The Final Count Down!
Someone should teach babies how to count or give them a calendar with their due date on it. She totally missed her big day. Since February 28th has come and gone, the kind doctors' of Columbia Women's Health Care are going to induce me on Thursday, March 5th. They just don't want her getting too big or running out of amniotic fluid. So, at least we have a definite date of delivery, if not before. The ultrasound technician measured her last Friday before they made the decision to induce me and her rib circumference is bigger than her head, her thigh bone is almost 8 cm long, and they estimated she is about 8 to 8.5 pounds. I am keeping my fingers crossed that these are over estimations and not underestimations.
Jon's mom came in on the 28th and has been waiting and hoping that any second I will go into labor. My parents are coming in today, March 3rd. I am sure that is why Blaire is waiting; she wants a crowd for her big arrival. I am just ready for her and the pressure that I feel in my back and abdomen to subside. Although, I hear it gets worse before it gets better, the pains of labor.
Until Thursday.....
THE HOME STRETCH
This is literal, my belly is stretching and growing everyday. I have started my weekly check-ups with the doctors. Now, each one has a different opinion about how much longer I will go and how long my labor will be, so no matter what I hear, I know that she will come when she is ready. I would really like to have a labor and delivery like my mom and sister, but so far my pregnancy has been a bit different than theirs. I don't think they got sick or had nausea nearly as bad as I did, but they may just not remember.
This past weekend we had our labor and delivery class. It was very informative and a bit scary, but I am glad we took it. It was very helpful and answered many questions we did not really know we had. We also realized, we are either procrastinators or not nearly as up tight about this pregnancy as everyone else in the class. We had the earliest due date, February, while most others were not due until the end of March or April, even. We are slackers. Also, they all had the nursery ready and hospital bags packed and were working on other house projects to complete before baby's arrival. We do not have our bags packed or any household projects completed. At least this weekend will be warm and we can work on catching up. We thought we still have the whole month of February. . . .
At my check-up last week, Mrs. Dr. Moore told me that I was 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and engaged. Now, when she said, "You are engaged." I immediately followed with, "No. I am married.". Dr. Moore and the nurse started laughing and then explained that engaged means the baby's head has dropped down into my pelvis. Not that I feel like she has dropped, I still get kicks in my ribs all the time. Dr. Moore then proceeded to tell me that I had good birthing hips and that she thought I would not make it another 2 weeks and have a short labor because I ran up until a week ago. I did have to ask her if birthing hips was a medical term and that I usually took that term to insuate wide, large hips. She told me it just meant that my pelvis bone is tilted out at the bottom and will give the baby plenty of room to pass through. So, thanks for those good birthing hip genes, mom!
I also told her that this baby could not come in 2 weeks because we did not have the bathroom finished or the nursery and she said my husband better get on it. (By far, this was my funniest visit.) I asked her to tell my husband that, but he did not answer his office phone when we called, typical working Jon.
So, this weekend Jon is going to work extra diligently on the bathroom and next week some friends are coming to help me with Blaire's room and figuring out what to return, what to keep, what I need to buy, help us pack our hospital bags, etc.
I know, we are slackers!
Month of Showers
So, this is the time for showers. I had 3 showers, one for church, one for quilting, and one for couples. It is so much fun to open presents and see all the cute baby stuff. Jon thinks I brought home too much pink. At least there were overalls and camo mixed in. It was just as much fun to bring home all the gifts and re-open them for Jon to see. Some of the gifts I forgot opening, making it that much more exciting. Blaire is going to have a dressy dress for every season and a couple for Christmas. So, she will just be the cutest thing on Sunday mornings. Not that she will not be cute at other times, but the dresses will surely help with increasing the cuteness factor.
Also, the softness of baby's clothes, blankets, and toys is just amazing. I really wish someone would use that material for my clothes. It is so soft and comforting!
The food at every shower was great. Before I was pregnant, I loved going to showers for the food and cake, and being pregnant, it all just tastes that much better, plus you get to go first in line and take home some of the left overs too. Yum yum!
Only 8 weeks to go
and we have not done another thing to the nursery. . . .
I have reached the beginning of my 8 th month. Whew. Now I just have to make it 8 more weeks. Christmas was very relaxing. I took many needed naps and watched my belly grow. Well, I think it grew. Some people do not. I had my 8 month check up New Years Eve. Somehow after eating very poorly for a week and completely indulging in holiday treats, I lost 4 pounds. At this appointment I had an ultrasound to see if Blaire had turned from her transverse position, she has. She is head down and they redid some of the measurements and are thinking that she is already over 5 pounds. Big girl! Let's hope she does not gain a pound a week for the next 8 weeks. Dr. Smythe, the one who told me to cut out carbohydrates, told me that since I did not gain any weight from month 6 to 7 and lost 4 pounds from month 7 to 8 that I should eat more and increase my protein, oils (good fats), and carbohydrate intake. Well, I never really took out or reduced carbohydrates like he suggested the first time, but whatever; this is a great excuse to keep eating a bowl of ice cream after dinner and to enjoy pizza.
I have found that it is easier to eat small meals or eat all day long rather than trying to eat a whole meal. There is just not any room for my stomach anymore. Blaire is taking up all the space. The new pictures posted are thanks to Mr. Jerry McNall. He visited my parents the same weekend Jon and I did and at the direction of Gayle, took pictures of my belly. So, thanks Jerry and Gayle, without you there would not be any 8 month pictures. The pictures definitely allow you to see how wide I have gotten. I know, everyone thinks it is so cute to have a basketball sticking out front, but genetics just did not allow that to happen. So, I got wide. Dr. Smythe did say that since I have kept running, my abs are pretty tight and that this will help with delivery, along with my wide hips, or as Jon refers to them, "good birthing hips".
Someone should teach babies how to count or give them a calendar with their due date on it. She totally missed her big day. Since February 28th has come and gone, the kind doctors' of Columbia Women's Health Care are going to induce me on Thursday, March 5th. They just don't want her getting too big or running out of amniotic fluid. So, at least we have a definite date of delivery, if not before. The ultrasound technician measured her last Friday before they made the decision to induce me and her rib circumference is bigger than her head, her thigh bone is almost 8 cm long, and they estimated she is about 8 to 8.5 pounds. I am keeping my fingers crossed that these are over estimations and not underestimations.
Jon's mom came in on the 28th and has been waiting and hoping that any second I will go into labor. My parents are coming in today, March 3rd. I am sure that is why Blaire is waiting; she wants a crowd for her big arrival. I am just ready for her and the pressure that I feel in my back and abdomen to subside. Although, I hear it gets worse before it gets better, the pains of labor.
Until Thursday.....
THE HOME STRETCH
This is literal, my belly is stretching and growing everyday. I have started my weekly check-ups with the doctors. Now, each one has a different opinion about how much longer I will go and how long my labor will be, so no matter what I hear, I know that she will come when she is ready. I would really like to have a labor and delivery like my mom and sister, but so far my pregnancy has been a bit different than theirs. I don't think they got sick or had nausea nearly as bad as I did, but they may just not remember.
This past weekend we had our labor and delivery class. It was very informative and a bit scary, but I am glad we took it. It was very helpful and answered many questions we did not really know we had. We also realized, we are either procrastinators or not nearly as up tight about this pregnancy as everyone else in the class. We had the earliest due date, February, while most others were not due until the end of March or April, even. We are slackers. Also, they all had the nursery ready and hospital bags packed and were working on other house projects to complete before baby's arrival. We do not have our bags packed or any household projects completed. At least this weekend will be warm and we can work on catching up. We thought we still have the whole month of February. . . .
At my check-up last week, Mrs. Dr. Moore told me that I was 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and engaged. Now, when she said, "You are engaged." I immediately followed with, "No. I am married.". Dr. Moore and the nurse started laughing and then explained that engaged means the baby's head has dropped down into my pelvis. Not that I feel like she has dropped, I still get kicks in my ribs all the time. Dr. Moore then proceeded to tell me that I had good birthing hips and that she thought I would not make it another 2 weeks and have a short labor because I ran up until a week ago. I did have to ask her if birthing hips was a medical term and that I usually took that term to insuate wide, large hips. She told me it just meant that my pelvis bone is tilted out at the bottom and will give the baby plenty of room to pass through. So, thanks for those good birthing hip genes, mom!
I also told her that this baby could not come in 2 weeks because we did not have the bathroom finished or the nursery and she said my husband better get on it. (By far, this was my funniest visit.) I asked her to tell my husband that, but he did not answer his office phone when we called, typical working Jon.
So, this weekend Jon is going to work extra diligently on the bathroom and next week some friends are coming to help me with Blaire's room and figuring out what to return, what to keep, what I need to buy, help us pack our hospital bags, etc.
I know, we are slackers!
Month of Showers
So, this is the time for showers. I had 3 showers, one for church, one for quilting, and one for couples. It is so much fun to open presents and see all the cute baby stuff. Jon thinks I brought home too much pink. At least there were overalls and camo mixed in. It was just as much fun to bring home all the gifts and re-open them for Jon to see. Some of the gifts I forgot opening, making it that much more exciting. Blaire is going to have a dressy dress for every season and a couple for Christmas. So, she will just be the cutest thing on Sunday mornings. Not that she will not be cute at other times, but the dresses will surely help with increasing the cuteness factor.
Also, the softness of baby's clothes, blankets, and toys is just amazing. I really wish someone would use that material for my clothes. It is so soft and comforting!
The food at every shower was great. Before I was pregnant, I loved going to showers for the food and cake, and being pregnant, it all just tastes that much better, plus you get to go first in line and take home some of the left overs too. Yum yum!
Only 8 weeks to go
and we have not done another thing to the nursery. . . .
I have reached the beginning of my 8 th month. Whew. Now I just have to make it 8 more weeks. Christmas was very relaxing. I took many needed naps and watched my belly grow. Well, I think it grew. Some people do not. I had my 8 month check up New Years Eve. Somehow after eating very poorly for a week and completely indulging in holiday treats, I lost 4 pounds. At this appointment I had an ultrasound to see if Blaire had turned from her transverse position, she has. She is head down and they redid some of the measurements and are thinking that she is already over 5 pounds. Big girl! Let's hope she does not gain a pound a week for the next 8 weeks. Dr. Smythe, the one who told me to cut out carbohydrates, told me that since I did not gain any weight from month 6 to 7 and lost 4 pounds from month 7 to 8 that I should eat more and increase my protein, oils (good fats), and carbohydrate intake. Well, I never really took out or reduced carbohydrates like he suggested the first time, but whatever; this is a great excuse to keep eating a bowl of ice cream after dinner and to enjoy pizza.
I have found that it is easier to eat small meals or eat all day long rather than trying to eat a whole meal. There is just not any room for my stomach anymore. Blaire is taking up all the space. The new pictures posted are thanks to Mr. Jerry McNall. He visited my parents the same weekend Jon and I did and at the direction of Gayle, took pictures of my belly. So, thanks Jerry and Gayle, without you there would not be any 8 month pictures. The pictures definitely allow you to see how wide I have gotten. I know, everyone thinks it is so cute to have a basketball sticking out front, but genetics just did not allow that to happen. So, I got wide. Dr. Smythe did say that since I have kept running, my abs are pretty tight and that this will help with delivery, along with my wide hips, or as Jon refers to them, "good birthing hips".
Months Down, 3 to Go. . . .
At the beginning of December I had my 7 month check-up. This is the one where they actually measure your belly. Not around my belly, to see my circumference, but the length of it. Really, they are checking the size of the uterus. The measurement should be close to how many weeks you are. I was there on during my 29th week, so I should have measured between 28-29 inches, but I only measured 26. Dr. Neuffer said it was okay to measure 26 because I was short. I must have given her a really funny look, because she said, I don't mean short, just short in the torso compared to my legs. So, everything is progressing nicely.
I asked her about cutting out carbs because that was suggested at my last doctor's appointment and she told me not to worry about it. She said that Dr. Smythe said that because he is on Atkins and mad at the world. So, carbs are back in. My mom helped fulfill that with dinner at Danato's last Friday. Thanks Mom!
This past week, week 30, my belly grew to be quite round and full. However, each day it looks different. One day my whole belly was on the left side and then another day, my belly was way up high. Today, however, Blaire must be sitting pretty low, because everything is bulging below my waist. According to the books and internet, she is supposed to turn this week or next. So, let's hope so. We can't find her foot on the left side anymore, so we are assuming she turned or at least moved a foot. Even if she did turn, and is not lengthwise anymore, my width has not gone down. My next appointment is on Wednesday, Dec. 31st. Then I start the every 2 weeks appointments until the end of January. February I will go every week. So, we are getting closer to the big arrival day!
Thanks Giving
We drove to Huntsville for Thanks Giving, after Jon left work at 7 that night. It was a late night! I woke up the next morning with a terrible back ache. We attributed it to driving and sleeping in the car. However, once we woke up on Thursday, we knew, that the back ache was from my growing belly. My mom kept saying she could not believe how big I got over night. I know, I still have a long ways to go and a much bigger belly to come, but from one day to the next, it was a big difference.
On Friday, we went to Babies R Us to register. My grandma and I mostly followed my mom around the store. I thought I was well off considering I have 2 car seats, a stroller, a crib, changing table, and a dresser. Well, my mom found things I needed and could not live without. It was amazing how much stuff is in that store. However, some of the things on the registry are a little too girly for me. But, then again, we did paint her room pink. Anyway, do people even buy things off of registries anymore? I guess I will find out.
I go back to the doctor on the 12th of Dec. for my 7th month check-up. I am going to see Dr. Neuffer. Hopefully she will be more considerate about my weight. I also get to pick up my pregnancy belt. The doctors want me to wear this while I run, but so far, I am still feeling fine when I run and afterwards. Although, I am more tired than I used to be.
Glucola
At my 6 month check up I got to take the infamous gestational diabetes test. You have to drink 12 ounces of Glucola. Sure, it sounds like Coke-a-Cola, but it taste nothing like it. I got the orange flavor, which tastes nothing like Orange Soda. It has a very sharp taste to it. You are supposed to constantly sip it until you have emptied the cup. I just gulped it; makes it go faster. Then you have to wait an hour and have your glucose levels checked. At least I had a long appointment this time. I had another ultrasound done to see the heart, remeasure the Humerus, Femur, and Rib cage. Well, the Humerus is still as long as the Femur, and the Rib cage is pretty round. Poor girl is going to have my body shape and never find tops to fit. Maybe she will be tall with long arms and not short with long arms.
After the ultrasound I went in to meet with the doctor. He is by far my least favorite doctor at the practice. Mostly because he told me I needed to cut out carbs, especially pizza because the baby and I are too big. Blaire weighed in at 1 pound 14 ounces and the average for 6 months is 1 pound 6-8 ounces. So, she is going to be big. Jon and I were both big babies. I was 8 pounds 6 ounces and he was almost 9 pounds if not over. But we were both over 21 inches long, so we were not too fat, I think. Anyway, I have gained 18 pounds and I am on track to gain 30 by the time I have Blaire, which sounded okay to me, but the doctor really did not think so. I will post more pictures and you guys can decide for yourselves if I am too fat. Of course, my thighs are huge, strange side effect, and my hips are getting wider, hence so is my rear end, but it will all go back to normal, right?
Jon tried to help me cut out some carbs and fats, but it is so hard. I like creamy salad dressings, pizza, and bread too much to just give it up. So, I am just going to go on like before and deal with loosing the weight later. This is supposed to be the time when I can eat that extra little bit of dessert or eat Chik-fil-a and not feel guilty about it. Besides, Weight Watchers has a great program, and I have done it before, I can do it again.
Week 23
That is the start of the my 6 month for those of you that do not speak in terms of weeks.
Two weeks ago my parents came to visit and paint the baby's room. Of course, having a two bedroom house, the baby's room is also the computer room and sewing room. Poor kid, cramped quarters. Good thing babies come out small. Anyway, my mom and I had been discussing colors to paint the room for awhile and we were both leaning towards yellow. Well, we went to the paint store and we were just overwhelmed with the color choices. So, we took a fan of colors home to look at and let Jon see. When we started looking at the colors, both my mom and Jon were adamant, no pink. We tried some yellows, some greens, even thought about a blue for a moment, and then, the mauve card came out. They settled on "fading rose". It is in the mauve family, but it is pink. My dad laughed when the paint arrived home and said that he's color blind, but even he can tell that the paint isn't yellow.
Here is a color sample of Fading Rose
However, the color does look good on the walls and with the crib set up and the everything else arranged to fit in the room, it is not overwhelmingly pink. I think we may still add a chair rail or paint some stripes on the wall to break it up some. For those of you that have already asked, I do not have an accent color. That is beyond me and my decorative ability. But, we will see how far we get with nursery projects. We still have to get the bathroom finished. At least one vanity is installed, even though the pipes leak if you fill the sink with water and then drain it. Plumbing in old houses. . . . you just never know what will happen.
Final Tally
The end results of the vote were 51% for a girl and 49% for a boy as of Monday at 2:00.
So, Monday, October 6th, was the big day. When we went in for the ultra sound the technician asked if we were finding out the sex of the baby. Jon said that she did not need to tell us because we already knew that it was a boy. The technician started laughing and told Jon he cursed himself and that it would be a girl just for that reason.
Well, the ultrasound took about 45 minutes because the baby kept rolling over, putting its arms all around its head, crossing and uncrossing its legs, and just would not lay still. The technician was good and was able to get most of the pictures required, minus the transverse pictures of the heart. I will go back in 5 weeks for another ultrasound so they can get pictures of the heart, but we were able to see that the baby is a GIRL. Jon immediately jokingly told the technician that this was a waste of his time and he could not believe he left work for this. She then helped the situation by telling us it would give us reason to have a second baby. Of course, we could be lucky like her and end up with 3 girls. We hope to have the pictures up on the website soon. Any advice on raising a girl that needs to be imparted on how to raise/spoil a little girl, please feel free to pass it on to Jon.
October 6th is the big day, but you can get in on the action early.
Vote on the sex of Baby Cavin!
Will you vote in favor of Jon and keep in line with his motto, "No Girls,"
or vote for a little girl?
Someone needs to get all those toys of mine and Tiffany's that my mom is still storing.
What is Going On Down There?
So, it was one Sunday morning, I thought a bubble popped in my lower belly. Then it happened again. Lots of people told me it would feel like a flutter or butterflies when the baby moved, but really I can only describe it as bubbles popping. That was 2 weeks ago. Now the movement is more pronounced and does feel like a flutter in my belly. It some ways, it is the weirdest sensation, in other ways, it is quite exciting. I can no longer sleep on my stomach either. It feels like I am laying on a baseball everytime I roll over. Oh and what a shock it is in the middle of the night when I am rolling over.
The unfavorable side effect of pregnancy to report this month (I am in week 18, I think that is either month 4 or 5, I don't really know), is the terrible heartburn. Where did that come from? I have never had heartburn and now I get it all the time. I never know what foods will cause it. But, really is it necessary? Jon's grandma said that it means the baby will be hairy, not like Big foot hairy, but hairy. If that is the case, I hope it is a boy. I don't want a hairy girl.
The good news, ice cream still helps everything. I started getting queasy again, but a little bit of ice cream or a fudgesicle really helps and it really soothes the heartburn. As of this week, I am still feeling okay to run and the weather is crisp and cool in the mornings, so it is very relaxing. Hopefully I can continue running for a few more months, but we will see what the doctor says and how my body feels.
4th Month Visit
So, during week 16, I had my doctor's visit for month 4. It was so fast compared to the previous one. I went in, got weighed, gave some blood, heard the baby's heart beat, saw the doctor for about 10 minutes and was done. When I got on the scale, I was terrified I had gained like 20 pounds because all of my clothes are slowly becoming too small and not just in the belly area. It is like my thighs are packing on all the weight and then some is added to my belly. But, at least I only gained 4 pounds from the previous month; a pound a week. At 16 weeks, the nurse thought that it was too much weight, but the doctor looked at me, asked how tall I was and if I was exercising and said that he thought 8 pound was fine. Then the nurse questioned him about it, and he said, "well I am the doctor and I think my opion means more." Ha! I loved it. That was it. I then scheduled my ultrasounds for October. This will be the one where we learn the sex of the baby. . . . if Jon shows up. If he decides he cannot pry himself from Albemarle for the afternoon, the we will not learn the sex. Since, I did not really want to find out anyway, I think this is a fair deal. He shows up, he can know the sex, he does not show up, he cannot know the sex. Although, Jon has taken to talking about the baby in masculine terms. Just remember, there are no returns with a baby.
At the beginning of December I had my 7 month check-up. This is the one where they actually measure your belly. Not around my belly, to see my circumference, but the length of it. Really, they are checking the size of the uterus. The measurement should be close to how many weeks you are. I was there on during my 29th week, so I should have measured between 28-29 inches, but I only measured 26. Dr. Neuffer said it was okay to measure 26 because I was short. I must have given her a really funny look, because she said, I don't mean short, just short in the torso compared to my legs. So, everything is progressing nicely.
I asked her about cutting out carbs because that was suggested at my last doctor's appointment and she told me not to worry about it. She said that Dr. Smythe said that because he is on Atkins and mad at the world. So, carbs are back in. My mom helped fulfill that with dinner at Danato's last Friday. Thanks Mom!
This past week, week 30, my belly grew to be quite round and full. However, each day it looks different. One day my whole belly was on the left side and then another day, my belly was way up high. Today, however, Blaire must be sitting pretty low, because everything is bulging below my waist. According to the books and internet, she is supposed to turn this week or next. So, let's hope so. We can't find her foot on the left side anymore, so we are assuming she turned or at least moved a foot. Even if she did turn, and is not lengthwise anymore, my width has not gone down. My next appointment is on Wednesday, Dec. 31st. Then I start the every 2 weeks appointments until the end of January. February I will go every week. So, we are getting closer to the big arrival day!
Thanks Giving
We drove to Huntsville for Thanks Giving, after Jon left work at 7 that night. It was a late night! I woke up the next morning with a terrible back ache. We attributed it to driving and sleeping in the car. However, once we woke up on Thursday, we knew, that the back ache was from my growing belly. My mom kept saying she could not believe how big I got over night. I know, I still have a long ways to go and a much bigger belly to come, but from one day to the next, it was a big difference.
On Friday, we went to Babies R Us to register. My grandma and I mostly followed my mom around the store. I thought I was well off considering I have 2 car seats, a stroller, a crib, changing table, and a dresser. Well, my mom found things I needed and could not live without. It was amazing how much stuff is in that store. However, some of the things on the registry are a little too girly for me. But, then again, we did paint her room pink. Anyway, do people even buy things off of registries anymore? I guess I will find out.
I go back to the doctor on the 12th of Dec. for my 7th month check-up. I am going to see Dr. Neuffer. Hopefully she will be more considerate about my weight. I also get to pick up my pregnancy belt. The doctors want me to wear this while I run, but so far, I am still feeling fine when I run and afterwards. Although, I am more tired than I used to be.
Glucola
At my 6 month check up I got to take the infamous gestational diabetes test. You have to drink 12 ounces of Glucola. Sure, it sounds like Coke-a-Cola, but it taste nothing like it. I got the orange flavor, which tastes nothing like Orange Soda. It has a very sharp taste to it. You are supposed to constantly sip it until you have emptied the cup. I just gulped it; makes it go faster. Then you have to wait an hour and have your glucose levels checked. At least I had a long appointment this time. I had another ultrasound done to see the heart, remeasure the Humerus, Femur, and Rib cage. Well, the Humerus is still as long as the Femur, and the Rib cage is pretty round. Poor girl is going to have my body shape and never find tops to fit. Maybe she will be tall with long arms and not short with long arms.
After the ultrasound I went in to meet with the doctor. He is by far my least favorite doctor at the practice. Mostly because he told me I needed to cut out carbs, especially pizza because the baby and I are too big. Blaire weighed in at 1 pound 14 ounces and the average for 6 months is 1 pound 6-8 ounces. So, she is going to be big. Jon and I were both big babies. I was 8 pounds 6 ounces and he was almost 9 pounds if not over. But we were both over 21 inches long, so we were not too fat, I think. Anyway, I have gained 18 pounds and I am on track to gain 30 by the time I have Blaire, which sounded okay to me, but the doctor really did not think so. I will post more pictures and you guys can decide for yourselves if I am too fat. Of course, my thighs are huge, strange side effect, and my hips are getting wider, hence so is my rear end, but it will all go back to normal, right?
Jon tried to help me cut out some carbs and fats, but it is so hard. I like creamy salad dressings, pizza, and bread too much to just give it up. So, I am just going to go on like before and deal with loosing the weight later. This is supposed to be the time when I can eat that extra little bit of dessert or eat Chik-fil-a and not feel guilty about it. Besides, Weight Watchers has a great program, and I have done it before, I can do it again.
Week 23
That is the start of the my 6 month for those of you that do not speak in terms of weeks.
Two weeks ago my parents came to visit and paint the baby's room. Of course, having a two bedroom house, the baby's room is also the computer room and sewing room. Poor kid, cramped quarters. Good thing babies come out small. Anyway, my mom and I had been discussing colors to paint the room for awhile and we were both leaning towards yellow. Well, we went to the paint store and we were just overwhelmed with the color choices. So, we took a fan of colors home to look at and let Jon see. When we started looking at the colors, both my mom and Jon were adamant, no pink. We tried some yellows, some greens, even thought about a blue for a moment, and then, the mauve card came out. They settled on "fading rose". It is in the mauve family, but it is pink. My dad laughed when the paint arrived home and said that he's color blind, but even he can tell that the paint isn't yellow.
Here is a color sample of Fading Rose
However, the color does look good on the walls and with the crib set up and the everything else arranged to fit in the room, it is not overwhelmingly pink. I think we may still add a chair rail or paint some stripes on the wall to break it up some. For those of you that have already asked, I do not have an accent color. That is beyond me and my decorative ability. But, we will see how far we get with nursery projects. We still have to get the bathroom finished. At least one vanity is installed, even though the pipes leak if you fill the sink with water and then drain it. Plumbing in old houses. . . . you just never know what will happen.
Final Tally
The end results of the vote were 51% for a girl and 49% for a boy as of Monday at 2:00.
So, Monday, October 6th, was the big day. When we went in for the ultra sound the technician asked if we were finding out the sex of the baby. Jon said that she did not need to tell us because we already knew that it was a boy. The technician started laughing and told Jon he cursed himself and that it would be a girl just for that reason.
Well, the ultrasound took about 45 minutes because the baby kept rolling over, putting its arms all around its head, crossing and uncrossing its legs, and just would not lay still. The technician was good and was able to get most of the pictures required, minus the transverse pictures of the heart. I will go back in 5 weeks for another ultrasound so they can get pictures of the heart, but we were able to see that the baby is a GIRL. Jon immediately jokingly told the technician that this was a waste of his time and he could not believe he left work for this. She then helped the situation by telling us it would give us reason to have a second baby. Of course, we could be lucky like her and end up with 3 girls. We hope to have the pictures up on the website soon. Any advice on raising a girl that needs to be imparted on how to raise/spoil a little girl, please feel free to pass it on to Jon.
October 6th is the big day, but you can get in on the action early.
Vote on the sex of Baby Cavin!
Will you vote in favor of Jon and keep in line with his motto, "No Girls,"
or vote for a little girl?
Someone needs to get all those toys of mine and Tiffany's that my mom is still storing.
What is Going On Down There?
So, it was one Sunday morning, I thought a bubble popped in my lower belly. Then it happened again. Lots of people told me it would feel like a flutter or butterflies when the baby moved, but really I can only describe it as bubbles popping. That was 2 weeks ago. Now the movement is more pronounced and does feel like a flutter in my belly. It some ways, it is the weirdest sensation, in other ways, it is quite exciting. I can no longer sleep on my stomach either. It feels like I am laying on a baseball everytime I roll over. Oh and what a shock it is in the middle of the night when I am rolling over.
The unfavorable side effect of pregnancy to report this month (I am in week 18, I think that is either month 4 or 5, I don't really know), is the terrible heartburn. Where did that come from? I have never had heartburn and now I get it all the time. I never know what foods will cause it. But, really is it necessary? Jon's grandma said that it means the baby will be hairy, not like Big foot hairy, but hairy. If that is the case, I hope it is a boy. I don't want a hairy girl.
The good news, ice cream still helps everything. I started getting queasy again, but a little bit of ice cream or a fudgesicle really helps and it really soothes the heartburn. As of this week, I am still feeling okay to run and the weather is crisp and cool in the mornings, so it is very relaxing. Hopefully I can continue running for a few more months, but we will see what the doctor says and how my body feels.
4th Month Visit
So, during week 16, I had my doctor's visit for month 4. It was so fast compared to the previous one. I went in, got weighed, gave some blood, heard the baby's heart beat, saw the doctor for about 10 minutes and was done. When I got on the scale, I was terrified I had gained like 20 pounds because all of my clothes are slowly becoming too small and not just in the belly area. It is like my thighs are packing on all the weight and then some is added to my belly. But, at least I only gained 4 pounds from the previous month; a pound a week. At 16 weeks, the nurse thought that it was too much weight, but the doctor looked at me, asked how tall I was and if I was exercising and said that he thought 8 pound was fine. Then the nurse questioned him about it, and he said, "well I am the doctor and I think my opion means more." Ha! I loved it. That was it. I then scheduled my ultrasounds for October. This will be the one where we learn the sex of the baby. . . . if Jon shows up. If he decides he cannot pry himself from Albemarle for the afternoon, the we will not learn the sex. Since, I did not really want to find out anyway, I think this is a fair deal. He shows up, he can know the sex, he does not show up, he cannot know the sex. Although, Jon has taken to talking about the baby in masculine terms. Just remember, there are no returns with a baby.
One Trimester Down, Two To Go......
So, I have made it through the first 14weeks. I know, I know, 14weeks does not equal 3 months. However, since the doctors do everything by weeks, 14 is the magic number of weeks for each trimester. The nausea and sleepiness have subsided and I am feeling much better, except for the fact that my belly looks pudgy and like I gained an unnecessary 5 pounds.
However, I am pregnant, and this is supposed to happen, and I am supposed to go along with it. It is difficult to not want to diet like crazy considering I can barely fasten my pants or zip up my skirts, but I do like the option of not always thinking about what I eat before I eat it. At our K-group meetings, I am so going for a bigger helping of dessert or even maybe a second one, because this baby needs food and likes sweets. See, it is going to be a sweet girl; otherwise I would not crave sugary, chocolaty foods as much as I do. I am sure if it was a boy, I would want to eat dirt or some crazy thing like that.
All joking aside, here is a picture of me from August 29th, taken by Mr. Tim Hastings so Melissa would have a picture of my pudgy belly. Now, for some reason, I am willing to share this photo with all of you. If you can't find the pudgy belly part, ask Jon, he does not mind pointing it out. (Encouraged to do so by Andy Newell.)
It happened!
I have no idea how, or why now, but my belly popped out. Or as some at church like to call it, my little pouch. Yeah, what women wants to hear her belly described as a pouch? I went to bed on last Friday night feeling more tired than I have normally, and achy in my abdominal area. Then Saturday I woke up and it was just there, out there, not sucking it in either. On Saturday night I put on a pair of capris that are not tight, normally, and they were pinching my belly. It was so sad. Jon just laughs at me and thinks it is all normal and fine, but who wants to look pudgy or like they are gaining weight only in the belly area. Pretty soon I am going to look like one of those guys with a big ol' beer belly and I am just now at the end of the first trimester. I thought first babies did not pop out this early.
Yes, Melissa, there will be belly shots soon. I just have to get up the courage to take them. Do I really want to document my growing belly? At least I have some clothes that cover it up, thanks to the current style of tops.
Second Check-Up
On Tuesday, Aug. 12th, I had my last check-up for my first trimester. According to the scale at the doctor's office, I have only gained a total of 3 pounds. I love their scale! Mine says I have gained 6 pounds, which I think is more accurate. At least that is what my clothes are telling me. Even my baggy jeans are getting a little snug at the waistline.
So, the doctor's appointment was good. The baby's heartrate was 163. A little high, but hopefully it will come down. There was a moment of angst, when they could not find that baby's heartbeat, but I was able to breathe a sigh of relief after 10 minutes when they did find it. Okay, it really was probably only like 2-3 minutes, but when you have cold icky gel on your belly and you are waiting to hear the heartbeat, it will seems like forever.
Telling Jon. . . . .
So far the best story to come out of the pregnancy would have to be that I had to go to Albemarle to tell Jon I was pregnant. I had a doctor's appointment on June 24th and while at the visit they performed an ultrasound (not looking for a baby), but found one. The doctor and I were both quite surprised when the technician pointed out the embryo. The doctor's office even did a pregnancy test prior to other test that I had done that day and it was negative. I was 4 weeks along at that time.
I waited all day for Jon to call and ask about my doctor's appointment, but all he did was e-mail me to tell me he would not be home until after his meeting at church which did not start until 7:30. So, I would potentially not see him until 9 or 9:30. I could not wait that long. So, I drove back to Orangeburg, picked up a pizza and took him dinner at work (6:45, long after most others had left work). He still did not ask about my doctor's appointment so I got quite mad, like a good wife should, and told him about the doctor's appointment (minus the embryo find) and then handed him a card and a baby rattle. He was very excited to learn we were going to have a baby, so excited he asked me to leave 5 minutes later so he could finish somethings for work before going to his meeting.
But, he has been very good to me every since. He lets me sleep all the time, he cooks more than he ever did before, and he even is willing to do the grocery shopping. When I go grocery shopping, he does not comment on the crazy foods I bring home or the fact that nothing could make a meal, but just puts them away.
Welcome to "The Cavin Report"
No, I'm not starting my own political talk-show. Nichole and I wanted to let you know that around the end of February, 2009, Lord willing, we will have a new addition to the Cavin family. We found out about 1 1/2 weeks ago, but the doctor suggested we wait until the first ultrasound, which was July 10th. According to the typed statement from the ultrasound, there were "no gross abnormalities noted." Not very comforting, but I was glad to find out that the huge mass above the baby was not an abnormally sized head, but just the "yolk sack" that's there until the placenta is formed. Sorry if I'm disturbing anyone's morning with that detail. I was hoping to attach the pictures so you could see what I believe are miniature sideburns, but that didn't work out. I could be wrong, I guess, but I've got a good feeling it's a boy!
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