Sweet Little Sonogram

Before Thanksgiving, Peter and I went to see my doctor for a sonogram and a check-up.  We had had one sonogram before but aside from the flicker of a heartbeat we couldn't really see much....this was much different!!!  My stomach muscles must have twitched because of the ultrasound gel, immediately the baby started moving around like crazy.  Waving it's tiny hands and feet around and arching it's back.  It was absolutely amazing!!  The technician let us look at the baby for quite awhile and pointed out things like a hand, a foot, the umbilical cord, etc.  Then she measured the baby's heart rate - 170 beats per minute.

The Baby's head is all the way to the right.

While we waited for the doctor, we both stared at the picture.  It was the first time that I could see an actual baby - our baby.

Later on Thanksgiving day, Peter hid a copy of our sonogram picture inside each of our family members' napkins.  When we sat down to eat we were hoping that each person would find the picture in their napkin but instead the pictures pretty much just fell out onto the floor :(  My mom went around and handed each person their picture.  Even though it didn't work out as planned, everyone was still really excited and jumped up to hug me.  My Aunt Cyndy and cousin Sara even surprised me with a gift bag full of baby books, toys and maternity items that they've been collecting.  They have carried the gift bag around to every family gathering for almost two years (just waiting for the announcement)!  So fun!

Now I have one copy of the sonogram in a frame and I carry one in my wallet.  I still look at the picture all the time!

Week 10

Week 10 has come and gone.  The baby is currently the size of a lime.  Only two more weeks to go until the first trimester is over!  I have been feeling pretty great except for the pretty intense headache that I get every day right around 1:00 PM....it stays with me until I fall asleep at night.  The doctor recommended acupuncture twice a week but I'm not sure that I can fit that into my schedule.  For now I am going to tough it out and hope the headaches go away when the first trimester ends. 

As you can see from my picture, my baby bump has already begun.  I thought that this a little early but the doctor told me it's normal for shorter women to show earlier than others.  I also think a portion of it is just water retention.  Regardless, I will be making the jump into maternity clothes any day now.

FREE Stuff!!!

Over the last several weeks I have spent a lot of time scouring the Internet looking at different baby things.  There are a ton of offers for free stuff out there!  Now, I must admit, at first I learned about these deals by reading other pregnant women's blogs.  But soon thereafter (once I knew what to look for) I started finding these offers all over the place.  

One of most recent Internet obsessions is Freebies 4 Mom.  I like to check this website a couple of times a day because some of the best freebies are available in a limited supply.  This website also led me to the Pampers "Gifts to Grow" program.  This a rewards program - you put in codes that you get off of Freebies 4 Mom and other websites and also off of actual Pampers packaging.  When you get enough points you get free stuff including diapers!  You can enter codes 2BEGINEARNING50 and JOINNOW4REWARDS to get 50 points each right out of the gate.  It is actually pretty addicting and I find codes all over baby sites that are partnered with Pampers.  NOTE:  I am still working out the disposable vs. cloth options....not sure yet if I will be buying Pampers (or other disposables) but thought I should get started on racking up points just in case.

Next some instant gratification....Seven Everyday Slings!  I picked out the one I wanted (purple of course) and when I went to checkout I entered the promo code "Halloween" for my very own free baby sling.  I only had to pay for shipping.  So Cute and SOOO Free!  Next is Udder Covers (clever name for a very fashionable nursing apron).  Promo code is "Family 2010", same deal, I just had to pay shipping!  To give credit where credit is due, I found both of these offers through my most favorite mommy-to-be blog The Herron Nest.

I will certainly share more as I come across them over the next 6 months and beyond :)

Baby Grape Leaf?

My friend Trisha called me this morning to tell me about an interesting dream she had last night.  Peter and I had announced our baby name: Grape Leaf!!  She was obviously concerned about this name and I kept saying, "Grape Leaf, like the Grape..."  I did ask her if she could tell if the baby was a boy or a girl but she said it was unclear.  Either way, I am almost 100% sure that we will not be naming the baby Grape Leaf. 

Georgia's Horseback Ride!

Back in September I helped my good friend Georgia check one item off of her 'Bucket List'.  She has always wanted to ride a horse so I bought us each a Groupon to Bein Performance Horses.  We each got assigned to a horse - mine was Jackie O!  First we had to groom our horses - we brushed them with a few different brushes and gave them some love while feeling for swollen joints.  Next, we picked stuff out of their hooves with a little tool that looked kind of like a giant knitting needle (this was not my favorite part!).

After they were all cleaned up we learned how to put the proper equipment on the horses so that we could ride them.  And then we were off!  We each had our own instructor and a private arena - they worked with us separately for about 30 minutes.  Pretty basic stuff like balancing, turning, commands, etc.  It was really fun!  Afterwards we took all of their equipment off and put it away and then went through the entire grooming process again (even picking the hooves).  It helps to calm the horses down after a ride and ensures that any dirt or mud that got on them during the ride comes off and doesn't irritate their skin.

Georgia and I had a really good time together!  Georgia was happy to report "We are now officially Riders of Horses!"

Renewed Conviction

When I first started this blog I made a goal to post at least four times a month for a minimum of a year.  I slipped up in September (only 3 posts) and October (only 2 posts).  Now I know what you are thinking, "No one is counting" or "Who cares?"  The point is that I set a goal and it is important to me to complete it.  This blog is a way for me to reflect on my thoughts and feeling throughout this very exciting year.  

I obviously can't go back in time but I will be posting at least 7 times in November - 4 for the month and 3 for the posts I missed in September and October.  Get ready for information overload!!  Then, moving forward, it is back to at least 4 times per month!