Boy or Girl?

Oh my what a day! It began with no sleep (too much excitement for me to sleep and David was working a mid) and lots of anticipation. The appointment was at 9:50 am but we arrived just before 9:30am. I think David was shocked that, for once, I was ready to go early. They called us in at exactly 9:50am and started the scan right away. We were planning on getting a video of the scan but learned that it wasn't allowed (booo!). The technician said she was going to check Wee's heart size, valve development and rhythm, head size, brain development, facial features, spine, bone lengths and abdominal measurements. Wee was a little squirmy and it took some poking and prodding to get the right pictures based on the baby's position. Wee decided to play hide and seek behind mommy's belly button just to make things interesting.  Finally, after several jabs to my full bladder, Wee rested in a good position and we were able to see all the little fingers and toes and the technician was able to check out Wee's development. We were told that everything looked wonderful and right on track for a healthy baby (Yippy!).  Yes, yes, I'm getting to Wee's gender...

David and I would like to present to you...

Baby Esme Sophia Westman! She's a little gymnast in there hanging out in her pike position.

For the next several months David and I would feel privileged if you had any insight to share on raising girls, or children or just important life lessons. We have a jar in which we are writing down everything we'd like to teach our children/family so we'd love to hear everyone's thoughts, beliefs, feelings and convictions in regards to essential lessons a person MUST learn in order to lead a happy, healthy, faithful life.

Thank you everyone for sharing in this exciting news. We look forward to showing off our lovely Esme in July.

19 + Weeks=Half Way!

How far along? 19w 3d.
Baby Size? About 6.5 inches and 10.6 ounces.

Total weight gain: I plead the fifth. I may omit this question altogether.

Maternity clothes? Yes. Most of the time. I really do adore maternity pants. I may wear them forever.

Stretch marks? None so far but I've been feeling REALLY itchy. I was advised to absolutely not itch in order to avoid SM's. I've also added an extra daily dousing of cocoa butter.

Sleep: I may omit this question as well due to redundancy.

Best moment this week: Feeling more flutters and counting down to Tuesday's scan.

Miss Anything? Deli sandwiches, martinis, running (who'dathunk), my teammates and a vertical jump.
Movement:More and more.

Food cravings: Still fresh fruit juice (David got me a juicer and it's AMAZING-just like him), hamburgers, dill pickles and coffee. I have finally developed an intollerance for candy (modern day miracle).

Anything making you queasy or sick: salad, salt and vinegar chips, poultry and hunger.

Gender Prediction: Several women this week told me I'm definitely having a girl based on my pregnancy thus far. How do I contradict thier wisdom and experience? SO, I'm thinking its more girl than boy now (60-40).
Baby names picked out? Boy: David Lloyd Westman III, Girl: Esme Sophia (pronounced Ez-may).

Labor Signs: No. 
Symptoms: limp and dry hair, weight gain, cravings, excessive crying, lethargy, lots of ear wax (who knew?) and round ligament pain (ouchie!).
Belly Button in or out? Innie.
Wedding rings on or off? Still on.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy usually but had a momma bear moment that took an extraordinarily long time to get over. Note: no one lost a limb so restraint was exhibited.
Looking forward to: Tuesday's scan, buying specifically boy or girl things and prenatal yoga on Wednesday.

18+ Weeks

How far along? 18w 4d 

Total weight gain: 21 lbs

Maternity clothes? Some of the time. I only have one pair of regular jeans (no stretchy waist) left that I can wear but my maternity jeans are super comfy.  

Stretch marks? None yet. 

Sleep: :(

Best moment this week: Learning to decipher between tummy growls/digestion and baby flutters.

Miss Anything? Sleep, wine, working out and of course, volleyball.
Movement: Some!

Food cravings: chocolate, smoothies, fresh fruit juice, coffee, milk and HAMBURGERS (this prompted me to search all over London for a hamburger on Saturday...not McDonalds though).

Anything making you queasy or sick: still salad and chicken.

Gender Prediction: As it gets closer to the day we find out I get more and more unsure. So, 60% boy, 40% girl. Only 9 more days to go!

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: Same as last week: heartburn, exhaustion, activity, and hip pain. It appears that walking all day Saturday has sprained both of my ankles as well.
Belly Button in or out? Innie.
Wedding rings on or off? On in the morning, but they get tight mid-day.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy this week!
Looking forward to: Warmer weather, visits home, finding out Wee's gender and next week marking the 1/2 way point!

17+ Weeks

How far along? 17w 4d 

Total weight gain: 19 lbs

Maternity clothes? Still wearing a lot of my regular clothes but adding bits of maternity items here and there.   

Stretch marks? None yet. 

Sleep: Ha ha ha ha. 

Best moment this week: Visiting Prague, coming home from Prague and the new mattress arrived! 

Miss Anything? America, sleep, strenuous exercise...
Movement: I think I feel little flutters every so often but I have to be sitting still to feel them. 

Food cravings: Pasteries, coffee, gravy, oranges, peanut butter.
Anything making you queasy or sick: salad and meat (but not sausage...very odd!) 

Gender Prediction: BOY! We will find out (hopefully) in 16 days!

Labor Signs: No 

Symptoms: Heartburn every so often, out of breath during minimal activity, dehydration, and hip pain! 

Belly Button in or out? In. I'll be surprised if it does pop out, my belly button is cavernous.
Wedding rings on or off? On, although I learned I need to take them off when I fly otherwise they cut off circulation. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Both-depends on hunger and hydration level-also sleep (being woken up!)
Looking forward to: Sleeping on the new memory foam mattress, finding another prenatal yoga class to take and finding out Wee's gender in a few weeks.

16+ Weeks

How far along? 16 weeks 4 days.

Size of baby? Onion.

Total weight gain? 17 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Sometimes! I feel like my tummy popped out extra this week.

Stretch marks? No.

Sleep? NO! Memory foam mattress arrives sometime this week. Another Mom in my prenatal Yoga class assures me it will help with hip pain.

Best moment this week? Snow! A whole 6-ish inches (almost the size of Wee). Also, getting presents for Wee in the mail :)
Miss anything? Wine, family, volleyball.

Movement? No.

Food cravings? Chocolate and soda-two things I couldn't have cared less about pre-pregnancy. Also, coffee and whipped cream.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Poultry-sometimes.

Gender prediction? On the fence but still leaning towards boy.

Labor signs? No.

Wedding ring on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy...even when I'm tired!

Looking forward to? Visiting Prague this week and trying out the new memory foam mattress!!!

15+ weeks and stuff

Weekly Update

How far along? 15weeks 3 days.

Size of baby? Avocado.

Total weight gain? 15 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Wore myfirst maternity shirt this week to work (with my regular jeans).

Stretch marks? No, thank goodness.

Sleep? I’vestarted sleeping upright on the sofa. I’m getting more sleep and wake up painfree (hip pain has been terrible) but I miss David at night.

Best moment this week? Buyingour plane tickets home!
Miss anything? Volleyball and good, strong coffee.

Movement? No.

Food cravings? Everything and anything I shouldn't eat.

Anything making youqueasy or sick? Car rides and yucky body odor.

Gender prediction? Boy.But still having dreams about a baby girl.

Labor signs? No.

Wedding ring on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy with an occasional side of mood swing (nothing online baby shopping can't cure).

Looking forward to? Therest of our lives.

New Blog I LOVE
I was introduced to a new blog about pregnancy that is absolutely out-of-this-world hysterical and tells it like it is.  No more googling "   (fill in the blank)     and pregnancy" for me. This writer puts it all into one blog in a comical yet informative fashion. The website is  www.pregnantchicken.com.  Check it out for a laugh.

14+ Weeks

How far along? 14 weeks 4 days.

Size of baby? Naval Orange.

Total weight gain? 14 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Not wearing them yet but bought a few things from H&M Mama the other day.

Stretch marks? Not yet.

Sleep? If I said “in my dreams” would that be ironic?

Best moment this week? Listening to Wee’s heartbeat. Have a listen!
Miss anything? Volleyball, martinis, and deli meat.

Movement? No.

Food cravings? Pizza, ice cream cake, martinis, and deli meat.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Minted lamb burgers and raw meat.

Gender prediction? Boy. But I’ve been having dreams about a little girl recently.

Labor signs? No.

Wedding ring on or off? On.

Looking forward to? Finding a chair to convert into a glider to rock Wee to sleep.

13 Weeks

How far along? 13 weeks 4 days.
Size of baby? Lemon.
Total weight gain? 12 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Still in my jeans and big sweaters but took some of my 'fat' clothes down from the attic which are working quite nicely.

Stretch marks? Not yet.
Sleep? Sometimes.
Best moment this week? Finishing the chalkboard conversion.

Miss anything? Volleyball!!! and strenuous workouts. Wine.
Movement? No.
Food cravings? Chocolate cake-which I normally hate.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Being in a car...even as the driver. Not enough water.
Gender prediction? Boy.
Labor signs? No.
Wedding ring on or off? On.
Looking forward to? Buying our plane tickets home to see everyone before the wee one comes!

Nursery Ideas Part 2

Changing Table
Second, we will probably need a changing table with storage for clothes. I thought about just using the floor for a few months but realized that I actually don't vacuum very often and the dog sheds more in the summer. Ew.

So, here's my idea...buy a vintage or antique sideboard or dresser at the auction for cheap and re-purpose it for Wee.  I've seen a number of vintage dressers converted into changing tables with just a little paint and some cute new knobs and pulls. This will ensure all the boxes are ticked (affordable, adorable, one-of-a-kind) Here are some examples:


Above: converted entertainment center!


Since we don't know the gender of our wee one yet, I will wait to post ideas about a mobile, wall art, and crib linens after week 20.

Finally...

After months of searching for the perfect chalkboard I finally found one at an antique shop in Harrogate called Paraphernalia (It's not actually a chalk board yet. It's a large floor mirror that's begging to be restored/converted). Assuming I don't get called into work, tomorrow I will work on its transformation, take before and after pictures along with pictures of our bump.