Baby shopping!

Yes, I am obsessed with scouring the internet, reviewing all the baby products that are must haves, and slowly realizing that I may well become one of those women who, like being addicted to shoes, are addicted to diaper bags and strollers. LOL.

We all know months ago, CJ and I became obsessed with finding the "right" stroller. Well, we made multiple trips to many of the baby stores around the Twin Cities areas (in MN), and decided finally on the 2006, Red, Zooper Waltz. *It had to be the 2006, because Zooper was jacking its prices by A LOT just because the year was changing, GULP*

We are very excited to have Keifer Lynn get to experience the Zooper Waltz, complete with the different positions she can recline at, the awesome "weather" equipment that Zooper provides, including mosquito netting, the UV sunshade that covers the whole child, and the light-weight ease it seems to glide along.

We've also registered for the Bob stroller - the all -terrain stroller that we plan on using for the multiple doggie park trips we take in the nicer months. The Bob is like THE SUV of all terrain strollers - pushing it over bumps in the paths are effortless and we are hoping to have one in the future sometime.

Well, today, we made yet another trip to Babies R Us, accompanied by my MIL, Marge. Marge was just as overwhelmed by the amount of products for baby as we were initially! LOL. CJ took Marge to the stroller section and that's when he saw the stroller HE has been coveting (since he saw our friend's Rock Star Baby Stroller, made by the same manufacturer, but with Jon Bon Jovi's name on it, so they jacked it up by twice the price of this stroller). The Icoo Infinity stroller was on clearance - and not only that, it was also an extra 15% off. CJ's eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas, and he purchased the stroller for himself. LOL. He calls it "his stroller" - and he loves it because it can be foreward or backward facing, the seat comes right off and you can attach the infant seat right to the frame (similar to a Snap n Go), and it IS relatively light-weight.

When we ventured over to the Infant Car Seat section, I showed Marge and CJ the infant seat we had registered for, the Graco Snug Ride - but then debated on the fact that the Snug Ride only goes up to 22 lbs for a baby, before you have to take him/her out. Well, after finding out the CJ was 9 lbs, 13 oz. at birth, and knowing my egg donor, Mooshie's, daughter Maddie was 8 lbs, 12 oz, at birth, I freaked a bit about the potential size of Keifer Lynn and wondered just how long she'd last in an infant seat that only went up to 22 lbs.. Yes, I'd heard that the Graco Safe Seat was a bit lumber some, but I'd also read and heard that this new seat on the market went through a variety of safety standard tests and was rated very highly, and has a weight capacity of 30 lbs.. Right then and there in the baby seat aisle, Marge announced she would buy us the Safe Seat for our baby shower in January! So we decided on the "Roxy" pattern (LOL because now I'll always think of my MN friend, Roxy!), and we have it in our garage! YAY! There is nothing like baby shopping for new and exciting baby gear to get the adrenaline pumping!

Shock & Awe: 26 weeks and going......

This past week has flown by and suddenly, the 26 week announcement email arrived in my Inbox. Amazing. I've said it before, but this is going so fast, it makes me somewhat sad and nervous about the upcoming 90+ days.
We've started cleaning out the nursery -to-be and we *think* we've picked out a yellow for the walls. I'm still waiting to hear back, but I am pretty sure a friend's friend will be doing the Farmyard Friend's bedding animals on our walls.

Babycenter.com tells me: Your baby now weighs a little less than 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches from head to heel. Her weight will more than triple between now and birth as she rapidly lays down baby fat. She'll need that fat to help adjust to colder temperatures outside the womb and as a source of energy and calories in the first days of life. It's not uncommon for newborns, especially those who are breastfed, to lose weight (sometimes as much as 10 percent of their birth weight) in the first week after birth.
The nerve pathways in your baby's ears are developing, which means her response to sounds is growing more consistent. Her lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid good practice for when she's born and takes that first breath of air.

As always, I'm smiling as I feel Keifer flip around inside me, right above my pubic bone. I went to see a movie today (The Holiday, loved it) and throughout most of the movie, I had a half-smile on my face as I felt her kicking around (maybe she thought Jude Law's voice was nice to listen to, just like mommy? Perhaps, as she can't SEE him yet, to swoon over *giggle*). I've also noticed my belly button is becoming slightly discolored in the middle - and it starting to stretch. It's the first thing CJ comments on whenever I show him my rapidly increasing size.

Here are the 26 week belly shots:

Happy Holidays to you! 2006

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to you! What a blessed Christmas we felt we had this year! I will admit, holidays are the worst when you are dealing with infertility, and I don't wish it upon anyone to feel those horrible feelings of pure grief: grief because you want so desperately to have a baby to hold, to celebrate, to spoil with gifts. This year, our entire family *(on my mom's side)* celebrated on Christmas Eve at my parents house. Keifer Lynn was a spoiled girl all ready -she was already gifted with new books, new clothes, new blankets and some new animals! (and we still have CJ's family celebration in 2 days to go!).

It truly was a miracle to be PG at Christmas this year - we are very lucky to have Keifer Lynn, growing strong inside me, and I am so excited for her holiday season NEXT year!

Treble & Sage in their matching holly berry collars (so festive) making sure that their Paw-paw and Nana's neighborhood is secure from all rodents and other animals.

Keifer Lynn is 25 weeks old, cooking in her mommy's tummy, on Christmas Eve. The Soup family Christmas picture, before the relatives descended upon the house. The "girls" of the house: me, Sassy Sage, Nana, and Keifer Lynn (in utero) Pooped out after a LONG, hard day of begging for food, being chased by young kids, and making sure their Paw-paw and Nana's house was secure with all the people arriving.

I've fallen -- and I can't get up!

There I was. The Saturday AM before Christmas Eve. We were at my parents house up in Duluth, having arrived the night before. The furkids needed to be let out, so I told CJ I'd take them. I bundled up, and slipped on my furry, warm Skechers, ready for a quick romp in the cold. "Be careful,", my dad warned, "it's icy out there". Yeah, really slick. As soon as I hit the porch, Treble ran down the stairs, pulling me towards the side of the garage, to where the backyard (his squirrel, deer, and rabbit playground) beckoned. Sassy just ran in a circle, and I carefully edged my way down the porch stairs. As soon as my foot hit the pavement, WHAM. I fell. Slick ice was the topping of the driveway, and apparently my shoes have little to no traction. I don't really remember how I fell, but it seemed to be in slow motion at the time. I felt my legs slipping, and I tried not to land on my butt or my stomach, so I somehow landed on my left side, head down, and my right wrist was at a weird angle, but I still held on tight to the furkids' leashes. "Dad" I called, as I started to cry. "DAD!". No dad, but CJ came rushing out - he was watching in the front window and he witnessed the fall. I was OK, he took the dogs, and then came back to pull my battered body up. I was OK, just really sore, and the right side of my back felt sore, like I had already pulled a muscle. *sigh* How graceful was I?
As soon as CJ and I got in and I had my wrist checked out , and ice pack on it, we checked Keifer's heartbeat. She was fine. It was a big high, but that was probably from mommy's anxiety about not hurting her. Whew.
The next AM, before all our relatives arrived for Christmas Eve, my dad was out there with a blowtorch, melting all the ice so no more people could call out for help: "I've fallen, and I can't get up!".

25 weeks update

I was officially 25 weeks PG yesterday. I'm not sure if this is a "sign" or something, but I'll be 25 weeks PG on Christmas this year - December 25th. Yes, I may be silly because I'm always looking for signs, but Christmas is the season of miracles and a reminder of our blessings, and I for one, am truly blessed this Christmas to be PG. I still know people that are struggling with infertility and the thought of their sadness makes ME sad to think about. Having been through 3 Christmas's of hoping for a baby, I truly pray and hope that there will be a miracle in my friends' lives this coming year.

Reading the recap of what babycenter.com tells me about my 25 week update, it's ironic that I JUST posted about my hair this AM:

How your baby's growing: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born.

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but the hair you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. You may also notice darker or thicker body hair. It will return to normal in the weeks after you give birth.

NO! I want to KEEP this thick, luxurious hair! LOL. Having had thin, baby-fine hair (that constantly needs "damage" aka perms or colors to style decently), I am loving Keifer's gift to me. LOL. It sure beats the carpal tunnel (yes, still wearing the wrist splints), the nausea, and the soreness my muscles have been feeling more regularly.

On another note, CJ and I are heading up to my parents either tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday AM to celebrate Christmas with the family. We will be up there until the 26th, visiting with family and friends. I'm excited to show my extended family my Keifer belly - especially since my Grandma Hanson hasn't seen me at all since I've been PG, and I know how excited they all are. I wonder how many gifts Keifer Lynn will get this year - and she's not even here yet?

Hair

My hair has never looked better. It's been growing in thick, manageable, and oh so fabulous. But what the heck happened to my eyelashes? Not that I had much to work with in the first place. Lately, they've seem to have done a disappearing act, and are sparse, thin, and don't look all that much better when I mascera them -up. Did all the hair on my body channel it's growing powers into my scalp?? I've also noticed I need to shave my legs less (yay for me, not as often will I hoist my leg up onto the shower wall with Keifer's belly out in front of me). Interesting, very interesting.

Body image issues rambling

For some reason this week, I am suddenly having body image issues. I asked CJ to take a picture to show Keifer of mommy in her "Let it Show" shirt, but when I looked at these pictures, I just about cried. Well, OK, I DID cry. Hormones have taken over my body and I'm no longer rationale. As happy as I am - well, THRILLED and OVER THE MOON would be the better phrases to say - about being PG, I looked at these pictures and wondered what happened to the girl I used to see in pictures. Add to that, the fact that I've gained about 20+ pounds already in my first 25 weeks, compared to some of my friends that have gained hardly anything, and suddenly I am making "Shamu the Whale" jokes. I mean, c'mon, look - I'm growing a double chin!

I need to get over it. I know its normal and I will forget about the weight the minute I hold my Keifer Lynn in my arms. And I KNOW I will lose the weight, and be just as happy if I don't lose every single pound, but I feel like I'm saying goodbye to my old body, my old "fun-loving, cute, thin" self, and saying hello to a whole new person in this body. Which I am - I am a mommy now. A mommy, just like I've dreamed about.

So please forgive me for becoming upset, Keifer Lynn. You are so wanted and loved already, forgive mommy for becoming upset about the weight gain. You are so worth it. I will get as big as you want me to, as long as it is safe. I wanted this belly with you inside it, growing healthy and strong. And mommy will just have to deal with her pregnancy hormones in a more rational way than crying - for Daddy's sake as well. And for Treble and Sassy's sake, too; they don't like mommy to be upset. *but it is almost the beginning of the third trimester, hmmm.....*
And yes, Sassy Sage likes to use mommy's Keifer belly as her sitting shelf. LOL.

Cuddles

A typical night on our couch, during the weeknight, is to flop on the couch, CJ at one end, me on the other, while we catch up on our shows. The furkids like to flop in between us, and cuddle up, especially when the weather is colder. Sager loves to be under the blankets, but not until she has finished washing her fur brother's ears. *sigh* Treble is just in heaven when she does this. See the look of love? LOL. Then, he will sometimes come next to me, and flop his body on mine, laying his head right on top of his soon-to-be sister, Keifer Lynn. I wonder if he can hear her in there? Or feel her tiny thumps?

It's hard to believe my uterus is really the size of a soccer ball. *gasp*. That seems so, so...so BIG! But judging by the belly pop that is occurring, I'm sure it's true. My feet and back and hips are starting to tell me that the 20 pounds I've supposedly gained in the first 24 weeks here are starting to wreak a little havoc on mommy's body. All in good reason, Keifer Lynn is so worth it. *smile*

24 weeks update

I have been MIA lately on my blogger - but really, nothing has happened that is too exciting. LOL. I'm happy to report that I am now considered 24 weeks PG ,and I'm so excited. I even told my co-worker this AM that I almost feel SAD that the PG seems to be flying by really fast --I am definitely savoring every minute of it. I feel Keifer very steadily throughout the day -- as early as 5AM the other morning, and sometimes when I lay down to go to sleep at night. She really seems to get excited after lunchtime! I've also noticed that this week, the past few days I've been really sore and almost painfully "full" feeling after I eat anything. I think she is gaining more weight and growing, stretching mommie's stomach muscles to their full capacity, therefore making me a bit more sore than average. I also commented to CJ last night that my back was really sore, and I think I'm going to have to up my massage sessions! Taking a shower at night, I notice my feet are also very sore - from lugging around the extra baby in my abdomen!

Babycenter.com reports: How your baby's growing: Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

The top of your uterus is now an inch or so above your belly button, which means it's about the size of a soccer ball. With the skin on your abdomen and breasts stretching, you may feel a little itchy now and then. If your skin is dry, keeping it well moisturized may help. Also, your eyes may be sensitive to light and feel gritty and dry. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom known as dry-eye.

I haven't really noticed dry eye - but I have noticed that sometimes I feel like what I'm looking at is suddenly tilting or my vision becomes almost blurry, like when I move my head too fast. I think the PG is affecting my visual perception.

The cutest thing about my nephew Mason: he is still insistent that HE is the one with the baby in his belly. My Sister-in-law reported to me that last week, Abby was asking about my baby at dinner time, and Mason lifted his shirt and said, "no, my baby! My baby Lynn!". I took the furkids over to visit them on Sunday afternoon, and after about an hour of the visit, Mason suddenly looked at me, lifted his shirt, and said, "see Auntie? See my baby Lynn?". I just laughed and said "you mean Keifer Lynn?". "Yeah,", he nodded, "baby Lynn". *sigh* I love that Mason. CJ and I bought him a huggable Diego doll for Christmas and I'm hoping that this helps convince him that he has given birth and that it teaches him to "nurture" the new baby.

23 weeks - and growing....and growing......

Twenty -three weeks and growing. And I'm loving every minute of it. The carpal tunnel hasn't been TOO bad this week, *knock on wood*, and after battling the horrible cold that I felt like was bronchitis, I'm feeling back to my happy-go-lucky-PG self!
Babycenter.com tells me: Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

It's a good thing that Keifer won't be fazed by dogs barking, because with her Sassy Sager (fursister) she will be hearing LOTS of barking during her days outside of the womb.
At night lately, I've been laying for awhile with my hand in between my belly button and my pubic bone, and I've been able to feel her thumping around, lightly, inside me. It's still so amazing to feel. I smile everytime she does whatever she does to make me feel that tiny "push" and CJ is STILL trying to get a chance to feel it as well. Here is the latest belly pics: naked belly and fully clothed -- and notice that nice, red, burn mark next to my belly button.I've never been known for my gracefulness - especially with hot irons. *ouch*

Kicking Daddy

People kept telling me maybe I'd feel Keifer kicking inside me - or fluttering around, as early as maybe 15 weeks or so. Well, I didn't really feel anything until almost 19 or 20 weeks, and now at 23 weeks (tomorrow) I can say with conviction that I feel her quite a bit, rolling around and pushing out below mommie's belly button.
Friday night, CJ and I were watching our DVRed show, House from the last few weeks, and "BLIP" - there was this little flip /kick thing. I asked CJ is that was him pushing and he said no - it was Keif kicking her daddy! CJ was over the moon. *sigh* It brought tears to my eyes. then he spent the rest of the night begging her to do it again and pushing on my damn tummy. LOL.
Sunday night, I had a hard time going to sleep for the first time as well, because she was flipping around inside me so much! I love it, though!

*Cha-Ching* the sound of shopping

Ahh, more shopping. I think I'm done now,though. Maternity shopping. Because I've borrowed many of my clothes, I want to make sure I don't wear out the pants/jeans I've borrowed, and want to actually own a few pair that fit me. My friend Allison, 16 weeks PG and not even showing (smaller than me at 8 weeks, I swear!), needed some new jeans, too. So we printed off some "Friends and Family' coupons to Old Navy and Gapper, and away we went today.
First off, the maternity jackets at Old Navy made me look awful. The rounded collar would make anybody look like a linebacker, PG or not. Their version of a peacoat was also a static cling nightmare, and not too warm (not enough for MN winter). I did find a V-neck sweater in brown, but wouldn't you know it, they didn't have ANY long sleeve Plain Tshirts in stock. Of course.

At Old Navy, we got to see our friend Missy, who just had baby Macy only 3 short weeks ago. She looked fantastic and baby Macy was gorgeous -s o tiny and ASLEEP the whole time! Her husband popped in briefly with 2 year old big sister, Mady, but they were off to keep Mady entertained. It was an exciting Old Navy trip - as Missy got to use the coupon we had and scored some major deals on her girls' Christmas picture outfits!
Allison and I then ventured off to Gap, and we both found jeans we liked - after trying on about a bazillion styles. *sigh*. We also both found an adorable sweater on clearance *(YEAH)*, and turns out they are the same sweater! Just make sure we ask what the other is wearing before we go out! LOL. The jeans were on sale, as was the sweater and along with the coupon I had for 30% off, I ended up paying LESS for both items than the pair of jeans cost originally! *eyes popping out* Now THAT is what I call a deal at the highly priced Gap.

We ate a quick snack, popped in Motherhood Maternity and found nothing we liked *sigh*, and then hit Nordstroms Rack. I'm also on another research mission to find a diaper bag I like *CJ's anniversary gift to me was $$ towards a "girlie" diaper bag - hee hee*. It seems as though the ones I like SEEM to be large, but heck if I know what I'll need! LOL
Allison and I said our goodbyes, scooted home, and I found some long sleeve PLAIN Tshirts online at Oldnavy.com. I also scored the adorable shirt (see picture) for the holiday season for only $10! Yes, I'm high on the purchases I made. After I got home and put things away, and reorganized my maternity wear, I now realize I seem to be set for my wardrobe, which is a huge relief!