Robin Joseph is here!

Robin Joseph

June 11th, 2007

3:45 PM

5lbs 18.5 inches

My birth story (taken from when I actually journaled it):

We arrived at 7AM as scheduled at the hospital for my induction due to high blood pressure. I had wanted my homebirth, and compromised on a birth center, only to be risked out, and there I was...exactly in the situation that was the opposite of everything I wanted about birth. But, I made my peace with it and tried to take a "what will come, will come" attitude. I arrived happy that we would start with the most natural interventions possible (breaking my water).

Upon arrival I learned that my negative strep B test turned positive in the days after (don't you just love it). So breaking my water right away would put me on a timeline that no one really wanted us to go down. It was decided that Pitocin would be the better option for me. I was not happy and asked a gazillion questions about it and the alternatives. Thankfully, I had an excellent nurse who explained everything with me and who understood my concerns. The bottom line though, as she put it, was that the baby was at a very serious risk and it would have to come out one way or another....none of us wanted "another".

So, Pitocin begins....

I was already 3cm dialated and about 70% effaced when I arrived. None of us really thought it would be too much of an issue to get me to contract. So at 9AM, the line was started...and I couldn't feel anything. I felt tightenings but they didn't really hurt and I was talking and laughing and all was fine. Nothing was being picked up on the monitor though...

So they kept increasing the Pitocin. The nurse knew I was not at all happy about this so she really did try to make it light...she teased me and in all honesty, it really did help a lot. I still didn't feel much...definitely not pain.

11:00 AM, I'm still feeling tightening sensations but they really didn't hurt at all. All of it was felt below my belly button. But they did come regularly. Still nothing on the monitor. So the nurse checked me again. I was at 4cm and about 80%. The decision was made that along with the dreaded pitocin increases, they would break my water. I was actually fine with this intervention. It was the one thing close to "natural" that I got to experience by way of interventions go...ha ha ha

So, if anyone were to ask me how to explain the feeling of having your water broken, I don't think I could possibly describe it. It was so gross, and so hysterical at the same time. I kept laughing about it. I knew it would be "warm"...yeah right! Warm actually meaning "pretty darn hot". No pain and I just relished in being "gushy" for the rest of my labor. I had some blood with the rupture so that was a good sign.

Still no pain.

For the next 4 hours, I definitely was feeling surges. The nurse wasn't picking them up and I was pretty relaxed and comfortable. When they came, I could still mostly talk through them but when I couldn't, it wasn't that uncomfortable and I would close my eyes and just completely melt into the bed.

Did I mention that I was pretty much confined to the bed because of my BP. We've got the pitocin, and we've got the "stuck in bed" combo. I was pretty frustrated. I couldn't use the tub and wasn't really allowed up much other than to use the bathroom. But again, I wasn't uncomfortable. I really felt completely manageable and o.k. with everything. Most of my "complaints" about being stuck in bed, etc...were done with levity and humor. It was like a "woe is me" in a mocking sense. I hope I explained that right...

The nurse was getting pretty confused. I dialated to 5, then 6, then 7, and 8 and I was pretty much fully effaced by then and the baby was already abt 0 station when my water was broken. No contractions were being registered on the monitor and I still wasn't feeling more than squeezing in my pelvis. I still had absolutely no sensation above my belly button..or even a couple inches below it. Nothing in my back. The "squeezes", as I began to call them, registered enough for me to have to just rest and relax..but they didn't really hurt.

The nurse was in and out and telling me how she knew I was contracting because she could see it but she couldn't understand why they weren't showing up on the monitor and how I could be at 8cm without experiencing to many problems. Apparently, we were the talk of the nurses station.

I have to tell you that if that's hypnobirthing..then hypnobirthing ROCKS! I hardly felt a thing, on pitocin of all things, until 8cm. It was pretty freaking amazing. I had Joanne being so supportive, and my mom who did Reiki and massaged my feet and rubbed my head. It was so nice. I was so comfortable.

Then things got a wee bit uncomfortable...It went from me just wanting to be done, to feeling shaky and teary, to vomiting, and to pleading with Joanne and my mom because I was trying so hard to relax and was finding it more difficult to do with each surge. I had to go to the bathroom a lot but I guess that was a good thing... I spent a bit of time saying "I'm trying..." to Joanne who responded with "you're already DOING it".

There was a period of time when I know I was whining that I was ready to be done. My surges were like 4-hilled waves. They never really ended before they started again. I was cranky that I didn't get a break more than anything. I wanted a break. They were uncomfortable, but more than anything I needed to rest. Then I remember just getting focused and "mantra-ing" through several multiple-wave contractions by saying "down", "down", and "please baby, move down" through a whole bunch of waves.

I knew my body was doing all kinds of involuntary but helpful things and I was so glad that it was telling me what to do. The nurse commented on how I was "rocking" in bed subconsciously, and how when I went to the bathroom, I would clutch to Joanne the right way and sway and crouch and rock. She said I was doing exactly what I should.

In my heart, I knew this was transition and I so badly wanted it to be over. The whole transition phase only lasted an hour but it was pretty intense. Now what I remember is that the nurse checking me and commenting once again at how "melty" my cervix was. I was at 9 cm but she could very easily stretch me to 10. She wanted me to push.

I didn't want to push.

Now what I experienced was several surges of being encouraged to push because I was "so close" and my body completely rebelling. I pushed on the bed and it hurt, so I resisted. Then the midwife had me get onto the toilet where the pushing was more intense (but I actually WANTED to be on the toilet because it would help me progress).

I NEVER once felt the urge to push and I knew it was too early...but still, I listened..and then complained that I didn't want to do it, ha ha ha. But I kept pushing…

What I DIDN'T know was that the baby's heart and my blood pressure hit very much "danger" zones. They didn't let this on to me but Joanne saw it, the nurse saw it, and my mom saw it. He had to be born very quickly and they did it in a way so that I didn't panic. I a lot of ways, I appreciated that. I got to be "cranky" through it instead of scared.

After the toilet pushing, I moved to the bed and walking there was really weird because I could feel his head inside the birth path at this point. I got into bed and completely zoned out.
I don't remember much other than pushing when I surged and I swear on my life that I fell asleep in the 30 seconds or so in between each wave of pushing. I felt like I was hallucinating or in a trance (not bad for no drugs..huh?). And when I "woke", I pushed. I didn't like pushing. It didn't feel right...but now I know it was just because I never had the urge. If it weren't for the interventions I had, I would have probably experienced it as smoothly as the first 95% of my labor.

This whole pushing phase lasted a mere 30 minutes, if that. After three waves of trance-like pushing, his little head popped out. I didn't feel that "ring of fire" but I started to feel a tight, scratchy-ness and I thought "I'm going to feel that ring of fire soon". (But I never did) Then they told me not to push and I thought I was crowning, but nope, his head was already out. I guess the cord was around him (but I know it's common and although they didn't tell me, it wouldn't have scared me anyway).

So the head didn't feel too weird to me but the shoulders, now wow. It's not that it so much "hurt" because I can't even say that it hurt any more than anything else...but it truly was the weirdest sensation ever. Joanne said I pushed the shoulders and he literally flew out of me. It was pretty amazing.

I never knew that he was purple and tiny because they handed him right to me and he was already fussing. I thought he was a lot bigger than he turned out to be.

The moment I saw him fly out of me, I felt nothing physical in the world. I was completely amazed and thankful for everything. The last hour was hard, and so intense but I still remember thinking "that was it???" .."that's what everyone writes stories and tells horror tales about?"

I was so happy to NOT have had a terrible experience. Sure, at the end, I was whining to Joanne "this is horrible" and "no, I'm not pushing him out" and "my butt is turning inside out" (ha ha ha) but my heart of hearts told me that I was having a really great experience and his birth wasn't this big terrible, horrific event.

I did have a tear (2nd degree?) but I never even felt it. The doctor (amazing advocate, even for an ob/gyn by the way) was literally tugging away at that fishhook when they took my BP and it was a smooth 114/65. My BP after that never got above 120/80 and most of the time was much lower. It was so fascinating to me that birth really did "cure" my blood pressure problem.
The interventions I had really did make things tougher for me...but still, it really wasn't horrible. I know that if I didn't have that pitocin, or confinement, I very well would have made it to the end as comfortably and as painlessly the first 5 hours.

Again, hypnobirthing rocks! And no, I wasn't even listening to my tapes or even trying to actually hypnotize myself. Mostly I just BELIEVED that it wasn't bad and that I could completely relax. Relaxation was truly the holy grail of labor solutions. It was only when I couldn't relax that I felt true pain.

Robin Joseph popped out of me at 3:45 PM weighing a mere 5lbs even. He was 19 inches long (a string bean for sure) and he has this teeny little blonde head. It will be interesting to see if he keeps it or if his eyes stay fair. (Right now they are they normal deep midnight blue that all babies have).

We're so happy with him and although I feel like a complainer at the end, I heard nothing but such love and support from everyone around me. Today I was still being talked about and as the doctor was stitching me, she looked at me and said "amazing...I don't think I could have done that". It made me feel really good about myself because I really did feel badly that I whined through the last hour.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Even on the pitocin, I would go the same route...in most ways, it was so easy and simple and in others, it was the hardest thing I ever ever had to do. Interventions do stink, but it wasn't the end of the world for me.

I actually now do believe it was a good thing to induce. My placenta was kaput and wasn't nourishing little Robin any more. Even if he had stayed inside, he probably wouldn't have gotten any bigger. We had no idea he would even be as small as he was. A 38 weeker usually runs around 6.5lbs. It did him no service to stay inside and it was only making me sicker.

A truly, positive and incredible experience for me for what we had to work with. No horror stories…completely manageable.

Robin will be here on Monday...

On June 7th I had an appointment to determine how likely my body would be to take an induction. My blood pressure had been remaining high and I had been seeing my doctor a couple times a week.

I had been researching induction methods and wasn't happy that my hospital used cytotek. This is a drug that the FDA has not approved for labor induction and in fact, the drug company itself advises it to not be used for such purpose. It's a drug designed for stomach ulcers. When doctors use it to induce labor, they quarter the pill and place it directly on the cervix. Once it is on, you can't slow it down like Pitocin. There have been much higher incidents of uterine rupture and fetal deaths with this drug and I knew I didn't want it.

Luckily, at this appointment I was elated to learn that I was already 3 cm dialated and 50% effaced. It was the best case scenario and because I was already so progressed, I wouldn't need any kind of cervical encouragement at all. No cytotek. I was very happy. My doctor was to be back in on Monday, June 11th and we made arrangements to arrive at the hospital at 7AM. I was also instructed to not leave the area (so I stayed with my parents all weekend) and she said I could very well go into labor on my own.

Over the weekend I continued taking my evening primrose oil capsules and my raspberry leaf tea. Both are natural labor inducing herbs. (Which worked very well for me because I was even further effaced when I arrived on Monday).

Although I had been on bedrest, I did "cheat" a little bit by walking some with my mom and Joanne. It was exhausting. I had been on bedrest for a few weeks and was completely worn out. We went to check out "crunchy granola baby" which was a new store and I wanted to stop into Whole Foods. I had to stop a lot but I do think the walking was good for me (even though I technically wasn't supposed to be doing it)

No More Birth Center...

It was about this time when I was 35 weeks pregnant when my blood pressure suddenly shot up very high. It started at around 120-94 and eventually got as high as 115/106. Everything happened very fast and it was decided by my new midwives that my birth was no longer considered low-risk.

Since birth centers are only designed for low-risk patients (and are very very safe in such instances), I was now out of their realm of expertise and needed to be referred to their ob/gyn partners. I was very lucky and was given to the doctor with a lot of experience with birth center transfers. Her practice supervises the center and at the time of my transfer, she was their communicating doctor. She was extremely understanding about my desire for a birth as natural as possible and I felt comfortable with her.

I was very crushed, of course. I felt like my body had failed me. I was unhappy that my body had turned my birth into a medical event, something I never considered birth to be. I needed some time to digest and accept what was happening and I was able to come to terms with how things would progress.

In hindsight, if I had known this would happen, I might have stayed with my original ob/gyn since I liked her so much. But I'm glad I took the chance. My pregnancy had been going so well that there was no way to know I would develop Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. It's just something that happens to a lot moms and nothing you do, eat, or think about causes it. It did end up working out as best as it could have. My original hospital wouldn't have even been able to deliver my baby as early as the new one could have. The resources were much greater staying on the North Shore. And after needing a blood pressure check and being visited by one of the ob/gyns from my earlier practice, I was convinced that I made the right decision to stay with the new doc when she said "Why on earth did you transfer, there is no difference between an ob/gyn and a midwife." That was the cincher for me.

We did try to ride it out for a week when it seemed my blood pressure was dropping but it shot back up again a few days later and I ended up being hospitalized overnight for one night when I was 36 weeks along. I was already on bedrest and at this point, I was pulled out of work for the remainder of my pregnancy. For the overnight stay, I was kept in a room with no stimulation for about 30 hours. No TV or calls and for the first 12 of those hours I was on BP meds. They stopped those when it was determined that it wasn't really going to help me much in the long run.

My blood pressure stabilized and I was sent home with instructions for twice a week visits.

Happy Mother's Day

We had a nice dinner for Mother's Day at Cafe L'Escadrille in Burlington. We've been doing this the past few years and it's always a very nice day. We really enjoy spending time with my family.

Arthur did well and bounced around from lap to lap, mostly spending time with Grammy, who is his favorite. I wore a dress that I knew would especially show off my belly. We got some really nice pictures of everyone (but I try not to post too many pictures on our blog of people I'm not sure would want them online).

Happy Birthday Arthur! 2 Years Old

Arthur turned two on May 2nd. His new big thing is Mickey Mouse or "Muh Muh" as he calls him. It's adorable and I wanted to do something small along that theme.

I found a silicone Mickey Mouse cake pan at the Christmas Tree Shop and while I have no experience with that fancy decorating, I just frosted it plain and it looked just fine. I found an organic, trans-fat free cake at Whole Foods and made a buttercream frosting from a recipe a friend online sent me. I knew it was a hit when one of Janet's girls said "This is actually good, Mom".

Arthur got lots of sand toys for his birthday and some other cute outdoor things as well. He was outfitted for the entire summer by my aunts and my parents and we had taken him to build-a-bear a few days earlier. I sent him to school with special nut-free but healthy cookies and he had a good day.

32 Week Appointment/Hypnobirthing Class

We left at about 2PM to make the drive to the North Shore for my appointment. We had about a half hour to stop at my parent's house and pick up my mom. It gave me a chance to use the restroom, of course, and show her my son's 2-year DVD that we made.

The appointment went well....it was fast. While she had me all worried about my "normal" reading last week of 120/80, it was a nice 124/72 today (which made her and I both happy). I was afraid that my fear of it "jumping" would actually cause it to do so. While I waited for my appointment, my mom did some Reiki on me and that eased me right down. I was still apprehensive when she took the reading but I just focused on breathing and it all worked out.

I'm measuring right where I should, 32 weeks and my weight is up .5 lbs since two weeks ago, bringing my total to a modest 13lbs. I'm certainly eating like a cow...but I'm glad that I'm not ballooning up. I don't want any blood pressure concerns and I'd really like to not have a huge baby growing in there. I'm visualizing a comfortable 6 1/2 - 7 1/2 lbs. That's where I'd like to be so that's what I'm picturing for the baby.

The hypnobirthing class was very nice again. It's such a mix of parents in the room! Some, I do question how they ended up in this class but I give them kudos for trying. We have one who has never seen a birth video and was going "oh!", "Are they really blue like that?" and was kind of clutching her mouth when we watched them (and these were CALM hypnobirth videos). Then we've got the other mom who comes in with her latte and hasn't yet been able to experience any of the visualizations. I really do give her a lot of credit for being there though because it must be harder for her. Only two of us are going to the birth center and the rest have chosen hospital births.

There's another mom who like me, wanted a homebirth, but also had a spouse who wasn't 100% on the same page so we've chosen the birth center as a compromise. The mom next to me is fun to sit next too. Like me, she has no qualms about making herself comfortable on the beanbags on the floor and she's a snacker. I like her and can relate.

Then it was back to my parent's house to rescue my dad from babysitting. My grandmother and cousin happened to stop by and were there when we arrived. So my son was awake 2 hours past his normal bedtime and we had to leave at 9:15 because we had a nearly two hour drive. I felt bad leaving but we really couldn't stick around.

I'm off to bed soon after my son's cake has cooled a little (he turns two tomorrow). And we're both working in the morning so sleep is looking really good!

Building a Birthday Bear

A few days before Arthur's birthday we took him to build-a-bear for a very special treat! He loved his bear and still sleeps with it months later! He was also very content to play with the box...

Someone Have a Baby I Can Borrow?

Joanne got me a "Hotsling" for Mother's Day but since I accidentally discovered her purchase when we were using the computer together, she's letting me try it out now for size. It's really nice fabric and I think it's a good investment but I'm a little nervous about the size.

The website gave me two options to choose from and said "go with the larger" when given a choice. Great...except that the website gives a completely different size range than the book does...ugh!

What I really need is a baby to borrow so I can test it out for comfort and size! I tried with Arthur who is a wriggly 25lbs but at a week shy of two-years-old, he just wasn't cooperating.

I think I'll bring it to my next appointment with the midwives. Joanne let me know that they have a realistic weight/sized test baby in the office and I'll see what I can do with that.

30 Weeks Pre-Natal Appointment

I had my appointment today with the birth center and for some reason she got me kind of worried about my blood pressure, which was a normal 120/80. She doesn't want to see it go higher than this. I understand that 120/80 is kind of the limit of the normal range, but now I'm afraid that it's obscenely high or something and my concern about it will make it spike higher next time.

Thank goodness my hypnobirthing classes start next week. I'm comforted by the fact that theres likely some breathing or relaxation exercises I can do to prevent this from happening.

Everthing is still going well. The baby is very active and changes positions more than I can keep up. Since three weeks ago, I've gained 2.5 lbs which brings my total gain to 12.5 lbs. (I think the modest gain will also help keep my blood pressure down in this normal range).

We discussed breastfeeding (yes), circumcision (no), childbirth classes (hypnobirthing starting next week), and pediatricians (we have one but will consult with them if we move). My achy legs and hips are normal and she thinks that so far I'm in pretty good shape to stay at the birth center so long as my blood pressure stays where it is or goes lower.

Robin, 29 weeks and 1 day

I decided to do a complete splurge and go for the extra ultrasounds. I debated it for a really really long time and because my pregnancy had been going so well (thank goodness) I didn't get to have any of the extras that we had when we were expecting Arthur.

I think it was a good decision but in hindsight, I'd skip the video and just get the CD next time. We got some great images and my Mom and our niece Christine came with us, which was nice.

Easter 2007

Easter was extra special because Arthur got to see his 2nd cousins Emma, Andrew, and Julianne. (Christopher was in the hospital with his asthma so we didn't get to see him) Great-grammy took a tumble and needed some stitches in her head but she is fine now. Arthur made sure that everyone remembered Great-Grammy and for a few days after kept saying "Grammy.....ow" while holding his head.

Arthur got to dye eggs for the very first time, which was very exciting for him. He got to visit with family and eat plenty of chocolate and jelly beans...oh boy!

28 Weeks Pregnant with Robin

3 Hour Appointment, Switch to Birth Center

My first official appointment at the birth center went very well. I was pretty excited. The midwife I saw (there are 7) was very young and very giggley. Almost everything I said made her laugh. She was pretty nice and I could tell she was new.

My mom and son were with me, which was a good thing because they decided to do the glucose test and some bloodwork right then so I needed to walk to the lab, drink the glucose drink, then wait an hour to get my blood drawn. Then back to the birth center for my Rhogam shot.

My mom also got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time, which was nice for her because she's never heard it before. I don't think she ever even got to hear mine (not sure if they did that 30 years ago)

Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with the change. I've also enrolled the three of us (Joanne & my mom too) in a hypnobirthing class. I think it's going to be a really good thing for me and am feeling really glad that we were able to find one we could all attend.

Yay for being able to take steps in the direction of having the birth I really want!

Birth Center it is...

I'm completely exhausted today from getting up at the crack of dawn to report for jury duty and then book it back home to make the 2 hr drive to visit my mom and have us all attend the birth center information session. Then back home again and off to work tomorrow! Very sleepy!
The short of it is, the birth center is exactly what I want. Nothing routine, all natural, do-what's-best-for-mom-and-baby style. No routine IV's, in fact, no IV's at all....eat and drink what you want, deliver any way you want....it's like dream come true. Which makes me kind of sad, because should it really be the case that someone is relieved to find a birthing place that treats childbirth as something natural?

I just can't go there!

First, let me start by saying that I really do love my ob/gyn. She's helped us so much in this journey and I feel that she stands out amongst her peers in being supportive about our wishes for a natural birth. It was she who suggested I look into Hypnobirthing (which I have and am totally going to get on board with).

That being said, there are 4 doctors in her practice. Which means that there is only a 25% chance that she will be the one to deliver my baby. I also know that one of the other doctors has said out loud "I just don't get women who don't want the epidural." And the other two, I'm just not sure I've been around enough to know how they truly feel.

Coupled with the stat sheet I received a few days ago with astronomically high rates of medical interventions performed on normal childbirth in their affiliated hospital, I'm just in a bind.

Some of you may question the logic in someone like me, who needed medical help to conceive being so adament on childbirth as a natural, normal, to be minimally interferred with process. Does it make sense? I'm sure there is a perfectly valid way to explain it...but I can't put to words what's in my heart.

I could not have conceived without help...therefore I had no option but medical intervention to help me conceive. However, most childbirths can happen without this kind of intervention and almost all need fair less routine medical help than they are actually provided with. That's pretty much the foundation of how I can rectify this oxymoron of a philosophy.

A 32% c-section rate!? A 94% IV rate? A 70% epidural rate? My son (born in 2005) was one of only 6% of natural births at this hospital? I just can't get my mind around how it can possibly be the case that 1/3 of all women are so malformed that they need a c-section or that 94% of women are so dehydrated that they must have an IV. When does the "preventative" line cross the "invasive" line?

Before panic sets in...I do know that there are other options for me. I wanted a homebirth and know full well that in low-risk pregnancies (which mine has been and should continue to be) it is just as safe for mother and baby, if not a little safer due to the decreased risk of contracting an infection. That being said, insurance won't foot the bill and Joanne isn't really 100% comfortable with the idea (which I've mentioned before in my posts).

A birth center was the compromise we came up with and I think now, in earnest, I need to face reality that I'm likely not going to have the best birth for my baby at my local hospital where he can be brought into the world on his own accord and direction.

I've made the appointment to tour one of the two in my state. (This one is in the next town over from where my parents live so it is convenient). I'll be sad at having to tell my doctor I'm switching...but I really think this is going to be the best option for me and my baby.

I've been a bad bad blogger...

I can't believe how much time I let pass before I posted. It seriously has only felt like it's been a couple of weeks!
I've been feeling really well in terms of the pregnancy. I haven't gained that much weight yet but I did manage to gain the bulk of my total (7 out of 11lbs) in the past month. I guess that happens sometimes when you don't gain a lot in the beginning. Despite the modest gain, I feel like a stuffed pig most of the time and that I'm swelling all over.

Well meaning people have been chipper to report that "I'm not gaining in the belly, I'm gaining all over." Of course I smile but part of me just wants to cry! Where's my nice fat baby belly???

Our little guy has been very active (despite the anterior placenta which I was told would make me feel less movement). This is definitely a mover. He twists and turns and it's now at the point when I've seen the movement in my belly just by looking a couple of times. We may be in for an active child!

Dancing in Puddles at Disney World

So Much for the Chinese Gender Charts! Ha Ha Ha

As seen above, it's another little boy in there! He wasn't very cooperative in terms of getting a good face or profile shot. Most of the ultrasound he spent lying on his tummy. He did roll to his back after I used the restroom...it was just enough to get her the last picture she needed (a frontal face picture) and to take a peek at his bottom.

Of course, we're just has thrilled with another boy but I was surprised. I thought it was a girl...which just goes to show that I should have trusted my original instincts (from before this pregnancy) from the beginning (that we would have two boys).

The placenta is completely at the front of my uterus, which means that the "flutters" and "popcorn" that everyone else is experiencing, just feels more like pressure or pushing to me. Sometimes poking, but when that happens I'm not entirely convinced that it is the baby.

Now on to a name! Any suggestions would be most welcome! :)

Big Ultrasound Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our "big" ultrasound. We get to take a peek at our baby looking like an actual baby and not just a piece of rice! They'll check to make sure everything looks o.k. and for us, focus on the umbilical cord. (Our son had a two-vessel cord and a velementous insertion so we'd really like to see a nice normal cord this time).

Yes, we will also find out the gender. It's just something we want to do. It honestly doesn't matter either way but personally, I just like knowing. I can't really explain it any other way. Just like people like having ultrasounds..they do serve a health-related purpose, but really, most of us just like seeing our babies.

So, we should know tomorrow whether those Chinese Gender Predictors were correct!

Baby or Gas?

From everything I've read, most women first feel their babies between 16 and 20 weeks. I've also read that it's usually the "very thin" women or women who've been pregnant before who feel it closer to the 16 week range.So I'm not sure if what I felt was the baby or just gas....because I'm neither "very thin" or one who has been pregnant before.

I was up fairly late last night. It's been a little tough sleeping partly because I have to use the bathroom so much and partly because my anxiety about the robbers ebbs and flows with the last couple of days being particularly annoying. I thought I would be over it by now, but apparently not...anyway...I crawled into bed at the 1:30-2:00AM range and was set to go to sleep but then I felt something. At first, I figured it was probably gas....even though it didn't really feel like gas. It was more like a "tic" or something...or like an involuntary twinge. I concentrated on it for a while and felt it a couple of times but still, I'm not really sure.

So at 17 weeks and 2 days, not being thin, and this being my first pregnancy, I'm not sure if this is just wishful thinking that it was the baby I'm feeling. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow so I'll probably mention it then. In any case, even if it wasn't the baby, I'm sure it won't be too long before I know for sure.

Chinese Gender Predictor Charts

I was playing around with these "gender predictors" tonight and 7 out of 8 that I've tried say "girl". The calendar was correct when my son was born but really only time will tell. If (apparently she) isn't shy on the 25th, we'll find out then.

I honestly do think it's more likely to be a girl this time. Of course, there's a thread of doubt, but I call her "she" more often than not. I knew right away that my son would be a boy but I didn't carry him. And Joanne thought he would be a girl.

I do have a standard appointment on the 17th but it's in the office with the "Junior" ultrasound machine. Maybe they'll take a bonus peek then. I haven't had an ultrasound since the 7 week mark.

Time for New Clothes.

This morning I stepped on the scale and while I'm down two pounds from this weekend (the mass eating frenzy), it looks like I gained a net total of about 5-6 pounds. You would think it was 20 pounds by the way my clothes are fitting.

My pants are also tight in the belly. My two favorite pants will only likely make it another week or so...and even then I'm pushing it. I have two pairs of pants one size up so I've moved into those. My chest is also so big that my regular button down shirts for work are mostly out of the question. I pulled out some of Joanne's maternity clothes and there are some sweaters that will work.

Last night I put on one of the new pants with a sweater and I looked so....pregnant. Already. I can't believe it. I don't think I'll be able to keep it from work much longer. This job is relatively new and my only saving grace is that I have a bit more time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about the baby and finally being able to feel the bump. It seems to get bigger by the day. But not many girls love stepping on the scale and seeing it creep up...pregnant or not. And while some women would pay to have breasts like these (as my mom says all the time), I still would rather they didn't get so big so fast.

I will be actually relieved when I tell them at work because I won't have to try and hide it anymore and I can wear my bump freely. :)

Arthur's Big News

Arthur is going to be a big brother in June. We're all very excited. He's been very interested in babies lately in general which has been a plus. He has his own baby (that he calls "bee") and we'll be working on teaching him about being a big brother.

The pregnancy has been going very well. I've had some morning sickness but even on it's worst days, it's never unbearable. I'm just starting now to notice a difference in my tummy, although it's minute. I'm not a skinny thing so I didn't really expect to get any sorts of bulges just yet.

We're just relaxing and enjoying the experience. We'll keep you posted.

18 Month Appointment

Arthur had his 18 month appointment today and everything is going really well. His growth is back on the charts, especially his weight..and that's a great thing. He had some meetings with an endocrinologist in Boston about his height but all tests came back normal. The verdict..."he's just short".

But we know that all along and he's just perfect the way he is. :)

As of this appointment

Height: 30 inches
Weight: 23 pounds

He says a lot of words now but really his favorite thing is to make animal sounds when asked. He knows who his Mums are and will say so when asked. He likes to talk on the phone...with a very German sounding "Allo" when he answers. His motor skills are great, he can open ziploc backs and put pen caps back on the pen.

He's having a tough time with stairs though. Because he's so short, his legs just won't make the reach. He's great at climbing though.

Ummm...He has 16 teeth....

Every day we see something new that moves our little boy out of the "baby" stage and into the "little boy" stage. But it's exciting and we can't help but just watch him in amazement.

Happy Halloween!

Arthur had his first lollipop today and I can't say that he didn't enjoy it. He doesn't get candy so it was a real "wow" moment for him. My favorite picture of the night "drunk on candy"....

It's Early, but We Found a Halloween Costume

Three days off.

We both have three days off from work so I have a couple of moments to add some new photos finally.

If Looks Could Kill......

Frankenstein Video

Frankenstein Video <-- click here

Fourth of July

A Comparison....

It was a rainy Sunday today and we both had the day off so we decided to head up to Boston to the Children's Museum again. We took a photo next to "Arthur" like we did the first time we brought him (when he was 9 months old).

(I just noticed when posting these that he still wears that yellow outfit from five months ago. He wore it on vacation in PA one day!)

New Swingset!

First of all, Thank You Nicole for the awesome swingset!

Joanne and I had been looking in the paper for this exact toddler swing/slide combo. We saw it in the store new for way more money than we wanted to spend for something he could only use for a year or two. So we had been looking for a used one. I even put an ad on craigslist with a photo to see if anyone was getting rid of one.

So today, Joanne was responding to an ad and was heading to look at a couple of sets. She mentioned it to a woman she works with who said that she had the exact one and had been wanting to get rid of it. So she just gave it to us!

We're very excited to have found something Arthur-sized that he can play with outside, and as you can tell by the pictures, he really likes it too!

Vacation in Pennsylvania 3

Our last stop on vacation was Hershey, PA where we visited Hershey Chocolate World and Hershey Park. At nearly 28", Arthur measured as a "miniature" on the ride scale. Although we're not big on junk food for babies, we knew that we couldn't make his visit official without letting him try his very first chocolate. He didn't really know what to make of it at first but once he realized it was edible, it was quickly eaten.

There were a few rides he was able to go one but we switched off for most of them. Hershey Park has a baby swap where one adult can ride while the other waits and then when the first adult gets back, the 2nd adult can ride next. It makes it so everyone can wait in line together.

We all enjoyed the trip. The park is immense...much larger than the Six Flags we have in New England and a lot cleaner. We left for home on Friday around noon but not after visiting Chocolate World one more time to ride the tour ride and buy souveniers for the ride home!

Vacation in Pennsylvania 2

Before we went to Sesame Place, we spent the day in Philadelphia. We drove from our hotel into town (about a half hour). On the way we discovered "Wawa". It's a convenience store with do-it-yourself-milkshakes that were to die for. We had these shakes two days in a row (before dinner, yay!)

In Philly we went to the "Please Touch" museum for children and then on to the more historical aspects of town. We saw Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell (which is a lot smaller than I thought it would be).

Overall it was a very fun day and we were proud of ourselves for finding parking on the street on our own!

Vacation in Pennsylvania

We took a drive down to PA last week and we had a really great time. It was 5 hours down (7 with the stops) and 7 hours back (10 with the stops and traffic). Arthur did really really well. We made sure to give him car breaks every couple of hours.

Our first stop was Sesame Place for two days. Here he is splashing away in the park during a warmer part of the day. (While it only rained a couple of short spurts during our whole week, it was kind of chilly the first day and a half at Sesame).

He looks like he's having an amazing time but he was done with the sprinkler after about two runs through it! :)

13 Months Old

Here's our little floppy sleeper. This has been his new thing with his bum in the air and his feet crossed. It's very cute.

Happy 1st Birthday Little Boy!

1 Year Photos a Little Early

We took Arthur to have his 1 year photo's done today, wrapping up our membership in the photo club with the Picture People. He still has another 12 days before the actual big day but we wanted to have the photos done before Orthodox Easter this weekend so we can bring them up to our family. Between Easter and his birthday party next weekend, we just weren't sure when else we were going to be able to do them.

We're very happy with how they came out and we got a lot of great deals with our coupons and $10.00 off card! Three sheets for $8! Woo hoo!

Since they were right next to each other, we also did a quick shoot at Sears because we had a coupon there too that expires in a couple of days. Because they did such a nice job, we decided that since Sears is more modestly priced, we'll stick with them next time. Although, now that DS is turning one, he's not going to be having those professional photos every three months anymore. We take enough at home anyway! Thank goodness for digital cameras!

A Test Slideshow

Click Here!

Happy Easter!

11 Month Old "Supermodel"

In terms of being superficial, we're about as far away from it as they come! But when a modeling agent says "We want to represent your baby!", who can say no?

We'll see where this takes us. If it becomes "icky" or "snotty" at any point, we'll likely hit the road. But in talking with other moms who have had modeling babies, we're hearing that it's actually a lot of fun and very low pressure. Hopefully, it will be!

We'll keep you posted but in the meantime, keep your eyes open. (I'm hoping for an L.L. Bean catelog shoot!)