28 Weeks!

Well, we have officially made it to the third trimester.  It is so crazy to me how fast time has flown by.  It seems like yesterday we found out we were going to have a little one.  Now, we are getting closer and closer everyday.  I know I have done a terrible job about post belly photos, but for some reason I cannot bring myself to do it.  I will work on it though and maybe have some to post the next time.

Last Friday, I went for my glucose test and passed without any problems.  We also had our appointment to have our 4D ultrasound done.  However, this time LBR was not so cooperative.  So I don't have very clear photos.  I have now started my two week rotation so, in a couple of weeks will be going back to the doctor for our check up as well as a retake on the 4D. 

I am still feeling great!  I have the occasional lower back pain, but we all know it's because I am carrying a little extra weight around (only 12-14 pounds so far).  I am still doing my swimming and yoga class several times a week and LOVE IT!  I recommend them to anyone. 

We went to one of our first classes last week.  It was on breastfeeding.  I found it very informational, but Spencer, of course, thought it could have been summed up in about 45 minutes.  Anywho...we both learned a lot and are both on the same page about what we want for our little bundle :)  We have a CPR class next week and our birthing class also begins next week.  We are so busy, no wonder the weeks are flying by. 

My showers are coming up and I am super excited.  My great friends at work are giving me on May 21 and then I have friends and family on May 22.  Should be a great weekend!  My sister has also planned to throw a dipe and wipe party June 11 so Spencer can be part of the festivities.  This one will be a couples shower. 

We are so much closer to having the nursery finished.  As soon as we are done I will post pictures.  I need to go and purchase the mattress and Spencer has a few things to hang on the wall.

Hopefully, next time I post I will have plenty of pics! 

LBR in 4D!

Well we had an unexpected trip to the doctor on Tuesday.  LBR has been on my schedule for the past 5 weeks.  He/she wakes when I wake and I can feel him/her throughout the day.  Monday I didn't seem to feel as many kicks and they definitely were not as strong as they had been.  Spencer even made mention that I had not mentioned feeling the baby move.  I continued to monitor the movements, but come Tuesday morning, we still weren't back on the schedule.  Call me paranoid, but I called the doctor.  I explained the situation to him and he told me to come in for an ultra sound.  I called Spencer and told him to meet me at the doctors office.  Thankfully my grade level understands, as well as the administration and staff, and they split my class until the substitute arrived.  As soon as the tech put the monitor to my belly, she could immediately see LBR moving around.  Once we met with the doctor she told me a few tricks I could do to get the baby to move around or wake up rather.  She also said the reason I may not have felt the baby so strong was he/she was kicking to my back.  All of this makes perfect sense now, but I still feel much better going in just to make sure.  So...because of this little scare the tech flipped the switch and we were able to see LBR in 4D!  So exciting!  We go back the 16th of April for my glucose test and while we are waiting we are going to do the 4D photo session.  We cannot wait to see our little one again.  This makes it so real!

 

So....what's your prediction?  Boy or girl?

Five Years and Counting...

Wow!  It is hard to believe Spencer and I have been married five years March 19th!  Crazy how time flies.  Spencer surprised me with dinner and a night stay at Gorham's Bluff.  Gorham's Bluff is special to us because it the place we stayed the night we got married.  It also has the Roden Suite.  We weren't able to stay in the Roden Suite this time, but we were okay with that.  Just the opportunity to get away for the night was GREAT! We had a fabulous four course dinner and our suite had a porch and we were able to look over the Tennessee River.  The view was spectacular! 

Gorham's Bluff March 19, 2005

I don't have any pictures of us together, but this is me, standing on the porch of our suite. 

 

This is a better view of the Tennessee River. 

We had a wonderful anniversary and are looking forward to beginning our family in a few months.  We are so excited about LBR's arrival.  Hopefully, we will still be able to get away like this for our future anniversaries.  That is, if I can leave him/her for a night or two :)

Where does the time go?

It is hard for us to believe we are already 23 weeks along.  The time has flown by.  Everyone keeps telling me, just wait, it is going to start dragging towards the end.  I am really not so sure.  We are super busy, so our days our flying by. 

We went for our 23 week doctor's appointment yesterday.  We started our rotation schedule so we can meet the other doctors in the practice.  Everything went very well.  LBR's heartbeat sounded great and I was measuring perfectly according to the doctor.  The next doctor's appointment is in a month and I will be taking the glucose test then.  We also scheduled our 4D ultrasound.  Spencer is so excited to see LBR.  We figured  since technology allows you to see your child in 4D it would be great to have so we can show LBR when he/she is older. 

We are still in the process of working on the nursery.  Spencer has painted the closet and installed the closet organizer.  Finally, we were able to decide on a paint color.  I haven't been able to decide on bedding, so Joycie (my grandmother) and I went fabric shopping.  I found something I like and Spencer likes as well.  Now we just have to make the crib skirt and curtains and we will be set. The crib came in last week and we purchased LBR's highchair.  It's crazy to see kid stuff in our house.  But, yet very exciting too!!!!

19 weeks and almost halfway there....

We are now 19 weeks into the pregnancy.  We cannot believe how fast time has gone by.  It feels like yesterday we found out we were going to be parents. 

Monday is our 19 week doctor's appointment.  We will be having an ultrasound to spy on LBR.  This is also the appointment where we could find out whether LBR is a baby girl or a baby boy.  But, we are still going to wait until he/she arrives in July.  I cannot wait to find out, but I know if I were to find out on Monday, the surprise would be over.  I truly love to be surprised and that rarely, if ever, happens, so the one way I can control this one is to WAIT. 

We have already purchased LBR's crib, but we are waiting for it to come in.  I have tried to find picture online to post, but for some reason it will not let me copy and paste to my blog.  We have also purchased the rug for the nursery and have decided on a wall color.  All of course are neutral.  Spencer went into Lowe's the other day and found the closet organizers we had been eyeing for 80% off!  You can't beat that.  So, hopefully, he will paint the closet and work on installing the organizers in the next couple of weeks. 

I am still feeling great and believe I have started to feel LBR move around.  At first, I thought this feeling would be a little weird for me, when I heard others  describe it.  But, to tell you the truth it is very comforting. 

I will update more on Monday after our doctor's appointment.  I am hoping to have some pictures to post :)

17 Weeks...

We are now 17 weeks into the pregnancy.  I cannot believe how fast time has gone by.  We have our next doctor's appointment February 15.  This is actually the appointment where we could find out the sex of LBR.  But, as well all know, we are going to wait.  We are really excited about getting to see LBR.  We can't wait to see how much he/she has grown in 7 weeks. 

I am still feeling really good and have not had any morning sickness or vomiting.  I am really enjoying my prenatal water aerobics and prenatal yoga classes.  I will recommend them to anyone. 

On Saturday we ordered LBR's crib from Storkland in Vestavia Hills.  I tried to link the picture but for some reason it isn't working.  It is white iron and will convert, eventually, to a full size bed.  We also purchased the rug for the nursery.  Our next project is to paint, then move in the furniture. I still have not decided on a bed skirt or bumpers, but we want it to be neutral.  We are also still on the lookout for a rocker.  Yet again, we are still undecided on what we want. 

On Friday, I told my students that I was going to have a baby.  I actually told them as we were taking the spelling test.  It could not have worked out more perfectly.  One of our spelling words this week was July (we were studying the oo, u sound).  So when it was time for me to say a sentence with July, I said,"Mrs. Roden is going to have a baby in July."  They were so cute.  Most of them thought I was just kidding and making a sentence with the spelling word.  One little boy thought I would have to quit teaching right away.  But, all in all they were very excited. 

15 Weeks Already?

Spencer and I went back to the doctor on Thursday for our 4 week (monthly) check up.  We actually had to see another doctor in the practice because my doctor was out due to a death in the family.  I am really glad we were able to meet another doctor in the practice.  He was really nice and definitely made me feel very comfortable about using this practice.  The check up went very well.  We were able to hear LBR's heartbeat on the Doppler.  It is always a relief to me when I can hear the heartbeat.  It really makes the pregnancy a reality.  Other than my clothes beginning to fit a little snug and my stomach beginning to become hard, I do not really feel pregnant.  I am actually still wearing my regular clothes, but I do feel that will be changing in the next couple of weeks. 

The next time we go to the doctor I will be 19 weeks.  We will be having an ultra sound during this appointment.  This is where if we wanted to find out the sex of the baby we could.  However, we have chosen not to do so.  We want it to be a surprise.  Surprisingly it does not even both me that we could find out and aren't going to.  I am really excited to wait.  I love to be surprised and that NEVER happens (except with this pregnancy, which is a WONDERFUL surprise).  So to actually be in control of being surprised is a great feeling!

So far during the pregnancy I have not been sick.  I have  had a few headaches and several food aversions, but I have not actually been sick.  I am so thankful for that.  It makes the pregnancy so much more enjoyable.  I am also taking prenatal water aerobics and prenatal yoga.  I look forward to these classes every week.  I highly recommend them to anyone who is pregnant.

I get an update every week from www.babycenter.com.  This is what is happening this week:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Crazy huh?  I can't believe how much LBR is growing and how quickly!  It's truly amazing.  I can't wait to see what the future weeks have in store for us!