Monday, January 25, 2016

Life lately

Things were pretty quiet around here until Christmas.  The week before Christmas, we went to a cookie exchange at another CG family's house.  All day I'd been feeling tightness in my belly but I figured it was just my body stretching.  I was unable to get comfortable all evening and by the time we got home I was panicking.  I texted my lovely sister-in-law, who is a labor and delivery nurse and is expecting her second child.  I asked if she thought I could be having Braxton Hicks contractions already.  I was 19 weeks at that point.  She replied that while it was possible I was having Braxton Hicks, it was more likely that my body was stretching or that I was dehydrated.  Apparently, the uterus becomes irritated if you become dehydrated.  So I guzzled a bunch of water and went to bed.  I spent most of the following day drinking water like it was my job and relaxing on the couch, and I felt much better!

We had our 20 week ultrasound the week of Christmas.  I was anxious to see our little person because at that point, I hadn't felt any movement yet.  Baby was breech and facing my spine so we did not get a good look at the face or profile, but we were able to bring home some pictures.  The high risk OB was not satisfied with the look he was able to get at the baby's heart and palate so he scheduled another ultrasound for 24 weeks.

We spent a quiet Christmas at home.  Another CG family joined us for dinner on Christmas Eve and we had a very lazy Christmas Day in our pajamas, watching movies.  Kyle got me a pretty heart-shaped pendant with a pearl in it - my birth stone.  He told me he was looking at one with an emerald in it, since our baby is due in May, but he figured if he went ahead with the emerald, that would guarantee our baby would come in April and have the diamond for a birth stone, not the emerald.  He's so smart!

I started feeling the baby move around 21 weeks.  The first time it happened, it was bedtime and I'd just had a glass of water and laid down.  I wasn't sure if I was feeling the baby or gas, since I'd just burped.  But then I felt the same movement the following day, and have felt it consistently ever since then.  Unfortunately, Kyle has not been able to feel the baby move yet and it's driving him a little crazy.  I keep telling him it will happen!

We left on January 5 to visit our family and friends in the Midwest.  We spent a few days with Kyle's family in Iowa and then spent a week with my family in Minnesota.  It was so nice to get away and see everyone.  I had to get a new winter coat because mine were no longer fitting around my ever-expanding belly.  I scored a wool pea coat at Old Navy for $15.  I figure if I only wear it this winter, it will still be a good investment.  While we were in MN, my dear friend Jen threw me a baby shower.  I am overwhelmed at how many people love our baby already.  We got some lovely gifts and it was so nice to visit with so many ladies I love.  We were able to bring some of our gifts back with us in our luggage and my parents will bring the rest when they come visit in the spring.  We are hoping they will be here in time for the baby's birth.  We are planning to go back to visit and introduce everyone to our baby in late August-early September.  By then, we will have a new niece or nephew in Iowa and I can't wait to get all the cousins together.