The business of being born

Finally started watching this on Netflix today...everyone on my baby board recommends it. Let me just say, I only made it through the first half hour. I'm actually surprised the doctors they showed weren't walking around with devil horns! It was a total lynching of modern medicine. I have had my fair share of terrible OB's and maybe if I had stuck with one of them I'd be more inclined to reach out to a Midwife, but I adore my current OB and I am fully confident in them doing what is best for me and baby NOT themselves.

I do believe, however, that many women these days have a misconception of birth. I was recently told by a coworker that because I'm overweight I will have to have a c-section. Really?! I know plenty of overweight women who have delivered vaginally and did just fine. When I first became pregnant I was almost praying for a c-section because the thought of labor pains scared the bejesus out of me! After looking at some information on my baby board (including pictures) I would like to avoid a c-section like the plague. Also when I first became pregnant I was scared to the point of tears about delivery. Now I'm a little more confident in my body and while I am not at all set on a natural delivery, I would like to hold off on an epidural as long as possible.

On a side note, my Glucose test is on Monday...eep! I also get to see my little man again though since they didn't get all the images of the heart they needed. We will also be starting our birthing classes soon, we opted for the online version since I am back to having crazy hours.

Latest Purchases

As much as Troy tries to control my spending, some things I just can't pass up! We got our tax return so I knew there were a few things we had to get.

Baby book that we got from Hallmark

Boo boo bunny...apparently these things aren't as popular as I thought. I LOVED mine as a kid, so the baby gets his own

Hawkeye Football we will use as a "guest book" at the baby shower and then display in the baby's room. (Yes Jodi, you will have to sign it! :P)

I've realized there's a lot of people who are still worried about me losing this baby, even at 23 weeks with no prior complications. (Knock on wood) It's a common fear for women on my baby board, and I know friends and family are telling me to be careful. While I completely understand anything could happen at any minute, after trying for so long and being a total basket case my first trimester, I have come to terms with this and REFUSE to live the next 16 1/2 weeks in fear. I believe that I deserve to enjoy this time, regardless of what might happen. Even if I carry full term there's always something that could happen, but I will not go day to day worrying about the "what ifs." So while I appreciate everyone's concerns just know that I am ok (as is baby) and I won't let these fears consume me like I did the fertility treatments. So I would greatly appreciate it if we could all just enjoy this time and anxiously await the arrival of Baby Stuart. (I think we've decided on Logan Parker for the name, but we aren't completely sure yet.)

Ultrasound

I never thought the day would come, but we had our mid-pregnancy ultrasound yesterday. It was amazing. I was so nervous/excited. I had fully prepared myself for the chance that we wouldn't be able to find out but I was not prepared for the news we got. It's a BOY! Everyone (myself included) thought it was a girl. I thought I'd be more disappointed, but I'm totally thrilled. I think at this point it doesn't matter. So we have ourselves a handsome little man...mommy and daddy are both on cloud 9. Daddy is already planning all the Packers stuff he's going to buy.

I did get a call from the doctor today. They said everything looked good but they didn't get enough pictures of the heart. At first I was freaking out, I was almost in tears. But I called Troy and posted on my baby board and I am much calmer now. This is a lot more common than I thought, and other than showing off his boy bits, he was a very stubborn baby yesterday. His little bottom was nuzzled in my right hip, the tech said he was literally as far into my hip as he could be and refused to move! I rolled from one side to another, I walked around, I even peed and he still wouldn't budge. The other thing I got to thinking was if it was something serious they would want me in right away. They're waiting until March 5th when I have my glucose test. They'll do a real quick ultrasound while I'm waiting to have my blood drawn just to check the heart again.

The tech said he has really long legs. His legs were measuring at 22 weeks and I'm only 20 and a half weeks. He's going to be tall like daddy too! Anyway, here's the best ultrasound pictures we got. 

The joys never stop

Over the last couple weeks I have started to feel baby move more and more...within the last couple days I am now convinced I have a gymnast in there! Just this morning I had the computer propped on my belly and I could feel the baby kicking right where it was, so being the wonderful mommy I am, I moved the computer. It is absolutely amazing to feel all of this and I can not wait for Troy to be able to feel it. Awhile back I laid on my stomach for a couple minutes so Troy could rub my back and when I rolled back over I could feel this big, hard lump on my left side. I tried to get Troy to feel it, but baby had moved already. A couple days ago I felt a hard, smaller lump in about the same area, I'm assuming it was a hand or foot...or knee or elbow.

Monday is the big day and I can hardly wait! I have threatened the baby with no more Chinese if it doesn't cooperate on Monday. Let's hope it doesn't decide to start it's rebellion against mom and dad this early!