Not that I put a whole lotta stock in astrology...

But thought this was rather amusing. Its a "Mom & Child-To-Be Astological Compatibility Profile"

You can find it here: http://www.parents.com/parents/astrology/?_requestid=300878 In addition to working for expecting parents, it also works for those who are already parents.

Its harmless and fun....and here's what it says about Little B & Me (as long as he/she is born by 11/21...after that, Little B's sign would change to a Sagitarious.

Early Nesting

Yesterday we took the plunge and purchased furniture for Little B. I'm quite happy with the decisions we made. Mike went with me and got to see Babies-R-Us in all its glory....and he didn't even get pale or queasy. On my first trip there, I literally walked in, felt my heart rate go up, did a single lap around the multiplex and quickly exited. Then I called two of my close friends with babies and they calmed my nerves (Thanks Jenn & Amy).

Anywho, we did a good job I think. We originally went in with one set in mind and then, in classic Kris style, changed my mind. The set we were going to get originally didn't have the dresser on display the first time I went to check it out, but it was there this time. It just didn't seem as solid as the crib....and I'm a stickler for quality, so the original pick got the veto. Mike agreeed.

So onto Plan B, which was a game time decision and ended up being the set that I really liked, but thought was a little pricey. When we both really examined it though, the price seemed very justified. The quality is excellent, its a set that has no "discontinuation" plans because it has been a top rated set & seller for 3 years now. Its never had a recall and is rated a 4.8 out of 5 in 90+ consumer reviews. (FYI, found a really cool website that gives info on product recalls: http://www.recalls.gov/--- not just for baby products, but for all products).

Here it is...Its from the Pinehurst Lifetime Crib Collection.

Shockingly, its convertible (which I mentioned we might not be going for, but minds can change).

For now, we purchased the two items above along with the toddler bed rails and full size bed conversion kit. I know we'll keep the dresser-- and hopefully the crib will hold up well enough to later become a headboard / footboard for the full size mattress set we already have in the room. Time will tell, but our fingers are crossed. The wood is dark, but still very neutral. Oh and we bought a super firm (which is suggested), highly coiled mattress for it too. All will be arriving in about 3-4 weeks. And it only cost 2 times what we expected to spend. Ha! Oh well, its nice stuff with high safety ratings.

It comes with possible additions for the future, such as an Armoire and a hutch/bookcase that can go on top of the dresser once its done doubling as a changing table. We'll hopefully add them later if the crib holds up. Fingers Crossed. Initial Nesting Done. It was a very productive day!

In the end, we went with my gut (afterall, Little B's technically in my gut, so that seemed like a solid instinct to follow).

10 things...

There are 10 things going through my mind and I thought I'd share them. Some may be silly. Some may be interpreted as total cheese. Some may be way overboard on the sentimental meter (cut me some slack, I'm allowed to be emotional). But they are all running through my mind....lots.

1) I can't help looking at these ultrasound pics over and over (and then over and over). I just can't get enough of them. Seriously, I'm addicted. The cheesey part-- every time I look, I smile.

2) Speaking of ultrasounds...I did find myself "just checking" to see what one of those ultrasound machines would cost, as its the day after Little B's most recent photo sessions and I already want another one. There's one on ebay right now for $9K. Oh well, that's a little steep. Can we just rent one? Maybe I'll call TomKat to see if I can borrow theirs!

3) I'm still finding that I'm a bit of a space cadet. I'm usually really able to stay focused and highly functioning on all cylindars at all times. I'm finding that I'm not as good at that now.

4) I really want it to be November-- I want to meet this Little B. And I'm telling myself (and my doctor) that Little B will be able to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. No, I don't expect Little B to actually be watching, but it would be nice if he/she made his/her grand entrance prior to Turkey Day.

5) Not finding out if Little B was a girl or a boy during yesterday's ultrasound took more willpower than I thought it would. I thought I was curious before? Well, not that the opportunity to find out has passed, I REALLY want to know. I do think it will be cool to have this be a surprise come November, which is great. I would just like to press a fast forward button. Also, I keep analyzing the ultrasound from yesterday....could that have been a boy part? Might this be a girl thingy?

6) I'm really glad that Mike went with me yesterday. He's been going on almost all of the appointments I've had, which is great. And his presence there yesterday was great. It helped me not to cave and made the experience very cool. I have the luxury of feeling this little being move around, making Little B seem "really real" to me. Mike hasn't been able to feel these movements yet, so him having a chance to see the baby move and look so human was great.

7) Speaking of Mike, this whole experience is bringing us even closer together-- and we are already really close. Not to be overly sappy, but this has been a uniting journey. Our path might not be the traditional one, but the feelings we share for eachother and the feelings we have about Little B are pretty amazing. In thinking about this-- there really isn't one traditional path to creating a family. Every couple faces their own set of challenges...the amazing thing is how these difficulties can somehow bring two people closer together. Maybe that's the reward for any uphill journey that a couple faces as they enter into parenthood.

8) I feel incredibly grateful to be almost half the way through this pregnancy. Not because I wish it to be over, but because I feel much more comfortable and assured that everything is going okay. I finally feel a bit "normal" in pregnancy world. Its a nice thing--- every time we go to see a doctor or have a test, I'm told that "everything looks great" or that "your pregnancy is completley normal." In many ways, I like standing out-- as in not being "normal," but when it comes to being a normal pregnant person, I'm thrilled.

9) I just felt a kick. And then I looked at yesterday's ultrasound again. Rinse and repeat.

10) I'm really glad I decided to write about my experiences. Not only b/c my memory seems to be a little shot, but because it allows me to really think and reflect. Later, it will be great to look back at this and remember all the details. At first, I was a little apprehensive about putting all my thoughts on display....now I'm really glad I have.

And back to #7, which is really the most important thought listed here, I found this:

Photos from Inside Hotel W @ 19 Weeks!

Here's what Little B looks like....Pretty amazing, huh? Head is to the right side now...and you can see the eyes, nose and even the 2 lips.

And here's the wave...we call this photo "Hi Mom!" Little B's back (right) hand is waving and he/she appears to be sucking the thumb of his/her left hand so you can see the bent arm in front of the face

And finally, Little B's right foot. Its a big one and this one was taken while Little B was giving my side a little kick. Apparently he/she didn't like that we wanted him/her to be awake (so the doctor could count fingers and toes--Little B has 10 of each.

This morning went great

I'll scan in the photos when I get home tonight...but in the meantime, just wanted to say that Little B looks great. And we didn't cave...we didn't find out the sex. I'm glad Mike was there b/c there was a part of me that was tedering. On the way out, they said "Last chance-- are you sure you don't want to know" and i wanted to silently gesture at the doctor to give me some hidden clue, but I didn't.

Its amazing what we were able to see this time around. The doctor was able to point out different lobes of the brain, the four chambers of the heart, and Little B's entire spine. We could even see blood flowing through the different sections of the heart. They took measurments of everything and all looks to be proportional. The baby's estimated weight is 12 ounces, which is a little above average for 19 Weeks, and he/she has big feet (Is that a sign that Little B is going to be tall?).

At first, Little B was quite sleepy...moving around only a bit at a time, but clearly in one of his/her 19 hours of sleep a day. The doctor woke him/her up, which was quite funny to see the hands and feet wake and really start to stir. Maybe Little B won't be a morning person-- I can deal with sleeping in (Wink Wink. I know my days of sleeping ...let alone sleeping in....are O-V-E-R come November).

Most importantly, Little B looks healthy all around and on track for a Nov 19th grand entrance. That makes us both very happy.... along with the photos that I keep looking at all day. I'll share them tonight....promise....first thing I do when I get home.

Boomer's Birthday Present

We're heading out to Baltimore for a little trip over the 4th of July with another couple. We'll be catching an Orioles game, spending time in the Inner Harbor and staying downtown. Sorta like a mini vacation. Its been a long time since we've been tourists in Baltimore, so this is going to be fun.

Because we're going to be all over the place during the weekend (and will have 4 adults in the car for the trip)....we went looking for a place to board Boomer. Our normal kennel was booked up, so we had to search for a new one.

And we found a place that might be satisfactory for him. Take a look for yourself by clicking on this video:

http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ2jNUxL3aM

Um, I think I want to stay here....Its that nice. It may even be nicer than the Hyatt, where we'll be staying out east! And to think that I felt bad about boarding him on his birthday. Here, he'll get a doggy birthday cake and be able to watch Animal Planet and swim.

We didn't splurge for the Executive Suite-- but take a peek into what his Standard ("Low Brow") Suite accomodations include: 12x12 foot suite, with lambskin bedding, natural garden views, and a webcam so we can keep an eye on Boomer while he relaxes in his posh surroundings. I held back and didn't sign him up for a facial.

I guess we'll call this Boomer's Birthday Present.... a 4 night stay at this 5 star resort....geez. I can't get over this place. Boomer may never want to come home!!!

Maybe we'll let him stay at the Barkley again when we're in the hospital in November. They're pretty close to eachother!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow..

... I love ya, tomorrow. You're only a day away! My niece loves to belt this song from Annie at the top of her lungs (which is quite adorable might I add). Today, I'm singing it with her.

Tomorrow's our ultrasound. I'm way excited. I'll work to scan it and get it up here as soon as I can after work. Should all go well, this may be the last ultrasound we see before Little B makes a grand entrance. That is, unless I can find a creative way to get another ultrasound later on. Don't think I'm not plotting, b/c honestly, I am. Having 6 ultrasounds in weeks 5-20 and then no more in the second half....well, we'll have to see about that. We'll see.

And no, we're still not finding out. I'm very curious, but we're gonna stay strong. Although I might find myself closely examining any and all pictures we get from tomorrow's Hotel W Photo Shoot, we aren't trained well enough to be able to decipher either way. That being said, we're gonna tell the doctor 18 times that we don't want a spoiler.

The Thing I Crave

Believe it or not, its not food, well not exactly food. Everyone keeps asking me "so what foods are you craving?" Truth be told, I'm really not craving any food. The traditional pregnancy splurges like ice cream and french fries are unusually distasteful for me. I will say that I do really like Italian food, but that's really all.....until I met the most wonderful treat this past weekend....and have continued to have one a day since.

This thing I crave does have strawberries in it, but its a drink we've concocted (and by the phrase "we" I really mean my friend, Sharon....its really her creation). Call it a "mocktail" - it seriously is the most refreshing drink I think I've had in a long time.

Its a Strawberry Lemonade Mocktail...and its simple to make. Chop up 4-5 strawberries into little pieces. Fill a glass 1/3 with chrushed ice and put the strawberries on top. Then fill the glass up 3/4 of the way to the top with lemonade and then top it off with diet tonic water. Stir and enjoy. I absolutely love it-- refreshing and yummy.

Oh, and for those without a Little B in the belly, I'd imagine that this mocktail could easily be converted into quite the cocktail with vodka added in. Talk to me about that next summer. But for now, even the mocktail version is a little piece of heaven. Oh- and its also good with some watermelon chopped up too. Enjoy! That's what a crave :)

Maybe we won't get the convertible...

Ha! If I had made the above comment last year, you would have thought I was talking about buying a car. But nope, now we're talking about cribs of the convertible variety. The convertible car will have to wait until my mid life crisis mobile is needed when Little B leaves for college!

Thanks for the emails I've gotten so far on the subject of convertibles (cribs) and whether or not to splurge on really nice furniture of opt for solid, but not "bank breaking" nursery fixins (If you have a perspective you'd like to share, kindly do so-- I'd love to get some insight on this).

Anywho, back to the crib. I'm hearing that these things tend to get beat up and even chewed. See, this is something that a mom-to-be-virgin (ha, consider the irony in that title) would never think of. And I'm so glad that its being pointed out to me. Yes, I'm aware that I have lots to learn....LOTS! We were all worried about Boomer surviving the transition-- maybe we should worry abot ME surviving it with my plethora of parenting experience!?!?! How could Little B possible wreak havoc on his/her cib? Very easily I'm now learning!

So, now "me mind might be changing." Maybe we get a cool dresser & book shelf that we'll want Little B to to keep for awhile but a more moderate crib. Then once the crib (of the non-convertible variety) is outgrown, we'll get a headboard and footboard that matches the dresser etc as best as possible. That sounds like a plan.

We did order some accessories for Little B's room, that will help us determine color choices and themes etc. Its gonna be animals (shocking, I know)--- and its kinda fun and a bit funky-- but neutral. Of course, the sets come with crib bumpers & a little comforter, which won't be placed into the crib until Little B is a bit older, but they all came together. As for why the bumper and comforter won't immediately enter the crib--- its for safety precautions (to be sure the baby doesn't get caught up in anything that can restrict breathing). See, I did read that in my books. Maybe I won't be doomed :) Kidding! Anyway, here are some pictures of the cute stuff we ordered. Now, if I could just find the right furniture to put it in.....


Now I have a blueprint for what the blue room will look like once its converted into Little B's room! I'm pretty excited. The color of the room is a "Naples" blue, which is very close to the color of the circle with the Gifaffe in it. And I'm a big fan that blue/brown color combination. By no means did we order all of the stuff in this picture, but some of them come in the set we purchased. Maybe at some point, we'll add additional items. Not the wallpaper though-- even though its a border, wallapaper is our arch enemy. Ha! But for now, its a cute start.

In Search of Safe & Sound Surroundings for Little B

We're at the point where its time to start picking out furniture and the like for Little B. Depending upon where we buy them, the crib et al (i.e. coordinating dresser & changing table) could take some weeks to arrive. I'm again back to the world of wide ranging varieties adn need some advice.

The cribs that seem to be getting a lot of our attention are the ones that convert into a toddler bed (with lowered guardrails) and then into the head/footboard for a full size bed. We already have the full size mattress that will be in Little B's room, so it just seems like a great plan. So, we're looking for this furniture to be with us for awhile. If/when (fingers crossed for good luck) Baby #2 comes a long some years from now, we're thinking that we'll purchase new furniture for them (that has the same longevity & convertiblity). With this being said, does it need to cost a small fortune?!?

Even though we've narrowed our crib options down to convertible variety, there's still an enormous range of prices. Furthermore, some come with professional assembly (and very high price tags) and others -still showing solid, high quality- require self assembly but are much more affordably priced.


I've heard & read that its advisable to purchase the furniture from a place that will deliver and assemble the nursery furniture for us. Why? Its not for ease, but to be sure that someone with experience puts the crib together correctly. Then, we can rest assured that the crib is sound and stable. That sound good and calming, but comes with quite a price tag. On one hand, we find ourselves saying "We're buying a crib here- it doesn't have to be an heirloom in the making. With that being said, it DOES definitely need to be safe and sturdy.

We're not trying to be cheap at all, but rather practical. I always like a great deal and enjoy feeling like I've paid a fair price for the quality of the product I've purchased. We've looked at a number of different stores, and I've heard a ton of sales pitches (including the one that play on my "self assembled" fears). And now they've really got me thinking.

Advice please! If you've recently been through the "nursery-creating experience" and can provide some insight, I'd really appreciate it! Just leave me a comment

I am so looking forward to creating a wonderful space for Little B...it just doesn't need to look like the picture below (which we could somewhat recreate for the low low price of $3,900). Good grief! Lets save investments like this for Little B's college fund! Don't get me wrong, its beautiful, but we're aiming for something a bit more practical...this is kid furniture, right?

For Sure

So the past week has been a lot of fun as I'm really starting to be able to notice Little B showing off some moves inside Hotel W. Its gone from feeling like a little tickle or bubbles in my belly to more noticable gestures....you know, the ones that couldn't possibly be anything else than the baby moving.

Tonight, I got my first "for sure" kick. It was certainly unmistakable. Maybe there's a future Pele in there it was such a kick (p.s....Go Italy on Sunday when their national soccer team plays Spain). It was really cool. I wish Little B would have done it again, but he/she didn't. In hopes that it would happen again since it was such a kick, Mike put his hand on my stomache, but no such luck. They'll be many more times in future weeks when these movements will be more pronounced so hoping he'll get to feel it for himself.

But wow, what a kick!

Inside Hotel W with 18 Weeks Down

18 Weeks sure seems like a lot. We're definitely making headway...in fact, lots of movement (especially from the guest in Hotel W, Little B). In 2 weeks we'll be at the halfway point. Can't wait for that...it'll be a mini milestone in this pregnancy

Just what is Little B up to this week?

-Little B is about 5.5 inches from head to rump and weighs a little under 7 oz
-When awake, Little B passes time yawning, hiccupping, swallowing, kicking, punching & twisting...although I can't differentiate between any of these activities, I can definitely feel him/her moving around quite a bit)
-Little B is now able to hear external sounds, like voices. In fact, some research even suggests that the baby will soon be able to notice, recognize, and even respond to voices and sounds they hear repeatedly.

Pretty neat!

Preparing to be out

Family is by far the most important aspect of my life. My career is also a big part of who I am, and its a part of my life that I fully intend to continue developing. I truly believe that my current role as a Sales Manager is an ideal position for me. Truth be told, it definitely has its challenging days, but at the end of the day (even the difficult ones), I really believe this position suits me. On many days I'm more of a coach than anything else. Working to develop sales talent is something that I'm very passionate about. My competitive nature gets a continuous workout as I strive to beat the comps of my own team month after month and year after year.



I'm quite glad that I have 2 1/2 years of management under my belt (which coincidentally, I'm not wearing anymore as the belly starts to do quite a good job of holding my pants up :). I work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment and most of the time, I absolutely thrive under it. There are times when the job kicks my butt, but I thoroughly enjoy coming back the next day and returning the favor.



Being on leave when I have 10 sellers on my team, 3 of them being very new, and a multi-million dollar budget to hit is a bit daunting. I sincerely care about the livelihood of the people I work with and feel a bit responsible for their successes (and yes, their hiccups too). Realizing that its my right to take 12 weeks of leave and how important this bonding time with Little B will be is a given. In many ways I'm very eager for the opportunity to really get to help Little B adjust to this new world (and me adjust to Little B). I want to be the best parent I can be....and will make every effort to do this.



At the same time, I'm a bit nervous about the team that I leave. I want them to be as successful and productive as possible. Not just so that we hit our station's goals, but so that my AEs make the income they want to. I guess it will be a real litmus test--- and I truly hope to see the results I know they can achieve. I'll do everything that I can to prepare for being out--- and set them up for as many wins as possible---but when it comes down to it, what they are able to accomplish will really be up to them.



12 weeks just seems like a lot of time. On one hand, I know I'll be cherishing the time with our new baby. But I will also be rooting for my work team to show me all they've got and help me return to a highly producing team.



Time will tell. I guess all working mothers start to think about balancing work and home lives. I'm sure this will be the first of many posts on such a topic.

Quasi-Hookie Day

We took today off work so that we didn't have to rush home after seeing family and friends in Dayton this weekend. Its was like playing hookie, only we both scheduled a vacation day well in advance. Ha! But its one of the first times we've both taken off and really not had anything we had to do. True, we drove back home this morning, but then when we got home, we just hung out. We did have some work done on the house, which I guess is considered productivity, but we weren't the ones doing the work, so it was like a day of goofing off a bit. We went to the pool and watched the playoff round of the US Open. I made a trip to Target to get Fido a new collar (This weekend, he decided to roll in some real genuine "Eeeeww de Toilet" if you catch my drift and his collar was non-salvagable), and then went and bought groceries for this week. All of this was done by 2p. Then we found ourselves sitting on the deck...enjoying really nice weather while reading (and catching up on this site from being gone this weekend)

The nicest part of our "quasi-hookie day" was that we were able to have breakfast with Mike's grandma. Its always great to spend time with her. She's quite a wonderful woman and happens to be very excited about her first great grandchild. What a way to start off the week--- breakfast at Grandma's and a delightful day together.

Take me out to the Ballgame....

Fathers Day is always a fun weekend, not matter which father we're spending time with. Its always turns out to be a nice day with family and usually involves us going to a baseball game. We're both fortunate to have great dads as part of our terrrific sets of parents. Its a blessing that I always think about on Mothers & Fathers Day. I think about this a lot (we both do), especially when we are spending time with our parents, and always on the holidays that honor them.

This Father's Day is neat in a new way. Its the last one before we'll celebrate this holiday and not just honor our dads, but Mike will also have a little one honoring him. Granted, I'll probably be doing most of the "honoring" on behalf of our 7 month old, but still, you can understand my line of thinking. Its exciting to think about.

We really enjoyed the day...the company was fantastic (as always) but the game could have been better. The only things that were hot in the stadium were us (its was 94 degrees at gametime and we were sitting in direct sunlight), the seats, and the Redsox (boo). The Reds on the other hands were quite cold. But they're a young team and do show promise. And were were there to spend time with eachother, which can never be a bad thing.

Sports are also a big part of our families. When Mike & I first met and spent time around eachother's families, this was quite apparent. One time early on in our relationship, my brother made the funny, but somewhat true comment, "Kris was bred to date Mike." We do share a lot of simliar interests, including sports. Each year, we try to make it to a couple of baseball parks. This year its Yankees stadium (where I quietly rooted against the bombers), Great American Ballpark (where I wish I saw a better performance out of our Reds, and on the 4th of July its off to Camden Yards to catch my beloved Orioles.

We did happen to stroll into the gift shop before the game. We picked up a tiny, infant-size ball cap and a t-shirt that says "My 1st Reds Tee." They're pretty cute. They'll go very nicely with the Orioles stuff we'll be picking up for Little B when we're out in Baltimore. Thankfully, both Mike's & my favorite teams are in different leagues and will only meet up in the World Series and I think we'll have some time before that happens. Oh, and did I mention that we live in Cleveland. Little B is going to be confused when it comes to sports, but that's an entirely different post.

For now, its Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful Dad's out there....especially ours-- we love you both very much!

...And baby makes 3 (plus dog)

What can I say-- this dog just rocks. Case in point-- this photo. Boomer is quite happy to be anywhere, travel to any destination, and do just about anything...as long as we're a part of it. Realizing that I'm partial, I'm still going to make the comment that he is one of the sweetest, happy-go-lucky dogs I know. He loves to go "bye-byes," head to the park, play (either with other dogs or with us humans) or to just chill.

And yes, he is going to be affected by our baby arriving this November, but I'm hoping not to the extent that a lot of people are telling me. I hear endless comments like "Boy is Boomer in for a shock when he's not #1" or "Once you have kids, the dog just sits on the sidelines." To that I say to myself "I sure hope not." Maybe that's what happens to many dogs-- I'm not doubting that and can understand how that happens naturally-- but I am going to work my best to make him feel just as loved as he does today. Granted, our time and attention will be more dispersed that it currently is, but evenutally there will also be one more person to love him. Doesn't that count? I know it will be tough, but I'm not ready for Boom to sit on the sidelines and I don't think that's the way it has to be.

He seems pretty happy just to be around us. So, if "us" goes from 2 to 3, isn't it possible that he may feel more appreciated and happy once we all adjust? I think it is possible-- if we work towards it. As I've grown up, our pets (dogs) have always been a big part of our family. They aren't just some animal, but instead an appreciated part of our loved ones. I'm not by any means saying that a dog is a child, because I know they don't even compare, but I also don't feel they are some toy that should be places on semi-retirement when we bring home our baby.

Yes, I know it will be a transition for Boomer. But newsflash, um, its gonna be a huge transition for all of us. We're doing research on how to properly socialize pet and baby in hopes that when we bring Little B home, it will be as enjoyable as possible for all of us....Fido included. Boomer's world will surely be rocked, but I'm pretty sure that Mikes & my worlds are going to be rocked even more-- and we consider this to be a pretty exciting "rocking of worlds" that we're very much looking forward to experiencing.

I'm stepping off my soapbox now. Just wanted to share my opinion, as we're all allowed to have them. I really hope in time that Boomer comes to love the new version of our family just as much as we do. And I'm hoping that Little B is as good of a traveler as Boomer is :) Ahh, if only he had a license and could drive us around...

I couldn't help it

Here's hoping that Mike doesn't read this until after Sunday, but I couldn't help myself and bought something a little "Father's Day-esque" to give to him on Dad-To-Be Day (coincidentally, this is on the same date as Fathers Day)!.

Its a really cute Carters "Sleep & Play" that says "I love Daddy"

Yes, its cheesey, but its also neutral in color and somehow ended up in my shopping cart. I didn't put it there-- it was just magnetically attracted and came my way.

Its pretty cute if I may say so myself. We're heading to Dayton & Cincinnati this weekend. It'll be a lot of fun as we'll get to see some really wonderful friends and family-- some of whom we haven't seen since we broke our big news about Little B. It'll be nice to see Mike's Mom, Dad, brother, and some very close friends. On to I-71 we go....

Finally "feeling" pregnant

Its funny-- now that I know what Little B's movement sounds like, I notice it all the time. Its quite enjoyable.

So, either.....
a) He/she's moving around a whole lot more
b) I'm not as clueless as to what said movements feel like
c) Little B is bigger and therefore his/her motions are more evident
d) All of the Above

I personally choose "D." Its pretty cool. I finally "feel" like there's a baby in there (b/c a pint of Graeters Rasberry Chip would not make movements like-- I know from past experience).

The books I've been reading (all 11 of them + the magazines) call this movement "fluttering." But I'm not sure that's how I'd explain it. In fact, I'm not sure exactly how to describe how it feels. To me it feels more like a twitch (like an eye twitch, but in your belly). Sometimes it makes more a of bubbling sensation. Other times the kicks feel like the thump of a pulse, but without the regularity of a heartbeat/pulse. At times it tickles because it feels like there's something wiggling inside you--turns out, there is! Its Little B!

Fun times!

17 Weeks in Hotel W

Tomorrow, we'll start the 18th week of this pregnancy. As much as it seemed like the first weeks took years, I will say that the last couple ones have seemed to fly by. I think its partially because now the news is completely out (900 lb gorilla off my back) and that I'm getting used to this....oh, and so far, the 2nd trimester is WAY better than the 1st one.

Since we're entering a new week, its time to chat about what's going on this week in Hotel W (where W stands for Womb). So here's what Little B is up to...

- Hearing: Little B's ears should be in their final position now, meaning that they are really able to start hearing sounds. Experts are sure if a baby at 17 wks can differentiate voices, but it is clear that this is when Little B can start to hear my hearbeat and my stomache rumble when I'm a bit hungry

- Bones: Little B's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone. So I'm all over getting extra calcium

- Activity: As the baby's starts to learn how to move its muscles, movement really kicks up (pun intended). By nature, babies are playful beings-- and according to the books I'm reading, this playfulness starts right about now.

Pretty cool stuff. Feeling Little B Move (and being able to differentiate movements from stomache bubbles) is a pretty neat thing.

That's what's happening inside Hotel W as we head into week 18. Little B, I truly hope that you are enjoying your stay and that you find the accomodations to your liking!

Monthly Doctor Drive-By

Today I had my 3rd appt. I affectionately call it the "Monthly Dr Drive By" because these appointments are so frequent and are very quick. In these you have a consult with a nurse, you are weighed, have your blood pressure checked, pee in a cup, spend time with the doctor (which is great-- and they in no way rush you), and then get bloodwork done. Every month, its rinse and repeat. I'm not complaining-- b/c every time I get to feel better about Little B.

Everything looks great. My doctor found the heartbeat quite quickly-- then smiled and said "that's one strong baby." (My internal thought: Go Little B, Go!) He then said "You know you have nothing to worry about, right? Everything is pointing to a very healthy baby....I've been in your shoes, well my wife has, and know that it may still be hard to believe, but every test and check up we've done shows nothing but good developments."

I don't know exactly why he said this, but I seriously wanted to record it. Many parents want to tape the baby's heartbeat (which at some point, I think we may do), but for me, well, I wanted to record his statement of assurance and play that over a thousand times. Perhaps he was reading "concern" on my face or maybe he completely relates because he and his wife underwent IVF, or it may be further evidence of his excellent bedside manner. Or, maybe it was all three. He's just a great OB and knows exactly what to say to put a mom-to-be at ease.

They aren't particularly worried about the minor dizzy spells becuase we seem to have a good plan in place for when it does happen. At their recommendation, I always keep a juice box on me (and have a ton in the car) and drinking on of those does the trick They think Little B is just taking more than his/her fair share of my blood sugar. In addition, they are checking to see if the baby is causing me to be borderline anemic. Either of these scenarios is nothing to worry about. I just need to trach Little B how to share! These babies are amazing little creatures-- they know exactly how to get what they want...even inside Hotel W!

Sometimes I just want to pinch myself, b/c this pregnancy is a lot easier and a lot less stressful than I thought it would be. Some of you may be laughing at this statement b/c you've either heard, read, or witnessed me getting sick or get big-time shots or be exhausted. But I assure you, this has been way better than I thought it would be. I'm very at ease. From what previous doctors were telling me, I was anticipating quite a tedious & possibly riskier experience. Perhaps they were just trying to prepare me for the worst, hoping that I never faced it. Or maybe medical technology has dramatically improved since my surgery. Regardless, I'm thankful!

Butterflies in the pool

After a very active (and extremely hot) weekend, Mike & I decided that vegging out by the pool could be in our future on Sunday. Indeed it was in our future--- as we spent most of the afternoon over at the pool in our development. We read, relaxed, drank iced fruit smoothies (they were YUM-MY) and took in some sun. (Yes mom, we took plenty of H2O with us too) I'm over feeling albino, so it was about time to work on that glowing skin everyone talks about pregnant people having.

Once we were hot enough, we jumped in the pool, which was quite refreshing. Well, Mike jumped in-- I eased in. And as did so, there was the tummy sensation I'd been waiting for. Usually when you get in the pool once you get past your hips, the hardest part is getting your stomache wet. This is part of the normal "getting into the pool experience." What I totally wasn't expecting was how Little B would make his/her presence known once my midsection submerged in the cool water. Holy movement. I've thought that I've felt some internal nuances of Little B's movements, but wasn't sure--- until Little B hit the water. It was comical-- I swam out to where Mike had jumped in and was just laughing. I tried to tell him what was going on, but I couldn't stop laughing-- as it tickled and was a feeling I'd never experienced at this magnitude before. He jokingly was like "spit it out" -- and then I told him that baby seemed to be very aware that he/she was in the pool. Then we joked--- well, maybe Little B is going to be a swimmer!

Lessens Learned on the Field

Tomorrow, Mike & I will be helping with the game day festivities of one of our friend's Summer Baseball Teams. They're having a double header, so we'll be helping them coordinate concessions & Mike will be calling the game.

Although the team we're helping is for high-school-age players, I can't help but think about what our life may be like when we fast forward 4-5 years. I keep thinking about Tee Ball and coach-pitch baseball/softball, and maybe even Little League. I look forward to those days fondly. I'm not saying that I'm going to force our child into playing competitive sports, but we'll definitely encourage her/him to give team sports a try.

I still remember picking dandylions in center field during my first year playing baseball. I also remember the first coach I ever had in baseball. It was a boys and girls team and I wasn't the best player on my team, but the coach never gave up on me and I did improve. Even more fondly, I remember all the years my dad coached my baseball and softball teams. I learned a lot...not just about how to throw, catch, pitch and hit...but also about what it means to be on a team.

Looking back, I have even a greater appreciation for what my dad did by coaching us. Here's a man with a big-time job who found time to be a coach year after year. Not just for me, but for my older brother too. I can now begin to understand just how hard he worked to make that happen. Not because someone asked him to be a coach, but because it was something that he felt was important to do with us. It wasn't just organizing the team, teaching us how to play and being at every game and running each practice...it was also the example he set. Not just for me then, but for me now as I start to embark on the balancing act of all times....working full time and being the best parent I can be.

My mom made it a point to bring oranges and get us to practices and cheer us on (or lovingly-yet firmly-make us snap out of it if we were having a bad day on the field). Both of them also gave us quite a life lesson on responsibility to our team and not being a quitter. They've always been our biggest fans, while also encouraging to always seek to be better. They showed us how to be competitive with our own performance first before analyzing how we ranked among others. We also learned good sportsmanship and how to follow through on a commitment. Many of these lessens were reinforced on a baseball diamond. Keep in mind that I know that I was not the most athletically-gifted child, but I still learned and applied a lot of traits that I use on a daily basis now. I hope to pass these along to our kids.

Mike's sports career reached much more success than mine, as he played baseball at the college level. Still, his experience early on in baseball, like mine, has really shaped him as an adult. We learned a lot as a result of being on teams and having parents so commited to helping us reach our full potential, not neccessarily as athletes, but as people...good people. We're very lucky to have the involved parents that we both have.

I wonder what lessens our children will learn on the baseball field....and look forward to teaching how to play and develop, both on and off the field. When in Cincinnati, Mike and two of his friends coached a 5 & 6 yr old boys team. It was a riot. Although none of them had kids on the field, it was incredible to see them in action ,working to develop these kids. I remember how special I thought they were for doing that. Just imagine how I'll be 5 years from now, when Mike's coaching again, but this time, our child will be on the team!!!

Inside Hotel W - Week 16 completed!

We're into our 17th week. Wahoo! Thought it would be fun to share what I've learned about Little B at 16 weeks of development from all the websites & books I've been reading:

- Right now Little B is about the size of a large avacado, about 4 1/2 inches in length from head to butt. Next week, he'll/she'll be about the size of a hand streched out. Yep in the next 3 weeks Little B will be on quite the growth spurt, doubling in weight and growing by inches in length

- Little B's ears are just about fully developed, so he/she will begin to be able to hear this week. I no longer need to worry about people thinking I'm talking to myself....I'm talking to baby--- that's right!

- Oh and here's another fun fact, Little B can now make facial expressions like frowning, blinking eyes, and squinting. How fun is that?!!?!

- Little B's heart is pumping about 6 gallons of blood a day. Nice work! Another milestone that happens once the baby has passed 16 weeks along is that their lungs start breathing the oxygenated amniotic fluid (kinda like practicing to breathe air in November).

All of this is quite impressive....and kinda amazing. I've seen many babies (and adore them) but never really thought about how they develop until we started experiencing it. I'm dying for someone to ask me "And what did you do today?"....so I can reply with a smart-alleck response like "helped Little B smile, squint, breathe, and pump 6 gallons of blood...and that was before I woke up." Ha! Kidding!

My next doctor's appointment is on Monday. Its not an ultrasound one, although I'm trying to find a creative way to get another "photo opp" on Monday (kidding). Would really like to see Little B, but I'll have to wait until 6/23 for that I think. I'm gonna save the "can we please do an ultrasound b/c I really need to see the baby card" for later on.

Some of you have been asking how I'm feeling, so I thought I'd send out an update. For the most part, I'm feeling better. Yes, I am still getting evening sickness, but I don't want to dwell on it. I've become quite good at recovering afterwards as if nothing happened :). I've also observed that whenever Little B goes through a growth spurt, I go through an equivilent "sleep spurt"-- its truly unbelievable how all of this works out. I do seem to be getting a little dizzy occasionally and will be discussing this with my doctor on Monday, but I am not alarmed. When I called my nurse practioner just to let her know about it, she suggested that I keep apple juice-boxes on me at all times. Its not too uncommon for blood sugar to drop, which is usually what causes dizziness. So that's what we're doing-- and really, the dizziness is minor (and I've got it under control, Mom, I promise, juice boxes in my purse and in my car :).

Oh, and I have a big smile on my face almost all the time. Little B makes me smile. Cheesey? Yes. Do I care that it sounds cheesey? Absolutely not. Its true!

Wrapped around my belly

One of my favorite Police songs is "Wrapped Around Your Finger." When you change up the lyrics just a tad, you can make the song "Baby will be wrapped around your belly," which is appropriate for 2 reasons:

First, Little B totally has me wrapped around his/her finger--- and then some. Speaking of Little B's finger---he/she now has finger and toenails, just added this week! Pretty impressive. Anyways, I'm very into this little being. I think about Little B all the time, especially when I'm trying to fall asleep at night. Sometimes I try to really concentrate to see if I can feel this tiny being move. But I'm not sure if I can yet. Occasionally, I think I do, only to realize that it was most likely my pulse and not fluttering. I promise to make a big announcement when I do have confirmed and undeniable movement from Little B. In the meantime, I just relish in the thought that there's a little baby-to-be with me at all times. Its very comforting to think about.

And then, there's the other meaning to these lyrics--the literal one: This baby appears to be wrapped around my belly! I'm not kidding-- I think I'm showing more on my sides and back than I am in my front. No joke.

So baby must be wrapped around my belly, both literally and figuratively.

A 5-Yr-Old's Take on Little B

Forgot to mention a very funny part of this past weekend. On Saturday night, I got to spend some one-on-one time with my niece, who is adorable and at an age where she says the funniest things. Its just neat to take a look inside her head and see a child's thought processes.

I was able to just this on Saturday night. We had our own little girl's night...stopped by Target to get a fun surprise and then off to Graeters for some homemade ice-cream (and a balloon artist, and a ice-cream themed playroom). It was a most perfect time--- we had a blast--- and a very fun conversation about Little B and whether it would be a "he" or a "she."

It all started when Cam took me past the normal aisles you'd expect a 5-yr-old would want to see at Target and back to the baby aisle. Yep, she knew exactly where it was. Then she started saying "Awwwwh! Your baby will love this _______" (insert any of the cute baby items you can imagine on this blank line). If it had a duck or a dog on it, it was something that we had to give serious consideration to purchasing, as "Baby is going to like ducks and dogs just like me," Cam said. The scene was absolutely precious. So much, that other shoppers in the store were taking notice. She could have been a plain-clothed manager at Target for as well as she was positioning these baby products with such passion and personal touch. It was adorable and all heartfelt. Oh, and she did sell me...some of those items that you could insert on the blank line above ended up in my shopping cart. Sales could be in her future...but I digress.

The interesting thing was that everything that she picked out was for a girl. I mean everything. When I mentioned that we had be careful to find items that could be good for a girl or a boy b/c we didn't know what Little B was gonna be, she gave me a funny look. Her expression was almost saying "you're kidding, right?" She smiled at me and said "Aunt Kris, you know you're gonna have a girl." I laughed back at her and said that it might be a girl, but it might also be a boy. We kept shopping and then headed off to get ice cream.

On the way to the parlor, she brought it up again, "Aunt Kris, the baby in your belly is a girl." I giggled and said (again) that it might be, but it might be a boy too. We just don't know. And here was her response: "Aunt Kris, stop joking. Uncle Mike doesn't have a baby in his belly, you have one in yours. I don't think Uncle Mike is going to have a baby come out of his belly before your baby comes out, so the baby is going to be a girl." Intriguing logic. I wasn't sure what to say, so I just said "Oh, that's an interesting thought." Then, she continued on...."Baby girls come from mommy bellies and dads have the baby boys." Suddenly, her logic made sense to me. And luckily for me (who didn't not want to even tread closely to any version of birds and bees speeches), we pulled into the Graeters parking lot. Ahh, saved by ice cream!

It was very cute to see her though process...and now I understand why Cam keeps calling Little B a "she." Ha! And I'm not going to tell her anything that would change her mind...I'm pleading the fifth on all "how does baby get out of your belly" conversations. Good luck K&C!

p.s. The "What are we having gender poll" only has 2 more days, so please don't forget to vote (top left collumn). Do you agree with Cam or does Mike have a baby in his belly?!?!

Frequent Driver Miles

I'm really hoping that Little B is open to some road trips once he/she get settled in his/her new world. Perhaps all the driving we do now will make the little one a eager traveller. Perhaps I'm also dreaming. A girl can hope, though, right?!?!

Here's why I'd like Little B to be a willing (ok, I'll settle for "willing" instead of "eager") travel companion. We frequently drive out of town to see friends and family on the weekend. By frequent, I mean like two weekends a month. And, we love it. Its not like we're driving cross country, but this is a common part of our weekly plans. We'll head to Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Maryland often. Boomer has become quite the avid traveller, so our fingers are crossed that Little B will also enjoy the wide open road....that leads us to seeing people we really care about.

This past weekend we were in Columbus...not only for the Memorial, but to hang out with family and see some friends. 2 of our 3 siblings live there, so that makes it a frequent destination. We also got to see 2 of our really good pals from college and help them celebrate their son's 1st birthday. Its amazing how much kids grow in a year. I was in awe of this little guy (and it was great to see his mom & dad too). There's something very special about college friends-- you spend so much time together that catching up is a breeze and spending timr together means so much. Thats why I hope the Little B will like I-71, and I-70 & the turpike. I can't wait to have expanded gatherings with Little B, our friends & family, and their kids.

A Preggo Day at the Memorial

The Memorial Golf Tournament in Columbus has become a staple in my calendar year after year. We take our top clients to Columbus and entertain them on the course. Its one of the most fun "work days" of the year. Usually, there's some pretty professional alchohol consumtion while watching the professional players make the game of golf look like child's play. Not only is it fun to watch the golfers, the people watching is also top notch. Our company rents a house on the 18th green and this becomes home base. Our clients love spending Friday there and its a great opportunity to show our appreciation. This tournament is like also happens to be a "who's who" in Ohio Media Sales...its a great place to network and catch up with counterparts in the industry. Its fun.

Its even fun sans adult beverages. It was great to see old collegues and be able to share the good news of Little B with them. We weren't overly private about our situation with needing donor IVF so it was nice to share the happy chapter in the story with them.

And I'm pretty proud of my ability to hang...in 85 degree heat, walking the course (about 3-4 miles with a bunch of hills), and staying active from 11:30a when we arrived til 5:30 when we headed out. I never realized how hilly the course was...its beautiful, but not flat at all.

The activity was great and we got to see some really good golf. Then, I went back on Saturday with Mike, his brother Kevin, and one of our college friends. It was nice to be outside so much. If only Little B could see all the places we were going. In due time :)