9 Month Checkup... not fun and possibly worrisom

Ariana has fallen off the growth chart since her 6 month checkup and is in bellow the 5th percentile for weight and now for length too. She weighed in at 14 lbs 8.5 oz. We went to a new doc who was WORLDS better as far as giving info before having to ask, not feeling rushed and the nurse who weighed and measured Ari was so sweet and gentile with her unlike the crotchity old woman at our previous Peds office! They were thorough and asked more questions to make sure she's meeting milestones and about her nutrition. So we had to get some blood work done to see if their is any thyroid issues that is slowing down her growth or any other possibilities. She will be getting vitamin D supplements (cause BM isn't a good source for it) and they will check her iron for possible anemia, Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) and others. We get the results by Tues so I am trying not to worry and freak out until there is something concrete to worry about. She ahead on most milestones and so smart signing 2 words already and understands much more than she can communicate back yet... so we think and hope she's just got the little Filipina gene but is doing stellar with her cognitive and motor development.

THE WORST was having her blood drawn and having to hold her down while she is screaming in pain while they find the vein. I sobbed the entire time and kept saying "I'm sorry sweetie, it's almost over." I need to work on not getting sad in front of her in the future cause she needs me to be strong for her but it breaks my heart seeing her in pain and scared cause she doesn't understand what's going on and why Momma isn't stopping the pain this stranger was inflicting on her. The look in her scared tear filled eyes broke my heart. Not being able to save her from the pain had me in tears. I love this little girl beyond words could ever express.

Ariana is 4 Weeks Old!!!

Wow where did the time go! Just yesterday I was complaining about the discomfort of being over due! It has been a crazy, fun, blessed yet exhausting first month of parenthood and as you can see, finding the time to post on my blog let a lone shower or eat is very hard!

On Monday, the day before she turned 4 weeks old, I caught the first smile from her sweet face! It was the first smile that wasn't involuntary like when she is falling asleep. We play "where is Momma gonna kiss me" in the morning as I go from cheek to cheek, nose, chin, hands and feet... she smiles each morning since Monday. It makes my heart sing each morning!

As of 3 weeks she has been able to track me from side to side and now she can up and down too. She also can look in my direction when I am calling out to her from a little ways away like when I am in the kitchen and she's in her bouncer in the family room. I feel her staring at me constantly when awake with is funny looking over and seeing her little eyes piercing the back of my head says "Momma, why are you over here loving on me!?!"

Her Pediatric visit last Friday went very well and I was even on time!!! Prep time started about 4 hours before leaving the house and she had a couple of huge poop bombs the 30 minutes before which I thought was gonna make us late... but we got there with 1 minute to spare! She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and is on track with her weight gain and development, no diaper rash and motor responses are well, heart and lungs sound strong... such a relief to here we are doing good by her!

Ok... she is waking form her nap... diaper change time LOL!

She's coming out... we want the world to know...

As of my checkup this afternoon, I am 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced so all the crazy craps and bloody show from the weekend were actually doing something productive! I was ready to be disappointed and have the doc say I was not much more dilated than last week so yeah for progress!

I am to be induced tomorrow, heading to the hospital around 6am but I have been having contractions since around 2pm and they are now about 8 minutes apart so we may head in before the morning LOL!

We can't wait to meet you little one! We love you and we will be smooching you soon!

The waiting game continues!

Boo hiss... what a tease this morning! Well, at least with the bloody show, we know my cervix is at work dilating finally! But labor still can still happen any time or even days away! *sigh*

Here is an online predictor I took:

http://pregnancyandbaby.sheknows.com/pregnancy/Detailed/Madame-Zaritska-predicts-your-birth-experience-736.htm

"The day you deliver, outside will be cloudy. Your baby will arrive in the late morning. After a labor lasting approximately 48 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and will be 21 inches long. This child will have dark green eyes and a lot of brown hair."

Is Something Starting???

Trying not to get my hopes up cause I might be waiting for another week to birth this child... but last night I started getting some more cramps and a couple of full on contractions. They weren't enough to time ...just a couple lasting for a minute or 2 then they dissipated. Nothing but some mild cramps this morning. The cramps have been a bit more after eating breakfast and having some Starbucks (shhhh... don't tell Damen LOL!). Just now I started to notice some nipple tingling and slight pangs... don't know what the hell that is about!

Probably just preoccupied with every twinge hoping for signs of labor to start... but a woman can at least hope can't she!?! I have nothing better to do since all the prepping is done!

*sigh* ...this waiting game sucks!

So bored waiting around for this baby to come out! Damen has requested I don't go window shopping anymore cause he's worried I may go into labor while out and about... but I am sooooo bored! Its too hot to walk outside so I would rather walk around the stores! He also went from last week telling Cornbread to stay in there for a little longer to now wanting to try all the old wives tale to induce labor! He said starting tomorrow it will be daily rituals of spicy food, walks, and nookie LOL! I laughed at the last bit because the thought of sex and the huge belly is too damn comical for words! My response was "good luck with that!"

My due date is Sunday the 27th. My guess is nothing will happen until October 1st. I am just hoping something happens before the doc has to induce. Induction increases the chance of needing a C-section and that's one I want to avoid most because of the added recovery time.


Dear Cornbread,

It has been a fun, crazy and surreal experience being your room and board for the past 9+ months. I have loved each new experience from the first sonogram to the first moment I felt you move inside and the first time your Daddy felt your ninja kicks. Those precious first will be treasured forever. The poking games you and Daddy play at my expense were fun when you were smaller but now its just too uncomfortable. You need to come on out to play now! We are all anxious to meet you and smother you with hugs and smooches and to nibble on those chipmunk cheeks of yours!

You have a lot of love waiting for you out here so hurry up little one! Of course... only if you're ready for a safe arrival... we love you sweetie!

See you soon!
Love,

~ Mom & Dad

2 Weeks to go! (Hopefully!)

A little less than 2 weeks until my due date! And OMG I am ready to evict her from my uterus! I am so unbelievable uncomfortable! My lower back is killing me, cannot sleep more than 3 hours each night because of the pain and discomfort and having to get up to pee in the night... being a light sleeper makes getting back to sleep impossible! Getting in & out of bed and turning from one side to another is the WORST part of my days! These maneuvers cause such groin pain... my crotch ligaments feel like they are being torn apart as if my legs are being used in a tug of war fight.

I feel bad for Damen because he has been stuck with the brunt of the house work and he is already working such long hours. His weekends are spent vacuuming and washing the floors and the office work he takes home with him. I just hope I don't get a Cesarean because that will put the work load on him for a little longer after the baby is born. I want to be as mobile as possible after the baby is born.

Other than that, we are just waiting. Damen had a crash course last weekend in baby care and changing diapers using a teddy bear... it was so fun seeing try to get it down knowing it'll be a ton more different with a squirming crying little one LOL! He is gonna be a great father... my heart swells thinking how blessed I am to have him as the father of my child. She will be so loved and protected... and have the strong warm loving security of a father who would always be there for her... all the things I never had from a father figure... it fills me with so much joy seeing the love and excitement in Damen's eyes. I love him deeper everyday.

3D Sonogram Pics @ 31 Weeks Pregnant

The last pic that shows her little indent between the lower lip and chin is definitely from me LOL!

27 Weeks... almost done with 2nd Trimester!

The first Tri dragged on so slow but all of a sudden we find ourselves in the home stretch and entering the 3 trimester after this week! Cornbread has a REAL name now but we are not announcing it until her birth. The poor girl will be called Cornbread by Damen and I as a nickname for the rest of her life though, hehehe! She is still kicking strong and her most active is late afternoon and 2-3:00am where it feels like she is following a Tae-Bo workout in there! Damen is away TDY for a week and will be back the day before we have to leave for a wedding in Denver for the 4th of July weekend. This will be interesting flying and being pregnant! I normally dehydrate myself cause I hate the cramped nasty bathrooms on the plane but I have to drink plenty of water in my condition so I am soooo not gonna like this! That small bathroom is gonna suck even more with a belly in my way!

AT 27 WEEKS PREGNANT:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

On a not so happy note, we are dealing with some family drama a-g-a-i-n and true to form, my MIL feels like making demands and being selfish and belligerent to get her way on something so ridiculous rather than being understanding towards our needs at the time of the birth. Her inability to see past her own selfish emotions and her verbal attacks on Damen and me when she is angry for not getting her way is beyond immature, inappropriate and abhorrent... borderline emotionally abusive! She even sank to a new low by calling my mom with ulterior motives of getting info from her to use against us and see if she can get her angry at us too! She is out of line and there is no justification for her behavior.

Being a active presence in the family we are building is a privilege NOT a right and with that privilege comes responsibilities. It requires being respectfully of our decisions and respecting our boundaries as parents and as husband and wife. You violate that basic requirement and your are not welcome in our home. If you see this as unfair or uncaring, seek some counseling because you have a warped sense of what a loving relationship should look like.

I am sad for Damen. He has to deal with the brunt of her verbal venom because he is protecting me from the added stress and emotional strain. This was not how he pictured things to play out when he envisioned have kids. It's heartbreaking.

WTH was that... Baby movement?!

Ok, for the past 2 weeks there has been strange sensations in my lower abs almost gas like at time but no toot follows... strange throbbing/vibrations at times after eating a meal or random pangs for a few seconds. I am always questioning myself and explaining it away as just Ute growing pangs or gas but FOR SURE I felt some pokes this afternoon while at work!!! I was sitting at my desk and out of nowhere there were a few popcorn like pokes or nudges on my lower abs slight right of center!

I was grinning for the last hour of my work day. This was unmistakable... and so amazingly weird but exciting! I think my iffy sensations the past week were the beginning flutters but since this is my first pregnancy, I wasn't sure what it would feel like so it was hard to say what was what. But today, Cornbread made his/her presence known!

Then I came came home to the most lovingly sweet husband who made quite a spread for diner... pot roast, gravy, home-made mash potatoes and corn. Sooo yummy! I am so blessed and excited for our new adventures.

2 more weeks and we find out if we are have a mini-me or mini-D... stay tuned!