Desperate for movement

Waiting to be sure your baby is moving is extremely nerve racking. All the emails I get and the books I read about pregnancy say that I should really be feeling the baby move, nothing strong, but lots of movements, and I really dont feel like I am feeling lots of anything. I do occasionally as I mentioned yesterday feel those tiny popcorn like movements but nothing that is enough for me. I worry some days that perhaps something is wrong, I feel like there should be more there than there is. I am counting the days until my next ultrasound just to be sure that I can see the baby move and hear the heart beat. I am certain that I am just paranoid, but it doesnt seem to make it any better.

Do other people go this long into their pregnancy and not really feel much? Am I missing it all and just dont know im feeling anything? All questions that plague me from one appt to the next. I am really hoping that by my next appt, next Thursday, that I am sure of the feelings that are happening and that when I see the movement on the screen I can feel it too. I know the baby is still very small, but I am really showing now and dont feel I have much t show for it if you know what I mean.

On the bright side however, maternity clothes really do make all the difference in the world. I have never been against them and even went to buy a few helper pieces as soon as I had difficulty fitting into my pants, but wow, they really are so much more comfortable on a preggie body. I bought a new dress for work and it is jersey knit but is so pretty. It is plum colored and very rich looking and on one shoulder/decolette there is a grouping of raised ruffled flowers. It fits so well and covers all the right places too. I have one more dress coming in the mail that will hopefully be just as great and will really help me get through the winter. It is grey and has long sleeves. It looks very chic, but nice and comfy too. Hopefully with my new leggings it will make a great outfit when it gets cold out.

Well the timer on dinner is beeping at me so I should head out. Until later, have a great night.

much love, Ally

New Pots and Pans!!!

I finally got my new pots and pans and ohh what a deal we got!! I have been dreaming of finishing off my collection for several years now, so that I have a full set of Calphalon cookware that I LOVE!

When we got married we got a set of pans that were very nice, but very different from anything I am used to cooking with. The intent of the pans was to cook thing simultaneously (one pan on top of another) and at the end have a fully cooked meal. Well you must have had to have been a genius to plan and figure that one out because I never once made a meal that way. and too, Im sure it was how I cooked in them more than anything else, but everything stuck to these pans and they discolored really badly.

So we decided that when we could, even if it was piece by piece, that we would replace these

with the Calphalon ones. I new that I loved Calphalon since I have been using one pot that Auntie Lynn bought for us for the wedding. It is the best Ive ever used and I use it for everything I can. nothing sticks and it is sooo easy to clean, not to mention it cooks so evenly. So I was hooked and had to have them.

Well we put the other set up for sale and decided that we would use that money to buy the new set and it worked out to be an even better deal. We just happened to go to the outlet mall the other night to walk around. As it was near closing we figured we wouldnt go in any stores, just on our daily baby walk. Well we happened to pass the Calphalon outlet and just thought we should get pricing since we had the money now and needed to make a decision on which pieces to buy. Guess what!!!??? All the open box items in the collection I wanted were HALF PRICE!!! and that meant half price of the outlet prices, we were sold! We only spent probably 15 minutes and bought every piece that I wanted for way less than we ever expected!! I was one happy girl let me tell you!

The next morning I unpacked and washed them all so that they would be ready to use, and

stacked them neatly in my now bare cabinet and could not hardly wait to cook in them. Since then I have made pudding, sautéed broccoli and eggs using a few different sizes and styles of my pans and I couldnt be happier! everything cooked so perfectly, I didnt even have to re-plan my cooking strategy, it was just perfection and I Love, love, love them! And I love Jamie for buying the whole set for me even though I know we could have used that money for the baby or getting the house painted or other things, but this time it was all for me. He is the best!

I will be busy planning out my menu for the week based on getting to use each one of my new pans, which of course shouldnt be hard since I have been cooking in these pans for years, even if just in my head.

Of course now that you all think Im crazy for my obsession with cookware ;)

Things are going well with baby so far. We have another ultrasound in a week and a half and should be feeling more kicking soon. I read a description that finally made sense for what Ive been feeling from the baby so far... like popcorn popping in my tummy. It is the strangest thing, and its not very often, but that is exactly what it feels like. I cant wait to feel more!

I guess you could say I am having more cravings too. Nothing out of the ordinary yet, just things that come to mind that dont seem to leave until Ive had them. Like the other day, I drove past a Bennigans and thought of their potato skins and just had to have them. Now the strange thing is I drive past that same Bennigans every day!! Then even stranger, I didnt want the potato skins from there, because they put course ground black pepper all over them, I just wanted them. So we ended up going to fridays instead and those were perfect!

I am doing well with my blood sugar too. It is well within my target range, so the specialists and docs couldnt be happier, which is all we can hope for. I will just keep on this track and hoping that things remain in the green and the baby doesnt get too big.

Well we are heading out to take Dodge to the park so I should get going. Ill try to be better and write more often, Have a beautiful Sunday.

xoxo

Ally and baby

20 Week Visits!! Half way to the big day!

We had our half way visit last Thursday, I have been meaning to write since then, but have been so busy at work that Im just exhausted by the time I get home! The visits were great. We had two, one with Dr. Monteiro, our baby Dr., and one with the specialist for the diabetes. We got to have an ultrasound at both, mainly because, at the baby Dr. we got to bring home a DVD of the ultrasound and the other was mandatory, but hey almost a half hour of baby viewing time for us that day was amazing!!

The second ultrasound at the specialist hurt something awful! the technician pushed into my belly so hard I was bruised for three days and am still a bit tender, I am hoping the baby will be easier to see at the next visit, so she wont decide to push so hard!!

The heart rate was strong, between 137 and 140 at both apts. and the baby was moving quite a bit on the first visit, even wiggling the fingers for us to see a little wave! very exciting! We still managed to make it through both apts without finding out if the baby will be a boy or a girl so we are pretty pleased ;)

I am feeling good still, having a hard time with my blood draws though. I have to do 4 a day and my fingers dont want to bleed enough for the test strips. I am trying several techniques, and still some days have to prick 3-4 times before I get a good enough draw. My fingers hurt a lot and some days are a bit swollen from it all. I have had a few moments of complete frustration and feel sometimes like it is never going to work. I have to stop and remember that this is for the baby and thusly all worth it. Sobering fact really when you want to scream at those darn little test strips and throw the whole thing out the window. It really isnt terrible it just takes a lot of patience and acceptance.

The dietitian is very pleased though, my numbers are very good, so she feels at this point it is under control. We will continue to monitor it very closely as the weeks progress, and continue the same diet and exercise plan. I am still craving juice like there's no tomorrow, but get by on eating the fruit instead.

Jamie has been wonderful through all of this. He is eating the same way as I am and walking with me most days. He is so supportive and helps me with my blood draws when I get overwhelmed. He took me to buy some new comfy lounge pants and an ultra soft t-shirt this last weekend so that when I get home from work I can be completely comfortable. I really dont know what I'd do without him.

Well I had planned to include the video of the ultrasound on this posting, but it will take a bit of work to make it work so it will have to be a later post. But we are definitely working on it. More great stuff to come.

Have a great night.

much love,

Ally

First UT Game... Rediculous Success!

So last Saturday marked the official start of UT football!! Yoohoo! We had planned to go to Pluckers in Round Rock for out first fix of wings and football, but seeing as how the powers that be decided that this would be a pay per view game only, it was packed!! and Im not even talking a long wait, Im talking standing room only, 2 1/2 hours wait and by the time it got to the begininning of the game, it was a "not until the game is over" wait.

Well, needless to say we got out wings to go and listened to the game over our fabulous whole house surround speakers and had a great time! it was a total slaughter I think like 59 - 13 or something like that, by the time we got that far into it I kind of lost track of the score, but it was excitingand fun! I am super excited for the rest of the games this year, I love fall ball! Hook 'em Horns!

Trip to the specialist

So today we met with the specialist about the Gestational Diabetes(GD). It was not what we expected and I think it was a crossed wires situation. We were under the understanding that we would meet with the nutritionist and find out about my carb count, taking my blood levels and what I could eat, exercise etc. which we did. We also thought, however that we would be doing the full exam today with the ultrasound and the measurements etc, which we did not do. apparently they want us in for that next week instead and to give them my first log of reading of my blood levels and list of foods Ive eaten.

Next week is also when we are supposed to have our 20 week visit with Dr Monteiro and we are to get the DVD of the baby on the ultrasound. I am really looking forward to that visit, but the nutritionist mentioned that I might not have that appt since all ultrasounds were now at their office considering my care. I am really hoping that I am able to do both at least for this visit as I dont want to miss out on this or miss out on sharing it with everyone. I have called my doctor to find out if this is still possible and am waiting to hear back from him tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

I feel a ton better now though, since meeting the nutritionist. I am pretty much able to eat as I normally do with the exception of fruit juice. which I am soooo upset over, I will sacrifice for the baby of course, but it will be one thing I really crave a lot! I just need to change what I eat when so that I am sure to eat a bit of carbs at every meal instead of stacking them in the afternoon and evening. and if I do eat a small sweet, I cant eat it at dessert it must be mid afternoon as that is when I will metabolize the sugars best. I am actually looking forward to going shopping tomorrow, so that I can start eating normally again! I dont have my glucometer yet, as the insurance company had to have it shipped to us but will have it on Saturday. Then I will be better able to see how Im doing throughout the day.

I will keep you posted as things progress, hopefully the blood work the specialist ordered for me and the flu shot next week arent too awful! If its not one thing...Its twelve!! Well all for the sake of our little one so it really is not unbearable at all. I am still desperately awaiting that first little kick, any day now, so hopefully soon!

Have a great night.

xoxo
Ally

about as big as a medium bell pepper :)

Today we are at 18 weeks and the baby is about the size of a bell pepper. Approx 5 1/2 inches from head to tush and growing quickly. I have been feeling my tummy getting a bit stretched over the last few days and getting very firm to the touch. Still not feeling any movement, but I am sure that is more of a not paying attention thing than a not feeling anything thing.

I have been feeling great today. Very busy at work but productive, and that's always a plus. I did stop at the grocery store this afternoon though for some snacks for the week and that was a bit depressing. I am hoping that after Thursday it will get fun again. I am just taking shots in the dark as to what I should and should not buy, so it is difficult to do. I see lots of things and think, oh that sounds/looks so good. and then I have to keep moving because I think most likely I shouldnt eat it. It makes it very difficult to have cravings when you cant eat anything.

Tess and Dodge are being super cuddly today. Tess is right next to my leg any time I sit down even for a second. Doesnt want me to hold her or pick her up just pet her :) She is soo funny, any time I stop petting her for even a moment she sticks out her paw and pats my leg. Its awful cute! Dodge is being super playful. He is learning fetch at the moment. He is very good at running after the ball/rope/etc and comes back with it, but wont let you have it back to throw again. He decides instead that its so much more fun to play keep away, waits till you get up close then runs off backwards and sideways, any way he can get away, then comes right back and does it again. What a goof. so long as he's having fun, that's all that matters.

Well ready to get back to our movie so, I'll sign off for now. Have a great night.

love Ally

Putting together the nursery

We finally got the crib put together and started setting up the nursery this weekend. We picked up a few packs of baby hangars for the items we've been receiving. We hung those in the closet along with several of my old baby clothes and folded up a few blankets on the shelf. We moved the end table and rocking chair to the other side of the room and made room for the crib and changing table. The crib looks great! It went together very easily and makes it look very official in the room. I put my quilt rack in the room too and hung up a few rag quilts I made along with an old afghan that looks so pretty in there. We will eventually paint the room, and put up shelves, we are just waiting for the sales coming up over labor day to buy the paint. The color will be a soft butter yellow to tie everything together. The shelves are oak planks and we found some great wrought iron brackets to hang the shelves on. It should add to the rustic cowboy look and I cant wait to see it!

We also got a few magazine boxes this weekend and some large storage boxes in bright orange and green for my sewing/crafts room. I am organizing one side of the shelf for a wrapping paper station and so I set up the large boxes on the floor and filled them with all the gift bags and packaging boxes that have been stored in big bins in the back of the closet downstairs that I could never find. I set up the magazine boxes on the shelf and folded up all the tissue paper, flat wrapping paper and tiny gift bags and sorted them each in their own box. I am really happy with it so far. I still have a few roles of wrap to figure out but have put together an elastic band on hooks to stretch over the front of the rolls that also stand on the shelf and holds them in place.

Now I just need to get started on some of the other small projects I have going so that the rooms can start to come together. I am really excited about all of it, and of course as I sit here typing all of this I realize that there is really a lot left to do. It is a bit overwhelming but if I do a bit every week then it should all come together soon enough. well my little eyelids are drooping and Im starting to spell every other word wrong and re- type it, so it looks like beddy-bye time for Ally.

Have a great week, I'll write again soon.

xoxo