Maternity outerwear and baby slings

My latest "research" obsessions (as we have our stroller, LOL Emilie!), are baby slings and maternity winter jackets.

First off, a coworker gifted me with "The Happiest Baby on the Block", which I have been devouring in my spare time *aka bathroom quiet time*. I love it. It makes complete sense to me, the philosophy that babies are born 3 months before they are ready, and they need to be swaddles, shhh'ed, swung/jostled, etc., to simulate their 9 months in the womb. Eventually, I know we most likely want to get an Ergo Carrier for Keifer Lynn *(because I've seen and heard many rave reviews about it, plus saw Mooshie and my friend in CA use it and their children love it)*. Now, my hunt is for the perfect baby sling -- so I can sling Keifer around me while I go about my daily business. Of course, I won't know the sling is a perfect sling until she is here to tell me, but its fun to get opinions and research nonetheless.
The ones I've been looking at include:

the hotsling
the ring slings
the new native
the maya wrap pouch
the peanut shell

So if any moms out there have any opinions, suggestions, whatever, please let me know!
As for maternity jackets, I've been debating on the need for a maternity winter jacket, as I tend to be a jacket collector. I love winter jackets - the more the better - the choices are fun! Judging by the fact that I'm only 22 weeks and the jackets fit me just fine now, I'm guessing that by the end of February, still a very chilly time here in MN, that I most likely would benefit from a maternity winter coat. I've narrowed down a few choices, but have no idea what I'll like until I either try them on, or find something else. I think this Saturday I need to make a pit stop after my Reiki session at the MOA (Mall of America) at the Old Navy and Gap shops. I think I need to find the "perfect" maternity winter jacket - not too expensive, cute, and just right in the fit.

The sixth month already? 22 weeks ~

Yes, the 6th month! Apparently weeks 21-25 or 26 are considered "month 6". SHOCKING. Here I am, 22 weeks pregnant and loving every minute of it. Well, I WAS loving every minute of it - until this weekend. It should be said that you should NEVER utter the words "I'm doing great, feeling SO good" after somebody asks you how you are feeling when you are PG. It is a jinx in my case. When somebody asked me at 7 weeks how I was, and I told them great, I got hit with the morning sickness. This past weekend, I glowed and told CJ's whole family how great I felt, and wham, I got hit Friday night with Carpal Tunnel syndrome in my wrists. Yep. I woke up Saturday feeling very achy and crampy in my left wrist - thinking I had slept on it wrong, I merely rubbed it and hoped the pain would go away. Well, the next day I awoke to two painful wrists and numbness in my fingers. Ahh, yes, my co-worker told me, PG-induced carpal tunnel. *pulling hair out* AHHH! I use my hands A LOT during my day - to teach, help the kids, write notes, TYPE REPORTS (aka special education teacher), and obviously the day to day stuff. *(sigh)*. Oh Keifer, you had to hit me with all the fun stuff, didn't you? Morning sickness, carpal tunnel, I'm afraid to ask "what next?". Oh well, as long as the pain isn't so bad, I'm doing fine.

Babycenter.com tells me: How your baby's growing: Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

How your life's changing: You may start to notice stretch marks on your skin as your abdomen expands to accommodate your growing baby. Some pregnant women never get stretch marks, but at least half do. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color), and they become more apparent as pregnancy progresses. They can appear not only on your tummy, but also on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. Lotions won't prevent or eliminate them, but they help with any itching. Also, you may no longer be an "innie" your navel is flat and may soon pop out. It will revert to its usual shape after birth.

I'll admit it, I'm vain. I am hoping and wishing and praying I don't get hit too hard with the stretch marks. Of course, if I DO get them, I will wear them as a symbol of pride - I wanted to be PG so badly and this is just par for the course if I get them. In the meantime, I'm lubing my skin up at least 2 x a day, sometimes with the overly priced Mama Mio Tummy Rub, and other times with Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion for stretch marks. I also sometimes use (in the AM's) Mary Kay's Visibly Fit body lotion, which was initially a gift from a co-worker who swore by it when she was PG with her first child. I'll admit, the Mama Mio oil is MUCH better to smell, I honestly cannot stand the smell otheth Palmer's lotion, and am impartial to the Mary Kay stuff. It shall be determined as to whether spending ANY money at all on any of them have any effect.

Happy Anniversary to CJ and I : Part 2

Three years ago, on Monday, November 24, 2003, my best friend (CJ, of course) and I were married on the beach on Captiva Island, Florida. We were married in front of 30 family members (and some friends), and my mom's cousin Bruce officiated the wedding. It was the most memorable and special day of my life - so far! We had perfect weather - the sun was shining (right up until the pictures, of course!), it was warm out, with a slight breeze, my cousin Becky was my maid of honor, and CJ's brother Corey was his best man. Our parents were there, and we were also blessed by the presence of some family members who are no longer with us - Uncle Don, who passed away 2 years ago of cancer, and Great-Aunt Norma, who passed away last year. We have wonderful memories of our weekend spent at the Tween Waters Inn, and the people we spent it with.

I remember the flowers made me cry: they were exactly what I had envisioned I would be carrying; the cake was perfect and delicious, and the food (a tropical buffet) was to die for. We had a saxophone player for our music, and it was also his anniversary: he stopped at our wedding and played for an hour before his wife and he celebrated THEIR wedding anniversary. The breeze on the beach kept making me trip over my dress and crinoline -- the dress kept blowing between my legs, and watching the video, you can see I'm laughing with my dad, struggling to keep my dress flat so I can walk down the carpeted aisle to CJ.
We of course, had our emotional moments, like when my kooky hair stylist/make up artist "Charles" had us all behind schedule and insisted on fixing me last, when I had zero time to spare; the tears I shed after blowing up at my brother's then girlfriend, who almost ruined the weekend for us; and the love we all felt - with both sets of parents and siblings, and cousins, and significant others, and relatives we rarely get to see - who flew in just to witness our vows. After our delicious dinner, and memorable toasts, we all headed to the lounge ("the Crow's Nest!") to interact in the "NasCrab" races, which is a comedy show/mini-crab race. Words cannot describe the fun that this activity can give - I just remember laughing until I cried! I can't wait to go back to that beach hopefully soon, and play my memories over in my head.

Here are some pictures from that day, 3 years ago: our ceremony, our family, the crab races, CJ and I on our honeymoon at Disney World, and the final picture: CJ and I on November 24, 2006, three years after our wedding, with Keifer Lynn in my belly.

with our attendants, Becky & Corey
Twirling like a princess (for video reasons, LOL)

Surrounded by family and friends, crab racing!
Honeymooning at Disney World

3 years later: happy and PG with Keifer Lynn, 21 weeks!

21 weeks!

We spent most of this past week in Bismarck, North Dakota, for CJ's uncle's wedding, and I passed the 21 week PG mark!
Keifer received SO much love and well wishes this week - CJ's cousins and aunts and uncles got to 'meet' her for the first time and she had sweet words murmured to her (through my belly) and even got kisses! LOL. The best part is our nephew, Mason, at age 2 years and 3 months, is STILL convinced that HE, not auntie, has a baby in his belly. LOL. When we ask him to look at Auntie Carrie's belly, he sternly says "no, MY baby" and will lift his shirt. His new thing now is to say "my baby Keifer". *sigh* I love our Mason pants.
So far, I'm still feeling very good *(knock on wood)*.

Babycenter.com reports:
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

This fact is true: last night,for the first time, I laid down in the hotel bed, and realized after about 5 minutes that the fluttering I was feeling in my lower abdomen was really KEIFER telling me that she wasn't ready to go to bed. That was the first time I've actually felt Keifer when I've settled down to go to bed! Then, when we picked up our fur kids from my parents (who kindly met us in Forest Lake today, cutting our drive home from a potential 9-10 hour drive to just an 8 hour drive), when Tboy settled on my lap, I felt that "fluttering" right below my belly button. Maybe Keifer was just as happy that Tboy was settled on my lap as I was?

Happy 3rd Anniversary, CJ!

Happy Anniversary to CJ and me!
Three happy years (well, there were those ups and downs of infertility!), and here we are, sitting in a hotel room at the Ramkota Inn in Bismarck, North Dakota, about to hit the sales at Herberger's and JCPenney's! LOL.
I have no access to my pics, so when I get home I'll post a recap of the wedding day, that happy day 3 years ago, when we were joined together under God's roof, on the beach on Captiva Island, surrounded by all we love.
Here's to many more years together!

Thanksgiving: A time to be thankful

CJ and I are leaving for North Dakota tonight, immediately following work. His uncle Carl is getting married tomorrow, the afternoon before Thanksgiving, in Bismarck. We'll be leaving for Grand Forks tonight, staying over with his parents, and then driving tomorrow AM for the hotel and festivities. It will be so much fun -- CJ's whole family will be there and my Abbers and Mason. I even bought a new swim suit last night at Target (*blush*) in an XLarge, so that I can take advantage of the "water park" facilities our hotel has. LOL.
I'll be gone over the Thanksgiving holiday, but I wanted to say how thankful I am for the friends and family I have. It's been quite the year, and even though there were hard parts, there were also very excited and happy times.

So, without further adu, I'm so thankful 1) for my wonderful husband. My best friend, my rock through all these hard times. My sweet, caring, fun, doting CJ. It's our anniversary on Friday, 3 years, and I'm in shock at how fast the years went be.
2) I'm so thankful for my parents. Without them, achieving Keifer wouldn't have been as fast as it would. They helped us through with the financial aspects of IVF, and are so excited to be a "Bumpa" and "Nana", they can barely stand it. We love them.
3) I'm so thankful for CJ's family. They give us unconditional support and love, and are just wonderfully supportive at all times. Keifer Lynn is a lucky girl to be born into these families.
4) Of course, I'm so thankful for my Moosh Egg Angel. Words cannot express the love and gratitude we feel for her (and her Maddie, too). Without her, Keifer Lynn would still be a dream to CJ and I.
5) Sassy Sage and Treble *Tboy*. My loves. My rescued best fur friends. Sage is a mommy's shadow and Tboy is a protective big brother already. *sigh* I just love them.
and of course,
6) My Keifer Lynn, growing inside my warm and safe womb. Mommy and Daddy and all the friends and family surrounding us love her so much already, it brings tears to my eyes.
And, of course, I'm thankful for the friends, in both real life and on the internet, that have offered CJ and I endless support, ears to listen, plentiful prayers (*my Prayer Warriors!*), and love for us and Keifer Lynn.
Yes, we really do have plenty to be thankful for this year.

Barbie and butter

My Pregnancy Journal tells me that today, Keifer Lynn is about the size of a Barbie doll and weighs about a pound, so imagine a pound as a 4 sticks of butter in your hand. Amazing, isn't it?

A weekend of fun, family and friends

It was a fun, socializing weekend. Friday night, CJ and I and the furkids spent at Jill and Corey's, eating Chinese and watching Abby and Mason dance all over the house. Abby read about 4 different books to Keifer, and sang her "Mr. Sun" song, too.
Saturday, my parents came down from Duluth, and we hung out during the day. Then we drove up to Maple Grove and met our family friends, Bryant and his wife Sara, and their little boy, Cameron, for dinner at Buca. It was yummy and so much fun! We hadn't seen Bry or Sara since Cam was a baby , about 2 years ago. Sara is also PG, due February 2nd, with another little boy. She looked so awesome, I felt very large and in charge at almost 21 weeks, compared to her 28 week PG belly! LOL.

Then, we switched gears and drove over to the brand new Dave and Buster's, where we were meeting my friend Katie Jo, who now lives in Illinois. I haven't seen her since June, and I miss her terribly! My parents and Chris were with us, so we all got to see Katie, meet her new boyfriend, and also see some other friends of hers that we haven't seen in awhile. Our good friend Julie, (who is my pal I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers with) was also there, so my mom was in heaven getting all the gossip from my friends, whom she hasn't seen in ages.
It was a very social evening and so much fun.
Now, my parents are back home, in custody of Treble and Sage, whom they will be dogsitting for a week. CJ and I leave Tuesday night for our Thanksgiving weekend with his family, and we will be spending Wednesday through Friday nights in a hotel, so no puppies. His uncle Carl is getting married.
Sadly, but true, I don't think I'll ever be able to leave Keifer Lynn for an overnight for quite some time. Watching the dogs drive out of our driveway with my parents, had me, bawling my eyes out. I sobbed for about 20 minutes, and then ended up crashing and taking a 3 1/2 hour nap. Wow. They are dogs, but they are my babies. Hugs to Treble and Sassy Sage, I know Papa and Nana are spoiling you rotten right now. *big Tboy sighs*

Here is some pics of Julie, Katie, and myself - me feeling very large and in charge again! LOL

A full on, fully clothed 20 week body shot.

Here ya go, Natasha, a pic of me full on -no headless shots for you. 20 weeks PG -- off to work I go, with the furkids behind me, saying their sad goodbyes to me and Keifer. Sometimes it is hard to tell with clothes on that the bump is there, and other times it is very apparent. At least I don't feel "pudgy" and have people wondering "is she or isn't she?" anymore - I've caught 3 people this week at the school I work with doing a double take when they saw me.
Off I go - for my treat -- my cup of comfort - chai tea latte, soy please. TGIF.

My first Girlie purchase

How could I NOT? They are Gymboree , which is $$$ - but I had a discount code PLUS they are on clearance. I paid $12 for them with shipping, and if you know me, then well, you know they are so "me".
*(sigh)* I love them.

AND: my coworker Mary (aka one of many surrogate G-mas) came into today with a huge Macy's bag full of 6 (YES, count 'em, 6!) baby girl outfits! My heart, my heart! She is just as excited as we are! LOL. We are SO BLESSED to have friends like this in our lives, who will love and cherish our Keifer as much as we do already.

Here she is: Ultrasound pics

Here she is - Keifer! First is her arm, then her two little feet together, then her profile (doesn't she look like a monkey face, while chatting on the phone already?), and then the straight-on picture -- like an alien with those black holes where the eyes are! We love her so much already! YAY!

Treble & Sage have some BIG NEWS for you:

90% sure it's a girl! Keifer Lynn is due April 3 (or 2nd, if you go by the measurements today, which would be cool - because that is Papa Dale's birthday).

All looked well and healthy - all organs looked great, the heart was nice and strong, had 4 chambers, the spine was really cool to see - and we could see the ribcage. We saw the brain, the cerebellum and the brain stem, and her little legs were moving quite a bit!

20 weeks: The Half-Way Point

WOW. Never in a million years did I imagine how awesome it would be to be able to say "I'm 20 weeks Pregnant!". Simply amazing to me. I still am in awe. And I'm still nervous some days, so having the fetal doppler has been wonderful when my anxiety gets the best of me.
CJ and my coworker, Mary, like to make fun of my hiccups. I tend to make the goofiest sounding hiccups all day long, out of nowhere. I wonder if its Keifer hiccuping and I'm expressing them for him/her or if its MY body? Hmmm.
I am loving and craving orange juice (ice cold) and grape juice again lately. This AM I had 2 huge glasses of OJ and tonight, now, I'm having 2 more small ones before bed. I LOVE the taste of it as I drink it fast. I tend to be more thirsty at night.
I've also been playing a variety of my eclectic music for Keifer in the car. Whenever I'm driving anywhere, I try to play a variety of types of music, from country to rock, to pop, to R&B, to alternative, to disco. This AM, it was Simon and Garfunkel's "America" from my "Almost Famous" soundtrack, and I ended our car ride with the Bee Gee's "You Should be Dancing" (*yeah*). LOL. If anything, I hope to dance with my Keif everyday.

Babycenter.com tells me: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).Note: Every baby develops a little differently even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing: You've made it to the halfway mark Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on.

Tomorrow is our big ultrasound checkup. I'm praying for good results and a clear shot of the private area! LOL. Keifer, I am so excited!

We talk alike, we dress alike..................

Here are the matching Red Hot Chili Peppers Tshirts -- the big one I bought at the concert last week, and my friend Julie surprised me with the matching Toddler sized one. Someday, in a few years, Keifer and mommy will look so COOL wearing matching Tshirts! LOL

Mr. Sun

I had dinner with Jill, Abby and Mason tonight (my SIL, niece, & nephew) as our hubbies are at hockey tryouts. My BIL Corey is assistant coach of a local high school hockey team, and my CJ is helping him out with tryouts this week as a judge. So I got to pick up Abby at school, pick up some pizzas and chow down with my family.

Before I left, I told Abby to pick a song that she'd like to sing to Keifer all the time, so that when Keifer is born, he/she will know her big cousin. Abby chose "Mr. Sun" by Raffi, and proceeded to sing the entire song to my belly, complete with actions that Keifer won't get to enjoy until he/she is born. I can't wait until Keifer and Abby get to meet!

2 more days!

Why is Treble (Tboy) smiling so big? Why? Because its only 2 more days from now until he finds out if baby Keifer is going to be a human sister or human brother! YAY!

2:25PM CST on Wednesday is our scheduled 20 week ultrasound. Then we'll meet with our OB afterwards, and then rush home to call excited family and email pictures (and of course, post on my message boards if its a boy Keifer or a girl Keifer!)

Treble has been even MORE clingy this past weekend than usual. Yesterday, as I sat on the couch reading the paper, he was literally half on top of me sleeping and doing his happy, content sighs. He joined CJ and I in our new king size bed at around 1:30 AM (way earlier than he usually joins us) and snuggled up right in my arms until I got up for the day. *sigh with love* What a love. And to think, he was a rescue dog. Who could've given him up? Ugg.

On another note, I'm posting the fabulous card that my friend in Duluth (whom I also met on the message board!) Taryn made for CJ and I when we had our BFP (big fat positive). She is so talented and recently launched her own card making website. I was in tears when I received this in the mail (it was a surprise, that Taryn is honestly one of the sweetest people on earth) and it is going to be placed in the nursery. (and to contact Taryn with card questions, her web site is www.taryneileen.com) Sorry, I normally don't plug like that, but Taryn is so worth it!

19 weeks!

19 weeks! WHOOT! One more week til I'm officially half baked! The time is flying by, but I've heard the second phase is a bit slower than the first. Well, I hope that is not the case for me. Although I am really loving and enjoying having Keifer grow inside me, I'm very excited to actually meet this little critter we've been waiting for years to meet!

Babycenter.com tells me: How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

You're just a week shy of the halfway mark. You may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen (perhaps extending to your groin) or even a quick, sharp, stabbing pain on one or both sides, especially when you change position or at the end of an active day. This is round ligament pain, and it's caused by the stretching of the muscles and ligaments that support your growing uterus. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes persistent and severe, call your practitioner.

Ahhh, yes, the round ligament pain. At some points in my week, I have the sharpest pain. Sometimes it is on my right side, directly below my rib cage, around the gall bladder area. A few times, I've actually let out a sharp cry with the pain, because it can get pretty intense. I find myself massaging the bottom of my rib cage quite a bit lately. I treated myself to a prenatal back massage the other day, and my back is full of knots, as usual. But it felt so good to get some of the newer knots that are PG related worked on. I'm also finding it more difficult to lean over to pick things up, or to lean over and do my work with the kids at work. And its still early, I realize this!

You make my heart sing

CJ and I have noticed now that when we are listening to Keifer's heartbeat with the fetal doppler, and CJ talks -- the heartbeat gets faster and louder! All the book reading CJ is doing is paying off - it seems as though Keif knows his/her daddie's voice already!
Last night, we had family time (aka me, CJ, the furkids,and Keifer) in our new King Size bed, listening to the heartbeat again (where it was back in the 150's), and I noticed Sage had a firm clamp of her jaws on Treble's neck (well, she wanted the squeaky baseball he hadn't let go of for 2 days that we found in Corey and Jill's yard). Anyways, I noticed the neck was in Sage's mouth, so I gave her a sharp reprimand, and the heartbeat disappeared! I guess Keifer doesn't seem to like mamma's "stern" voice! LOL

Keifer was "rocking out" (aka dancing) this AM

My friend and I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert last night. We had a great time - I got to get all dressed up, put on my "going out" make up (complete with eye liner, whoot) and we met for a burger and beers (well, I had ice water, LOL) before hand. It was so much fun - we had great seats (front row of the side section, only a few sections from side of stage) and the Peppers put on an awesome show, as always. I just always enjoy their music and the energy they have to put on a show as entertaining as theirs was.
The music and bass had our entire bodies humming/vibrating -- so my friend and I had our hands on my belly a lot of the time, feeling the hum and wondering what little Keif was thinking, inside his cozy womb. It was a late night, and I definitely am feeling the tireds today.

I checked Keifer's heartbeat before I left for work, and it was lower than usual - which means that Keif must be snoozing away inside, all tuckered out from the rocking of last night. AND: the best news: I felt movement for the FIRST TIME as I was driving to work!! It was on my left side, in the ovary area, and it was a very brief, little flutter (just like everybody says), and I for sure knew it was Keifer. YAY! I immediately called Chris and he was very excited, too!
My little rock star baby, rocking away inside mom still! LOL

Oh - and I bought myself a simple, white Tshirt with the Red Hot Chili Peppers logo in the middle and my friend surprised me by buying the toddler Tshirt to match! Awww!! It won't fit until Keif is about 3 or so, but how cool is that! His /her "first concert" tshirt! LOL.

Oprah letters

I just sent the Oprah show's website the idea of doing a story on me and my egg-angel, Mooshie. My private message board, the ones who generously donated $2000 to CJ and I, and the one where I met my egg angel -- we've been half-jokingly saying that our story is right up Oprah's alley (especially the feel good aspect). Now with Mooshie being PG and our babies being born 4 months apart, I'm so high on emotion that I went to the website and pitched my story to them. So who knows. We shall see if we hear back from them --

Aubrie - my little ladybug

My cousin Becky's daughter, mine and CJ's Goddaughter, Aubrie, stopped
at my parents on Halloween to play with my old Little People Sesame Street Playhouse and to do a little groovin' to the oldies on the Satellite TV music station. LOL. Here she is ~~

Click Here

18 weeks, my little sweet potato

18 weeks today! YAY! I had another OB check up today -nothing too crazy, just listened to the heartbeat and had my tummy measured for the first time. My uterus is right up to my belly button or so, which is apparently right on target. And, once again, one of my OBs, Addie, said, as she listened to Keifer's nice, strong heartbeat "there's your critter". *smile*. It is still like heaven to listen to.
I had my flu shot, since they suggest PG women get them, and I also had blood taken because a junior high student in the school I work with has Fifth's Disease, which apparently could be harmful to a developing fetus. Addie reassured me that most likely I'll be fine -- I'd pretty much have to be spit on by the student she said, but better to be safe and take precautions.

Babycenter.com tells me: Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

I've been feeling pretty good lately -more energy, better in the AM's, and still sleeping really good. I've started sleeping with my back and front surrounded by pillows, besides the standard pillow between my legs I've always done *(to prop my hip)*, because I don't want to wake up on my back. Apparently it could cut off blood supply to the baby if I were to lay on my back and then press the baby into some blood vessels. I have been having frequent, intense headaches again lately; I'm not sure if its PG related or the weather or stress of work. Who knows. I've been OKed to take Tylenol, and I try not to take more than 2 a day, if any.

Here's a picture of my parents and I from Sunday: its hard to tell whose belly is bigger: mine or Papa's? LOL

OMG! Keifer's egg angel is PG!

I am excited beyond words. Over the moon, giddy, jump-for-joy, giggley, HAPPY! I just got a call from my egg-angel, soul sister, almost twin Mooshie an hour ago: she is newly PG! OMG! I am in tears of joy! And even CJ let out a little squeal of excitement downstairs! Keifer is going to have another 1/3 sibling! First beautiful Maddie, now baby #2! OMG!
We may possibly get to visit Mooshie and company in Portland in the end of July - as CJ's family reunion is the last weekend in July at Lake Tahoe and we've been debating renting a car and driving up to Portland to visit. Now -- Mooshie's baby is due almost 1 year to the day of her egg retrieval - that was July 12 - her due date is July 11 --(another miracle) -- and now Keifer and new baby may be able to get together early in their lives. The thought of a picture of our babies, somewhat related, lying side by side brings me to tears again