Just a little "flick" and other developments!

On Monday when I spoke with Dr. Chwe, he asked if I had felt the baby move. I said that I wasn't sure if I had felt the baby move or if I was just feeling digestion. He suggested that if I was anxious to feel it, I could drink a little caffeine and then pay attention. Tuesday, I did that. And I felt the baby kick! It felt, to me, like a little flick from the inside. It happened once, and then again and again for about an hour. It was amazing!!!

Nicholas turned 30 on Saturday, and (brother) Wilson, his wife Beki, and their three kids Christopher, Madeline, and Wilson stopped to visit. Here are some pictures.





Also, I picked up the rest of the slipcovers for the dining room on Monday. Love them!



And, last, but not least, we put up our Christmas tree--the artificial one that I bought on Black Friday morning!

17 week, 3 day doctor's visit

Just a quick update. We had our 17 week 3 day doctor's visit yesterday. I am up three pounds from the last visit, which makes me 2 pounds up from my pre-pregnancy weight. Dr. Chwe was happy with that weight gain. My uterus is now just below my belly button. The baby's heartbeat was loud and clear at 157 beats per minute.

I had a list of questions for him--from finding a pediatrician, to signing up for birth classes, to blood cord banking, to spider veins (I am going to have to start wearing panty hose!! Yuck!), to writing a birth plan, to weight gain. Dr. Chwe is very reassuring and answered all my questions patiently even though I know he was busy. His staff is awesome, too, and the tech who found the heartbeat told me that if I ever needed to be reassured, I could drop in between visits and she would let me listen to the heartbeat.

Our next appointment--the one we have an ultrasound and hopefully find out the baby's gender--is December 21! Hooray! In time for Christmas!!

Thanksgiving for two!

Our last Thanksgiving just the two of us... I said that I wasn't going to cook much, but I ended up making a turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, squash, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie. I took a picture. We are having slip covers made for the rest of the chairs in a plain linen color. The dining room is a little "busy" now!

Elastic waistbands are awesome!!!

Nicholas's PhD adviser, Brian, is in town and brought us a fun new toy for the baby!



We all went out to dinner, and I wanted to wear slacks, but all of mine are getting super tight. I checked out the maternity wear Erin and Steph sent and found a pair of elastic waistband khakis. Relief!! Ahhh!! I love them! I think they are going to be my every day work pants for a while.

We had a beautiful day here yesterday, and Ringo, Puck, and I ate the last of the raspberries from our little garden. My camelias in the back are blooming. Here is a photo of the one outside our bedroom window. It has white and pick flowers!

By popular demand...

I don't have much news, but I have had several belly photo requests...because I am telling people how huge I am getting! We've done photos in the same position at 7, 9, 11, and 14 weeks on the Sunday after my Friday rollover date. (I haven't posted the 14 week one yet. I was waiting for a series.) Since this one is mid-week, I don't mind that it is a ridiculous one done by me with a mirror. Here it is!! I've gained one pound so far, so weight must be readjusting on my body because that is noticeable!! (Of course, this is at its biggest: the end of the day after a walk.)

The beginnings of a nursery!

So, we sold the weight bench, and we bought a rug from Pottery Barn (on clearance about two months ago). It came on Monday, and Nicholas and I were stoked to put it in the "baby room" as we now refer to it.



I love it! The chair is one of our wicker chairs from IKEA that I had outside. It may or may not make the final cut. We still have my desks and a bookcase left in the baby room....so those have to make their way out as we get closer.

Nicholas and I have decided to have a look at cribs around Christmas time. We are going to (perhaps) replace my Subaru with a newer car over Thanksgiving. I love old Betty White (my car), but she is a 1998, has 155K miles, and doesn't have the latest safety features, which Nicholas insists that the baby and I need.

Other happenings:

• You might notice in the background that the desk is filling up with more baby stuff. Steph sent a duck towel, wash cloths, and wash mitt for my birthday. They are awesome! Nicholas bought a 'Bama receiving blanket, onsie, and Bear Bryant Teddy bear for my birthday. Love them!
  


• More books! Jane (Nicholas's mom) sent The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Baby 411. Juliet sent Caring for Your Baby and Young Child. I'm happy to have all the help I can get!
  


• I'm mostly feeling well now. I have lots more energy than just a few weeks ago. My nausea is only mild now, and is usually avoided if I eat frequent small meals.
  


• I split the zipper on my skirt on Monday. I guess it is time to quit wearing clothes that are too small! I am still hovering around pre-pregnancy weight, though. One day I will be one pound under and the next I will be a pound over. It is amazing to me that my body is changing so significantly, and yet I weigh about the same.
  


• The baby is about four inches long (crown to rump) now! Yet it will be a while before I am able to feel him/her move around...maybe not until 20 weeks, which is about five weeks away.
  

The last day of my 20's (and week 14!!)

Well, tomorrow I turn 30! Heidi already sent me her gift...two handmade hats, which I love and I have modeled below!





Mom and Dad sent a card with their gift that made me cry. Here is the poem on it:


From the moment
you were born,
you've made my life
so happy
just by being you.
Watching you grow
has been
a lifelong adventure...

Your caring,
generous spirit
touches
the hearts of those
who know you --
especially mine...

On your birthday
and always
I want you to know,
your life has changed the world,
and your love
makes all the difference.