.  Baby measured 8 weeks, 6 days, which puts us at an estimated delivery date of 2-14-2012.  What a gift of love indeed!

Our Little One--First Photo!

It was just so amazing to see--really see--what the little life inside looks like.  The doctor said our little one will double its size every week for awhile, which means we'll have a 2" long baby next week this time; crazy!
I have generally felt so well thus far I was beginning to wonder if this pregnancy could possibly be in my head, but no--he/she is really there!

Raleigh's eyes teared up at the image on the screen and his verbal reassurances to both baby and I are so sweet and comforting.  he is going to be an excellent father, and in many ways, already is.  I am SO blessed to have him, and am so thankful we get to share this experience together.

Now that the first appointment is behind us (and all appears to be well!), we'll start to share the news with our friends and family.  It's good we'll get to spill the beans now, as it's been tough keeping something so exciting a secret for so long!

You know you're pregnant when . . .

Walking from the bed (upstairs) to the kitchen (downstairs) at 8p in the evening is so exhausting, you take a break to sit on the stairs in between and fall asleep again . . .

Hats

Today I came across this picture and it hit me--dear Kate looks good in nearly everything, and is especially fashionable in her choice of headwear.  This hat (which would look ridiculous on me) looks fantastic.  Even Mr. William looks quite dapper in his top hat!  I mean, how cute are they?!

In thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that some people are just hat people.  They are able to wear all kinds of hats and look great.  Clearly, the English have it down.  Some are braver than others (see photos from the royal wedding for verification) however they do as an overall group look pretty good with something on their heads.

Me, on the other hand . . . well, I don't do well with much beyond an occasional stocking cap in the winter and/or a baseball cap on a lazy day I don't want to do my hair (of course even then, my ears stick out like a human version of Dumbo).  I've tried hats on before, and although they look good on the rack at the store, the minute it hits my head it transforms into a hideous piece of something-that-doesn't-belong-there.  Truly, I end up looking like a new character from the Muppets or a dressed thing-a-majig from a Dr. Suess book.  And even in the rare cases it doesn't look that bad, it still doesn't look good enough to justify the purchase.

Oh, how I'd love to be a hat person.  I'd totally like to have a great collection of hats versus shoes or jewelry or anything else, just because there are so many amazing, unique hats out there.  Check this out:

Beach Hat

Fedora

Knitted Beret

Bucket/Fishing Hat

Trapper Hat

Newsboy Hat

Maybe one day I'll find a hat (or two) that reflects my personality well AND looks good on my head.  In the meantime, however, I am not-so-secretly envious of folks who have already found their "hat knack".  :)

fashion feaux pas and fraggle rock hair

I am the farthest thing from being trendy.  For real.  Look at me.
The hippest things I own are a pair of pewter colored flats (wedding reception shoes), a set of spin pins, and a silver/ivory/black/pink pearl and glass-beaded necklace that loops twice around my neck for a super sexy look and 3 times to show a more sophisticated elegance.  I sometimes will sport a jean jacket over my dress clothes to add a chic urban flair to my otherwise (I feel) stuffy outfit, and sometimes I will wear my maroon corduroy blazer with a tank and jeans for the same reason.  I have some silk scarves I've once tied around my waist like a Hollywood diva (but it's been a LONG time), I don't own a single hat that isn't of the baseball or stocking cap variety, and I'm not a jewelry guru.  I wear my own thing (my style and color and whatnot), and that's that.  I go for comfortable far more often than I go for fashionable.  And on my stocky body, "comfortable" and "fashionable" don't often go together.

I'm just not trendy!

However . . . maybe I can be.  I read an article this week that said if you have some of items below, you're for sure to be trendy!  These items, they claim, should be in every girls' closet:
red flats: I totally want a pair.  A coworker of mine has a pair she wears from time to time and they provide the perfect pop of color with all the greys and blacks we often wear throughout the week.  But I wonder if on me they'd look more like bright red lipstick does to an over-makeupped glamour girl--eye catching, yes, but more of an "oh my!" than an "oh, myyyy . . ."
black dress: got it, yet it's nothing special.  One of these days I want the little black dress that just screams "lookin' hot and feeling good!"  You know, the one that when out on the town everyone points to and says, "Dang--that dress--and that girl--is rockin'!"
oversized watch: I've seen others pull this off well; me . . . well, I'm not so sure I could do it . . .
black opaque tights: Really?!  I hate wearing nylons of any kind!  I'd really have to stretch my box (and comfort zone!) to give that one a real shot.
leopard-print scarf: I don't think I could bring myself to do this one, at all.  Animal prints are just so not me.
statement necklace: Um . . . I could use some help here.  I know the necklace I mention above is pretty great, but I can't wear that every day . . .
striped shirt (horizontal): I'll do the vertical striped shirt, but I'm not in for the horizontal one.  No need to accentuate the belly I've long worked to hide.
classic trench coat: I think with the deep purple coat I received this past Christmas, I might really be on the way to having this one taken care of!

On top of all this, I have fraggle rock hair.  At least that's what Raleigh and I call it.  It's a patch of baby hairs growing from the crown of my forehead, that is now long enough to awkwardly stick up in a wirey bunch, completely contrary to the style of the day.  (Any day.)

With such hair and so few of the "must have" trendy items, I don't think I'm likely to be fashionable any time soon.  Maybe I should just stick to being me, since I appear to be good at that, trendy or not.