Christmas Preparations

Since my baby shower, Travis and I have spent a lot of time getting ready for Christmas. Because my shower was in mid-December, I feel like we were really delayed this year. Last week we got our Christmas tree and decorated it. On Friday, I had my work Christmas party during the day, and I went with Travis to his work party on Friday night. Saturday, we did some shopping, and Sunday we celebrated Christmas with Travis’s mom, brother, and grandparents.  I’m spending this week trying to shop during my lunch hour at work.

It seems like since my shower and with everything going on in the last week with Christmas preparations, I’ve really been starting to feel the effects of pregnancy. Here are some examples:

·         Getting in and out of the car – I don’t really know how to describe it, but it’s such an effort now when we go somewhere and I have to get in and out of the car. I feel like an old lady, and it just takes me longer than usual. Also, I have to really watch the cars next to me when I open the car door to make sure I don’t hit them, because I have to open it all the way in order to get out.

·         I don’t fit in the same small places I was used to – I noticed this at both of the Christmas parties on Friday. Sometimes I try to squeeze into or through places where I used to fit, but now I just don’t. For example, whenever I left the table to go to the restroom, sometimes I thought I could fit between other people’s chairs and the wall. However, most of the people we were dining with would have to get up and move anytime I needed to get up (they couldn’t just move their chair in.) I’m still getting used to my new size.

·         I can’t tie my shoes (easily) – Even though I’m really not running anymore, I’m still going to the gym and taking Ranger for walks. However, it’s honestly such a struggle to put on my shoes. First of all, I think my feet are slightly swollen or bigger, not so much that my shoes don’t fit, but enough that I have to take the time to loosen the laces and then bend down to tie them. Also, as I’m tying my shoes, I can’t breathe, and by the time I’m done, I’m out of breath…it’s awesome.

·         Brushing my teeth – The actual brushing isn’t so bad, but when I have to lean over the sink I feel like I can’t reach and it’s just awkward.

·         Back pains – Basically my upper back has been hurting on and off…which I’m really not used to. I’ve never had back pain before (fortunately) and I am trying to make an effort with my posture whenever I’m sitting, which does seem to help. I’m also doing lots of yoga poses…

·         I’m finally warm all the time. Ok – this one is actually not so bad. I feel like I’ve been cold my whole life, and now, I’m not cold anymore!! It started with my hands and feet…they started to get warm a few weeks ago, and now it seems like my whole body is just warmer. I’m not hot though – I’m basically the perfect temperature! This is one side effect that I wish would stay.

One more thing happened yesterday. I had my 30 week doctor appointment. Travis and I arrived at 8:15, and waited until 8:45 to be taken back by a nurse, to get my weight and blood pressure. According to her, I’m up 4 lbs. since my last appointment – but I had French toast for breakfast…so I’m hoping it’s not actually that much. The nurse checked the baby’s heart rate – it was around 125, which was a little slower than normal, but she said it’s normal that as the baby gets bigger, the heart rate slows. She also recommended that I get a “whooping cough” vaccine, which I also did. Then we had to wait for almost another half hour for the doctor to come in (which was pretty unusual.) When she came in, she asked me how I was feeling, and I started to say that I was feeling fine (for the most part) and then all of a sudden, I wasn’t feeling fine. I started to get really dizzy and my ears were ringing. I laid down, and although I didn’t really pass out, I stayed on the table for several minutes. It turns out everything was fine, and she said maybe because I was waiting for so or sitting for so long, or maybe it was a drop in blood sugar, or the baby moved somewhere or something. My doctor and Travis said if it was going to happen, it was great timing that I was in the doctor’s office. After a few minutes I felt fine, but I’m glad Travis was there with me to walk out with me before I had to go to work. Travis joked that I probably passed out because they mentioned I gain 4 lbs. – he’s so funny (haha.) Anyway, I felt much better the rest of the day, and hopefully that won’t happen again!

I took 2 pictures of myself at 30 weeks – here they are! Merry Christmas!

Baby Shower Weekend

My baby shower was held this past Saturday at my house, hosted by my mom, mother-in-law, and sisters. I was very excited (and a little nervous) because we were expecting about 30 people. On Friday, Travis’s mom and grandmother came over to start decorating, and then Kelsey and her boyfriend also came in to help. Later that evening, Lindsey and Meesh came in, and we went to dinner, and then picked up my mom from the airport (coming in from Florida.) It was so nice to have my family at my house the night before, just to relax and enjoy!

Saturday (after a wonderful French toast breakfast) we spent the morning continuing to set up and decorate for the shower.  The shower went really well – the food was delicious, we played a few games, and I opened lots of presents for the baby! There were a lot of people who traveled in for the shower, from Pittsburgh, Erie, and Toledo, and it was so nice that they all could be there.  It was nice to have it at my house too, because I was able to show everyone the baby’s room with the new furniture!

After the shower, we set up the stroller base & infant car seat, pack & play, swing & bouncer, and high chair! Everything looks so great – even though we’ll put it away for a few more months.  My mom and Lindsey and Meesh stayed at our house Saturday night, and left on Sunday. My mom and I were able to somewhat “organize” the baby’s room before she had to fly home, but there’s still a lot to do.

Here are lots of baby shower pictures! Enjoy!

                Favors made by my sisters

          Diaper cake made by Mother-in-law!!

              Me, my mom, and sisters

7th Dr. Appt

I had my appointment this morning – I’m 28 Weeks and 4 Days (less than 12 weeks to go!!) This was my last monthly appointment – now I will go every 2 weeks! This appointment was relatively uneventful, but I guess that means everything is going well, and the baby is healthy so far. I’m up a total of 19 lbs, my blood pressure is normal, and I’m measuring at 26 cm (which is where I’m supposed to.) We heard the heartbeat – it was in the 140’s, and the baby was moving around a lot. I got a list of pediatricians from my doctor, and I’ll have to start looking into that soon. Also, I registered for a “childbirth preparation” course the first Saturday in January. This will be held at the hospital where I’m delivering, so we’ll also do a tour while we’re there.

This weekend, Travis and I cleaned and put up our Christmas lights outside. We’re having my baby shower at my house this upcoming weekend! My mom is coming up from Florida on Friday, and hopefully my sisters are coming over Friday as well! Our baby furniture (crib and dresser) is being delivered to our house on Wednesday, so I’m glad they’ll be set up for my family to see. After the shower, I’m looking forward to decorating the nursery! I’ll be sure to post some pictures!

Thanksgiving

This past week was Thanksgiving, and it was really nice to have the long weekend. Travis and I both had Friday off as well, and it was wonderful just to relax!

On Thursday morning, we ran in the Tree City Turkey Trot 5K in Kent. I was officially 27 weeks! Travis ran in about 25 minutes, and I ran in slightly over 44 minutes….yes that’s much slower than I’m used to (normally I run a 5K in just over 24 minutes.) I ran 1.95 miles and walked 1.15 miles (spread throughout the race.) However, my running pace wasn’t much faster than my walking pace. I was still proud of myself that I was able to do it though! This race is an “out and back” race, so you see the leaders and everyone in front of you as they are on their way back to the finish line.  I really got a different perspective being toward the end of the crowd, as opposed to being in the top half. It gave me a sense of appreciation for all of the different types of runners out there and also made me feel thankful that I’ve been able to run - not just through my pregnancy, but throughout my life.

We hosted Travis’s mom, brother and grandparents for Thanksgiving. We stuffed and cooked the turkey, and I also made sweet potato casserole. Everyone brought a side or too, and the food was delicious! It was a beautiful sunny Fall day, and it really turned out turned out to be a nice Thanksgiving.

On Friday, I met up with some figure skating friends that I hadn’t seen in several years for dinner, in Beaver County! We ate chicken salads with FRIES on them and reminisced about how much fun we had skating together. I posted a picture of us – see below!  

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key. We went to the gym a few times…elliptical and biking is becoming much easier than running. I started a little Christmas decorating, and that’s about it! I feel like time is flying right now…and it probably will through Christmas. I posted a few more pics of me, taken on Friday. This sweater is flattering from the front…not so much the side, oh well. I only have about 12 ½ weeks to go!!    

Front:

Side Profile:

Group Pic!

Names

Today I have completed 26 weeks of pregnancy!  I only have 14 left.  According to some books and articles I’ve read, I start my 3^rd trimester in the middle of this week, although according to some others, it doesn’t start it until December 1^st.  Either way, I finally feel like I’m getting into the final stretch. 

So, many people have been asking me if we’ve chosen a name.  In a way, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life! Especially as a girl who’s having a girl, I feel like I’ve been trying to come up with names for my daughter forever. However, now that I actually have to pick a name in just a few months, it’s become a little more difficult than I anticipated.  I like a lot of names, but for some reason I don’t have that “strong feeling” that this is the one for any of the names.  I feel like it may come down to the end, and Travis and I will be going to the hospital with our list of names, and choosing one after she’s born.  Not only am I having a difficult time picking a first name, I am also having a hard time coming up with middle names that I like to go with the first name and my last name. Originally, I was thinking that since our last name DeSavigny is somewhat long, it would make sense to keep at least the middle name short (one syllable.) I guess I want the name to “flow.” However, I tend to gravitate toward longer names in general.  I don’t want to give my daughter a long name that will be a “burden” on her, but at the same time, sometimes the longer names just sound prettier to me! I have found a few short middle names that sound pretty though. So, I put together a list of names that I’ve come up with so far. It’s really a lot of combinations of the same middle names with different first names. Let me know your favorites, or if there’s a good combo that I’m not seeing! Also, I’m open to other short middle names that sound pretty!

Katelyn Rose (possible nickname Kate or Katie), Katelyn Elizabeth, Victoria Grace (nickname Tori), Victoria Lynne, Victoria Elizabeth, Victoria Ann, Victoria Jean, Victoria Elle, Cara Grace, Cara Elizabeth, Ella Grace, Lila Grace, Lila Ann, Lila Elle, Lily Grace, Lily Elizabeth, Liliana/Lilyana Grace (nickname Lily), Liliana Elizabeth, Adrianna Rose, Adrianna Grace, Avery Rose, Avery Grace, Avery Elizabeth.

25 Weeks

This weekend Travis and I started cleaning out the room for the nursery! We had used it as a guest room/office area, and also a storage area. There is a walk-in closet in this room that was full of things that we needed to go through. Since we were reorganizing, we also cleaned out the closet in our other guest bedroom.  I didn’t realize how many things can accumulate in a closet in just a few years! After that, we were even more motivated to clean out our closet and storage area in the basement. We threw out tons of things…our garbage day is today and I kind of feel bad for the garbage men, but it did feel great to get rid of all the junk we had! I feel like we have so much more room and storage space now. We still have to rearrange and move the current furniture that’s in the baby’s room to the basement, to make way for the new furniture, which should be here in the next couple weeks.  I think Travis’s family will come over and help with that though, since I’m not supposed to be lifting furniture right now. Honestly, I was amazed at how tired I was getting just cleaning out things and going up and down the stairs. I’m really glad we did it now and didn’t wait too long, because I really feel the extra weight in front (I had to take several breaks, haha.)

On Saturday, I went to a baby shower for Travis’s cousin Jake and Kayla, who are due on Christmas Day with a little boy. (They’re hoping the baby comes before Christmas though.) It was fun to get some cute ideas for my own shower, and also to see all of the little baby presents she received. It really is interesting all of the things, big and small, that you need for a baby!

Yesterday, we went to The Home Depot, and I pulled a bunch of different paint samples to determine what color we’re going to paint the nursery (and when I say a bunch, I mean like 50 or so – you’d be surprised how many shades of “green” there really are.) We’re pretty sure that we will be painting the room some shade of “light green,” since the bedding that we will be using is lavender and green.  Once we (and by “we” I mean “Travis”) paint the room, I’ll be sure to post some pictures!

Anyway, I took some pictures of myself on Friday (@25 weeks and 1 day.) Enjoy!

Full Body From Side:

Full Body From Front: (fortunately you still can't really tell I'm pregnant until you look from the side!)

6th Dr. Appt

I had my 6^th doctor appointment today, at 24 weeks and 4 days.  They first checked my weight – I’ve gained a total of 14 lbs since the start of my pregnancy.  My doctor said I’m doing well, and I’m right on track to gain 25 lbs – however she mentioned that the third trimester is “unpredictable,” and not to panic if I gain a little more. She mentioned that in the last few weeks there could be a little extra swelling and/or water weight…but so far I don’t have any of that. My blood pressure was normal, and she measured my stomach for the first time today – I think it was 22 cm (vertically) and she said that once again I’m right where I should be for 24 weeks.  We scheduled my next appointment for 4 weeks out (Dec. 5), and after that I’ll be going every two weeks!! How exciting! It made me feel like the baby will be here before we know it!

Today was also the day I did the glucose screening for gestational diabetes. Lots of people told me about this test – you drink a very sugary drink that tastes like very sweet orange pop, and then you wait an hour and they test the sugar in your blood to see how efficiently it is processed.  I looked up what’s in this drink, and it has about 50 grams of sugar or something.  It seems like what everyone failed to mention (or what I chose to ignore…) is that the drink itself isn’t that bad if you drink it quickly like I did. It’s the hour when you’re waiting to do the blood sample when you feel really sick that’s bad. Travis was with me, and initially I wasn’t going to have him stay for this test, but he said he could, and I’m glad he did. I felt a sugar rush, light-headed, dizzy, and slightly nauseous all at the same time.  While I was waiting, I read that this test makes lots of people sick, and I just didn’t want to actually “throw up” because then I’d have to do it again. Travis and I went outside and got a little fresh air while we were waiting, and that did help.  I also found out that if the sugar in my blood comes back at a certain level, then you have to go in for a longer  test where you drink more sugary beverages, after fasting for 8-14 hours, and then they take your blood sample once an hour for 3 hours.  I’m sure this test would be even worse…so hopefully I don’t have to do it!! This is one of those test where “no news is good news,” so I’m hoping I don’t hear from my doctor until my next appointment!

Anyway, I’ve been feeling pretty good for the most part. Travis and I signed up for the Kent Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving, like we do every year. I’m guessing I’ll be doing a combination of walking and running in it...I’m just hoping I don’t come in last (although even if I did, I guess I’d have a good excuse.) I ran both Saturday and yesterday – I ran a total of 30 minutes with 16 minutes of walking on Saturday, and yesterday I only ran 15 minutes with 18 minutes of walking (I think my legs were still sore from Saturday.) Even though I know I’m pregnant, it really is unbelievable to me how quickly my running is deteriorating.  I mean, in May, before I was pregnant, I ran a half marathon. Then in June, I ran a 5K in almost 24 minutes (right before I found out I was pregnant.) Then in September, I ran a 5K and a 10K…not in record breaking time, but around a 10 minute pace. Now, I can barely run for 5 minutes without taking a walking break…it’s so crazy. If I can make it through the turkey trot, I’ll be happy. With the weather getting cold and days getting short, I’ll hopefully go to the gym and do elliptical, biking, or walking throughout December, January, and February.  Our little girl will be here in just a few more months!

Baby Furniture

Travis and I bought our baby furniture this weekend. We’d been looking on and off for the last few months, and we found a really cute baby furniture store in Hartville, OH called “Baby Tyme.” We ended up getting a crib and dresser from there, and they are so cute! The crib converts to a full bed, and the dresser is full size. They are similar to a cherry color (they are actually called “cinnamon.”) We find out today if the furniture will be here in about 4-5 weeks (hopefully!), or if it will take longer.  I’m really glad to have this taken care of, and so is Travis, because I felt like this was one thing we really needed to do sooner than later. We may look for a bookcase or glider/chair, but we’ll see…since there are so many things that a baby needs!! Once the furniture comes in, I’ll be sure to take some pictures!

Anyway, I definitely feel like I’m at my peak as far as energy goes. I’ve been going to bed later than usual, and waking up earlier than usual. For example, I normally need at least 8.5 or 9 hours of sleep, but last night I went to bed at 11:30ish, and woke up on my own, with no alarm, at 5:45! This has been going on for a little over a week or so, and it’s so weird because prior to this I had been so tired, and I was trying to get extra sleep. People tell me I should enjoy it now though, because it won’t last.  I’m still running, walking and exercising, and yesterday I was able to run for a total of 31 minutes! Now, I did have to take a few walking breaks (my total time was 38 minutes) and I only did a distance of about 2.6 miles, but at least I ran most of it.

Also, I did take some pictures this morning. I'm 23 weeks and 4 days today. I wanted to take them while I was dressed for work, instead of my workout gear (it seems like that’s the only time I’ve been remembering to take pictures.) The baby is definitely growing…there have been several times this week when my stomach has just felt really tight, like it’s stretching all the time. I’m using lots of cocoa butter just in case, but who knows what will happen!  The baby has been moving more and more too, and it’s exciting because it definitely makes this whole thing more real.

Registered!

Now that we know we're having a girl, Travis and I (mostly me) decided it was finally time to register for some baby items. Since I found out I was pregnant back in June, we'd been to" several baby stores "just to look," but we always decided it would be easier to register once we knew what we were having...however, I had no idea what I was getting into. On Tuesday night, we went to Babies R Us to register. We did all of the "paperwork" and set off with the prepared list of things we "need" and the scanner. However, the list that you receive when you go to register is slightly overwhelming for someone who's never had a baby. It's amazing all of the things you need for such a little person!! Also, I'm pretty sure the stores add things to the list that you really don't need, just for some extra advertising. Also, once you start scanning items, you can read all of the reviews, which are totally scary, such as "the wheels broke off my stroller."  Needless to say, we didn't register for any items on Tuesday; instead we went to Dairy Queen and had some ice cream.

I spent the rest of the week reviewing tons of products online, and doing my own research, and we finally registerd on Saturday (for everything except for stroller and carseats...still working on that.) Luckily, I feel a lot more educated and learned about all of my different options for different baby products. I think that's what's so tough about choosing items for a baby...there's no "perfect items" and it's more about what kind of things will fit into your lifestyle, which is about to change bigtime. I'm sure I'll be learning a lot more in the next few months, and even though I did learn a lot, I know I still have a lot to learn.

Still running (sort of..)

Well, as of today I'm 21 weeks and 4 days along. I went for a run tonight, and I've been trying to stick to about 3 miles, which used to be so easy, but it's finally starting to get tough. I'm experiencing the worst calf and shin pain, probably due to the extra weight I'm carrying (which is still the same as last week - I'm the same weight as last week, and I look the same, so no new pics yet.) I told Travis that I finally feel like I can relate to the people on The Biggest Loser when they complain about how much their legs hurt while running (ok, I know I'm not at that point yet, but I'm sure it's close.) I've even had to resort to taking walking breaks in the middle of my run...which I'm trying to get used to. I still want to run for several more weeks, if not a few more months, but I guess I'll have to see. I may have to do some light calf/shin strengthening exercises to see if that works.

I went to a wedding this weekend also, and noticed that I had to take a few breaks from dancing because my calves and shins were really hurting more than usual (of course I was still wearing 4 inch heals...that may have something to do with it.) I did continue dancing with no shoes for about the last hour, and luckily I've been able to convince Travis to give me a nice foot massage or two in the last few days. The wedding we went to was really fun because it was some friends who went to Allegheny with us, and they got married at Allegheny! It was nice to let everyone know that we're having a girl, and we even got a few small presents.

One more exciting thing is that Travis and I have started looking at baby things, and will probably register at a few places in the next week or so! It's exciting to be at that point, and to really start thinking about how cute the baby room will be.

It's a Girl!!

We had our 20 week ultrasound today, and found out we’re having a little girl!! We went into the ultrasound room and the ultrasound technician checked with us right away to find out if we wanted to know the gender (which of course we did!) She started, found the heartbeat right away, and let us know it was at 147. Then right after that, she said “it’s a girl.” We didn’t even know what we were looking at, but she showed us the “three white dots” which normally show for a girl. I saw the white dots, but it was still a little confusing to look at because when I had looked at what the ultrasound might look like ahead of time, normally you can see the legs in the picture. Apparently, our little girl’s legs were up, kind of in a “v” toward her head, so you couldn’t see them in that picture at all. Anyway, it was really exciting for me, because I was kind of hoping for a girl, even though I would have been happy either way.  Travis is excited too, and also a little nervous, probably because I said something like “just because we’re having a girl doesn’t mean we have to do a pink princess theme…” haha. I think he’s thinking more along the lines of “pink camo” and “Barbie fishing poles.”

Everything else in the ultrasound and the rest of the appointment went well too. The baby looks healthy so far, and weighs 13 oz, based on the measurements taken today.  To date, I have gained 9 pounds, which feels like a lot, but really I’m right on track for 20 weeks and 4 days.  When I got on the scale today, I noticed that the numbers only go up to 50, and I asked the nurse “what happens when you reach 150, do you have to go on a different scale?” She said “Yeah we take you in the back room for fat people only.” For a second I believed her, but then she showed me they just move the bottom part of the scale (which is in 50 lb increments), and Travis made fun of me of course (a lot.)  They should know that I’m a little sensitive about my weight right now (even though I know it’s mostly baby, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.)

So, here is a picture of our little girl. This is a profile picture, that also shows her foot in the air. Her head is on the left hand side (you can see her little nose facing up,) and her body on the right. Enjoy!!

Halfway Point!!

Today I am 20 weeks pregnant! It seems a little longer, especially because of the date changes, but at the same time it seems like it's going by more quickly now.

This week has been a week full of ups and downs. My good friend Marissa, who's been pregnant with me all along so far, had her baby last Thursday. She had a little girl, Giavonna, and I was so excited for her and her husband, Joe. Unlike me, she didn't find out ahead of time what she was having, so when I found out she had a girl, I immediately went out and got some adorable pink outfits for her (which she's already worn!) It's been amazing hearing about her first week as a mother and all of her experiences. Congratulations Marissa!

On the downside, Travis had a cold last week (and is still recovering) and as much as I tried to avoid it, my body gave in. I'm totally congested and I looked on the sheet that my doctor gave me about safe medications, and there's not much I can do. I'm drinking lots of fluids, and trying to get some rest in order to beat it.  Additionally, it's been a really, really stressful week at work, which hasn't helped. Here is what did help - this is what was waiting for me at home after a very stressful day from my wonderful husband...he knows me so well!!

Fortunately, Travis and I are excited to find out the gender FINALLY on Monday morning!! I got the "confirmation of appointment" phone call from my doctor today, so it's really on! This past weekend Travis and I went to "Baby Tyme" which is a family owned Baby Furniture store in Hartville, OH, and they had the most adorable furniture, bedding, and display sets. It made me even more excited to find out what we're having so that we can start planning the nursery.

Since I've made it 20 weeks, I took some more pictures! One of my coworkers commented today that "I finally look pregnant" which I'm taking as a compliment. I think you'll see from the pictures that she's right...I definitely have a baby belly now!

19 Weeks

Today I'm officially 19 weeks - almost halfway there! I feel like I'm finally starting to feel and look pregnant, and not just fat, which is very exciting. From Sunday until today I'm noticing a big change in the way my stomach looks and feels. It's really starting to get hard, and it's definitely looking rounder as well. I took some new belly pictures which are posted below. I also weighed myself, and I think I've gained a total of 7 pounds since I found out I was pregnant, and I think most of that has been in the last 2 weeks or so. This weekend, I'm going through my closet and going to separate the things I can still wear from the things that just don't look good. I actually went to the mall today to look for some "looser fitting" tops, and tried on a bunch of things that just didn't look good. I don't think I'm used to having this "belly" yet. I didn't end up buying any clothes, however, I went to Sephora and bought some new makeup, which always fits!

Anyway, enjoy the pictures!

Great Race Weekend

This weekend was the Great Race in Pittsburgh, which is a 10K (6.2 miles.) Travis and I went over to Pittsburgh yesterday to stay with my sister Lindsey, and Kelsey who's also staying there. Lindsey and I went to the race expo yesterday, then visited Kelsey at the coffee shop where she was working. Afterwards, we picked up Travis and went to the Olive Garden for our pre-race pasta dinner!

The race was this morning, and I ran it with my both my sisters and Travis. For the record (since the dates are very confusing, even for me) I'm 18 weeks and 3 days pregnant today. The weather was perfect - about 60-65 and partly cloudy, which is slightly rare for this race (normally it rains.) I ran part of the race with my sisters, and part by myself. It was actually really nice not to have a time goal and just try to run the whole thing and finish (which I did.) Overall, I felt really good during the race, tried to watch my heartrate, and had a really great experience. Although I was proud of myself for doing it, I think I'll be sticking to 3 or 4 miles as my long runs from here on out.

4th Dr. Appointment

I had my 4th doctor appointment today, and I went in thinking I was 18 weeks and 2 days, only to find out I'm 17 weeks and 4 days, and my newest due date is February 23, 2012. It's getting hard to keep track of, even for me! Apparently, after looking at Sonogram I did last month, this is what my doctor decided, and the nurse was unaware of this when I called to find out last month.  So I get to be pregnant an extra 5 days (or maybe I'll go early now?) I feel like I'm going backwards...however my doctor did say that they won't change the date again unless they think it's off by more than 3 weeks (which is highly unlikely, but who knows.) The good thing is I'm getting closer and closer to having a leap year baby!

Anyway, the appointment itself went well, and the heartbeat was found immediately, and was around 140. Even though this seems low (which could indicate boy) Travis seems to think it will be a girl. I've also starting gaining real weight finally. I gained 6 lbs between the last appointment (almost 5 weeks ago) and this one, so that's why I'm showing now. We scheduled our 20-week Ultrasound for Monday, October 10th, so that's when we'll finally find out what we're having!

Acorn 5K - 18 weeks

I'm 18 weeks along today, and Travis and I ran in the first annual Acorn 5K this morning, sponsored by the Oak Clinic, which helped raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. It was a beatiful day for a run and it was in a park that's only about 15 minutes away from our house (which we'd never been to before.) The run went really well except that the course ended up being 3.6 miles instead of 3.1. That doesn't sound like a big difference, but it's interesting when you have no idea how much further you have! Travis came in about 5 minutes ahead of me, and I did well keeping an even pace and not running too hard. The best part was that Travis and I both won our age divisions (20-29 age group)!!! The announcer giving the awards said we won the "fittest family" award. It's funny because before I was pregnant, I was running lots of 5K's and never winning my age group, always just missing it, and today I wasn't racing and still won! Next Sunday we're running the Great Race in Pittsburgh with my sisters, and I'm looking forward to it.

RAV Fun Day

The doctor appointment that I was supposed to have today has been changed to this upcoming Monday (at 8:10 am), so now we have a few more days before we determine when my 20-week ultrasound will be scheduled.

On another note, we had our "RAV Fun Day" yesterday at work. This is one of my favorite days because our office gets the day off to do something fun. We went to a place called the "Gathering Kitchen" for a cooking class. Our office cooked a large array of Italian foods. We each got an assignment, and my (very, very pregnant) friend Marissa and I were in charge of "beef." It was kind of ironic for the two pregnant girls to be working with a large slab of beef tenderloin...we had to cut all the fat of in order to "prepare" it; then we learned how to butterfly cut it, and added some seasonings and spinach, then rolled it all up in order to cook it. The best part was that we got to eat all of the food that was cooked. After that, we went bowling, and I did better than I expected. However, the best part of the day was that several people acknowledged how "cute" I am so far, and how "cute" my little bump is. They seemed sincere, so it's kind of nice to finally have a little baby bump! It was also a good excuse to eat all of the foods at our Italian feast, and not feel guilty that my tummy was sticking out a little.

This weekend, Travis and I are signed up for a 5K to support Multiple Sclerosis, which is sponsored by one of the offices that Travis calls on. I won't be "racing," but I will be running! I'll give an update on Saturday after the run.

First Belly Pics

Well I finally decided to post some pictures. I'm finally feeling like I'm starting to look a little pregnant, or maybe just fat...I can't be sure. I wore my belly band for the first time on Friday with my jeans, which was kind of exciting. The rest of the weekend I stuck with wearing my windsuit pants or shorts, which are obviously very comfortable because they have a drawstring. I had Travis take some pictures of me today...they aren't super flattering because I'm about to go running, but I wanted to start documenting what I look like at some point...I think it will be easier to take pictures once I'm past the "fat" stage and really at the "pregnant" stage. Although when I get to that point, I may wish I was back to how I look now!

Anyway, I just hit 17 weeks on Saturday, and I have another doctor appointment on Wednesday. We should be scheduling my 20 week ultrasound (where I can find out the gender) at this appointment, so I'm looking forward to it. Enjoy the pictures.

Poison Ivy

Well last night I realized that I have poison ivy :( On Saturday, Travis and I (and Ranger) went for a run on a trail, and part-way through realized there was poison ivy all through the woods where we were running. I tried my best to stay away, but I ended up with poison ivy on my hand, stomach, neck, and maybe legs (it might be spreading still...) Last year I had a really terrible case of poison ivy, and it felt like torture. Since I am paranoid about it, I called my Dr.'s office to find out what is safe to use on it. Luckily, I was told that can take Benedryl and use Caladryl lotion. Hopefully it will clear up soon because if anyone's had poison ivy before, you know it's not fun!!

In other news, I went shopping on my lunch today and bought a belly band and pregnancy camisole, in anticipation of waking up one day and my pants won't fit. At this point I'm still wearing all of my normal clothes, but all of a sudden everything is feeling a little tighter and I want to be prepared. It was a little nerve-racking making these purchases, because I'm forced to realize that I'm going to get bigger. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, but I guess I'll find out soon! However, I'm holding off actually wearing the belly band and camisole until I really need to, and I'll definitely document that day!

New Due Date!

Well, this past week has been very interesting for me and Travis. I got a call from my doctor while I was on vacation and she was concerned that my dates were wrong, based on the quad screen.  Apparently, they didn’t think I was as far along as originally thought.  I went in for an Ultrasound and found out that I’m two weeks behind where I thought I was. My new due date is Saturday, February 18^th, 2012 (changed from February 4^th.) The ultrasound was much more detailed than I thought it would be, and I was amazed to see the little baby moving around the whole time – I’m pretty sure it was dancing, and we also saw it sucking its thumb! The procedure lasted about 40 minutes, and it was exciting to see the little arms, legs, face, and toes.  I can’t feel any movement, and it’ll probably be a few more weeks until I feel anything.  Also, it was still too early to tell the gender, and while I still have an appointment on September 14^th, I won’t be having my 20 week Ultrasound that date (it’s still a little too early since I’ll only be 17 weeks and 5 days.)  

The good thing about the change of due date is that work is really busy for me in January because I have many year-end statements, billing and tax reports that I have to complete. Luckily, I’ll have a little more time now, and I don’t need to worry so much about if I go a little early. The only upsetting thing is that I am now 2 weeks ahead in all of my pregnancy books, articles, and emails that I subscribe to, so I don’t know what to do for a few weeks.  

Anyway, it’s been a stressful week, and hopefully all will be calm for the rest of my second trimester (which goes until November 25^th now – my half birthday!)

Back from Vacation

I meant to write last week, but I was on vacation in North Carolina for a few days. To catch up, I had another doctor appointment last Wednesday, August 17th. I am up one pound from my last appointment (I don't mind sharing my weight gain until it gets out of control). Everything went well, and we did the "quad screen" which is a blood test to check my several different hormone levels in my body, that are generated from the baby. We also scheduled my next appointment for Wednesday, September 14th, which will be my Ultrasound appointment. Hopefully we'll be able to find out what we're having then. Yay!

On Thursday (a week ago), Travis and I left for Virginia to visit my friends Nory and Adam, and their son Max, who is somewhere around 16 months old. It was really fun to meet him for the first time, and also an exhausting experience. I'm realizing that I may be more tired than usual for the next several years...hopefully I'll adjust. However, Max was really cute and I was impressed how well Travis interacted with him, especially when he was playing t-ball with him.  From there, we headed down to Washington, NC for a wedding of a good family friend. The wedding was really fun, and it was great to let everyone know that I am pregnant too! After the wedding, Travis and I headed to the Outerbanks in NC for a few days of relaxing before heading back to Ohio on Tuesday. We later found out that we were driving in VA when the recent earthquake hit, and we were probably only 50 miles or so from the center of it, so that was a little crazy. Fortunately because we were driving, we didn't feel anything.

That's it for now...I'll have an update soon!

My first presents!

The last few weeks have been very busy at work, but today a few of my co-workers in my department (portfolio department) took me out to lunch to celebrate Baby DeSavigny!  We went to the Cheesecake Factory and sat outside since it was so beatiful. I also received my first presents for my baby! My friend Jennifer gave me a hooded baby towel with a yellow duck on it, with some extra towels, and a little "sleeper outfit" with cute little ducklings, which came with a little hat, socks, and a bib. It was adorable. My friend Jenny gave me "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" from an antique bookstore. It was so nice of them, and I really appreciated the gifts.

The last 2 weeks have been really good for me also, because I'm feeling like myself again. I'm about 15 weeks along now, and I'm not sick or tired (or at least as tired as I was.) I've been able to run and exercise a little more, and I mowed the lawn last night! Travis and I are going this weekend to help my parents clean/redecorate their place in Michigan, and I'm glad I finally have energy, because I think I'll need it. We plan on taking wall paper down, painting (with no VOC's) and cleaning the whole place so that they can rent it or sell it to someone quickly. Hopefully all goes well.

I have my next doctor appointment coming up this Wednesday, so I'll be sure to give an update!

Everybody knows!

So this past week has been really exciting for us because we've finally been able to tell all of our friends we're pregnant! For me, it's a relief because I felt like I was lying when I wasn't telling anybody, especially at work. My office now knows that I'm pregnant and everybody seems happy and excited. I started my second trimester on Friday (or Saturday...still a little confused) and I'm finally feeling like I have more energy again and I haven't been feeling sick for over a week. I ran both Saturday and Sunday, and Travis and I are planning on signing up for the Great Race in September with my sisters. It's only a 10K and I plan on running slow and steady, but it's nice to still have a running goal. Yesterday we saw some friends who had a baby in June, and it was fun seeing how they're doing and knowing that will be us in about 6 months (except it will be cold and snowy outside.)

Heard the Heartbeat!

I had my 12 week appointment today. I was really looking forward to this appointment because I was hoping to hear the heartbeat, and we did! The nurse had a little bit of trouble finding it at first, but the doctor was able to find it pretty quickly and we heard it for a good 20 seconds or so. I was glad we were able to hear it because up until this point, I knew I was pregnant, but it's easy to question if I was pregnant, or just maybe sick or something. The doctor let me know that I'm doing fine and all of my tests have come back normal (even the fact that I have actually lost 2 lbs-that won't last I'm sure.) Hearing the heartbeat reassured us though, and Travis and I are finally telling people we are pregnant!! Yay! I called several friends tonight, and we'll be telling most of our friends over the next week or so. I'm glad that I'm able to finally share this with everybody because it's been tough keeping it to myself and it's nice to have all of your support during this exciting time in our lives!

The Pilot

Welcome to baby DeSavigny's blog. Hard to believe that 11 weeks have gone by and the baby is already the size of a plum. Despite my anticipation of rainbows and unicorns, so far it hasn't been that. I have a standing appt with nausea everyday at 2pm and I've been exhausted all day everday. Hopefully these symptoms are only temporary. Travis and I are both really excited and cant wait to hear the heartbeat in a little over a week. Check back soon for updates from me, Travis and Ranger.