19 Weeks - First kicks for dad!

I have been feeling flutter movements since 17 weeks, but not really any abrupt kicks. On Sunday morning, Chase and I were laying in bed and I could feel very distinct kick movements. I put Chases's hand on my belly and waited. "Did you feel that?" "No." "How about that?" "Nothing." Then suddenly he had the biggest smile on his face! He felt 3-4 good kicks. It was so fun! That was 18 weeks and 5 days.

I hadn't gained any weight up through about 15+ weeks. But I am 19 weeks tomorrow and I have gained 6-7 pounds and my appetite is through the roof! Annnnnd none of my pants fit. Kind of inconvenient, but of course worth it!.

18 weeks

This last week I felt Kate move twice (I think)! It feels just like everyone describes it; like a flutter of butterfly wings. It is very subtle but so fun! My stomach has also really popped out more this week. And I have finally starting gaining weight! I didn't gain any weight before 15 weeks, but I am about 18 weeks now and I have put on about 4 pounds. Hoping for about a pound per week. I also had heartburn twice his week. It's not bad unless I over eat! Now that Kate can hear, I am listening to Disney/Broadway music on pandora at home and singing at the top of my lungs! I also listen to Josh Groban type Christmas music at work. I also started our registry at Target and Amazon. It's a blast getting ready!

Chase and I went to a "first time parent class" at IMC this week and it was fun! Six couple all expecting came to hear about hospital procedures. Susan, the RN that taught the class,talked about developement, nutrition, and pregnancy a bit. She also showed a part of The Miracle of Life. But my favorite part was  at the end when we went on a short tour of the labor and delivery and maternity wards. So good to see! I now feel much more prepared for being at the hospital!   When we arrive, we check in, pre registered of course! And go to triage for about an hour and make sure it is time to be admitted. My goal is to get to the hospital when I am pretty well progressed! I don't want to be sent home home. Then there are delivery rooms that have showers, tubs, and jetted tubs. I really want a jetted tub for labor (not delivery)! Then they showed us the delivery beds- so cool! I am so happy about the options I will have to labor and deliver with. They have birth balls, squat bars, etc. IMC also has a sacred hour policy- they try to get the baby immediately on mom's chest and do not move the baby for at least an hour. I am SO happy about that! I still need to find out what Chase's options to help deliver and cut the cord are, and ask about delayed cord cutting. The maternity ward is pretty straight forward. They encourage breastfeeding and rooming in, which I am so happy about! They have lactation consultants on staff and breastfeeding classes every morning! To say the least, I feel like my ideal labor, delivery and birth will be supported by the hospital where we have chosen to deliver. Now I need to talk details with my doctor! 

This weekend, Connie, Megan and I did our annual overnight-er in Salt Lake. So fun! We shopped a bit and stayed up until 4 am talking. We talked a lot about birthing and what I want and how it was for Connie. I really like hearing other people's stories and experiences. It makes me feel like I am preparing well and I have a good chance to have the birth I want. I am actually looking forward to the whole thing!! However, regardless of how the process pans out, the end goal is a healthy baby and healthy mom. So I am prepared to do whatever I need to in order to get to that goal! 

16 Weeks

Today I am 16 weeks! We get to find out the gender today and I am so excited! Chase and I are going today at 4:45. We are going to have a little party at my mom's house tonight to tell family and friends what we are having. I can't even guess! If I really had to guess, I think I would say girl, but it could be either (obviously 50/50). I thought from the beginning it was a girl, for no reason really. But the last two weeks I have been thinking it could be a boy. I would love to have a mini Chase, of course! Chase and I really love the name Kate for a girl. I would say we are 99% decided on that. I can't think of something that would make us change our minds. We actually decided on Kate for a girl when I had my miscarriage last year, and we still love it. No middle name for a girl. I didn't have a middle name growing up, and I didn't mind it at all. I actually thought it was cool. And I love that I have Calton as my middle name now. For a boy, we are having a harder time on a name. I really love Adam or James, after my Grandpa James Merrill Bean. We talked about Corbin, but I don't love that one anymore. And middle names are hard too. We will probably use a family name. Anyway, it will be so good to know if we are having a boy or a girl so that we can decide!

My bump has started to be more consistent too, rather than depending on what I eat. Now it is always there! I have noticed when I bend over or lay on my stomach that it gets in the way. And my boobs are enormous. I am getting my energy back too! I actually have motivation to get things done when I get home from work each day. I also had some cravings! I went through a Taco Bell crunch wrap supreme phase (three trips in 24 hours). And I am loving juice! All kinds, but mostly orange, cranberry, grape and grapefruit.

I also started researching birthing options. I read "Ina May's guide to Birthing" and I really liked it. It talks about the benefits of non-medicated and no intervention births. My favorite part was how she talked about movement in labor and delivery. My biggest reason for not wanted an epidural is so I can move around a lot and help my body do its job. I also really loved the emphasis on how normal it is to give birth, and how the uterus will usually do most of the work it you let it! Rather than fight contractions and weaken the urge to push, just go with it. And, give your body time to do the work. Don't be in a hurry.

After that book I started "Birthing From Within." Kelli Green, a friend in my ward, gave it to me. She had her second baby natural and said the book helped. I am only 50 pages in and I really like what it talks about. It emphasizes how important it is to have support and people around you that are on the same page, and how giving birth connects you to all mankind and other mothers. It also talks about imagery and visualizing. If I were it visualize labor, it would be peaceful and slow at home, but then when we go to the hospital, my imagery gets very foggy and scary. I have been very concerned about how hospital staff will respond to my birth plan, so I think that is why. The book also says I should come up with my question about birth. My question is, will I feel supported? Because if I don't, I know I will be frustrated and sad. So I have talked to Chase about all of this and I think the process of preparing will be more than adequate to subdue my fears.

Then! I went to the labor and delivery page on the IMC website and wow! There is so much information. It made me feel so much better. IMC supports the "sacred hour" after the baby is born. Staff tries to give the mother time to hold the baby skin to skin for that long, without interruption. I love this!! I would be so sad if a nurse took the baby right when it was born, unnecessarily. IMC also supports rooming in rather than the nursery, and breastfeeding. All good things! But I think the most relieving thing I found was support for a birth plan (I have one already written). They have a questionnaire type plan that I can print and bring with me to labor and delivery. It has a list of approved visitors, how to handle pain medications, and labor preferences. Some of the things on the list are jetted tub (YAHOO!!), birth ball, squat bar, etc. Yes to all! I feel so much better after knowing these options are available. And after several conversations with my doctor and hospital staff, I think I should feel more and more ready.

Gender Reveal!

It's a GIRL! When Chase and I were talking the night before we found out, we were both 50/50. But the next day, I felt like it was a girl. When we were driving to the hospital for our appointment, Chase said, I want a girl. And during the ultrasound, we kept looking for anything that made us think it wasn't a girl, and we didn't see anything! Dr. Barton checked several times at various angles and didn't see anything (besides a couple of little lines that are her girl parts). He said he is 80-90% sure it is a girl. And we are SO happy! Here are some pictures and video...

I didn't get emotional when we found out because I wasn't surprised! Then in the car after I thought of sweet baby Reagan and got a little teary. I am so, so excited.

We have already chosen a name: Kate. No middle name. Just Kate. I love how it is sweet for a baby, a little girl, and sophisticated for an adult and grandma! And the full name, Kate Reynolds, sounds so good! I just love it. We have loved this name for a long time, so I am really grateful that we get to use it on our first baby.

On our drive up to Ogden to our gender reveal party, we talked about things we will get to do with a girl. Chase will get to learn how to do pig tails, and he will screen all of her dates. Kate and I will go back to school shopping and I will drive her to lessons. I am so glad Chase and I get to do this together.

When we got to the gender reveal party at my mom's house, it was hard not to tell family first! But when everyone got there, family and friends, we had each person pick a guess (pink or blue/green sticker), write a name suggestion on the sticker, and wear it around. If you guessed girl, you stood in front of the pink streamers and blew up a pink balloon. And blue for boy. The blue balloons didn't blow up, and the pink ones did! I am so glad we decided to do a little party, it was really fun! Here are some pictures...

I am so relieved to know the gender (and have a name picked out!). Now we will register, get the nursery ready, and wait! We have another appointment December 23rd at 20 weeks and 1 day. This is the big ultrasound where all the little details are checked, and gender can be re-confirmed by the more sophisticated ultrasound. Next up, though, is a First Time Parent class at IMC on December 3rd!

12.5 Weeks

We had another ultra sound at 12.5 weeks. Lauren came with Chase and I. It was AMAZING. The baby now looks like a baby! The arms and legs are long and we could see the individual finger bones by the baby's face. We saw the its face too! Towards the end, the baby started jumping off the wall of my uterus. So neat! Here is the video...

Since my VERY minor nausea ended around 8 weeks, I  have only noticed being really really tired. When come home from work all I want to do is sleep! And when I am working on the, I get winded and tired really fast. But I cannot complain, pregnancy seems to be relatively easy for me!

11 Weeks

Today I am eleven weeks along. I told my boss about the baby and it could not have gone better. I had a nightmare last night that it went horribly, but it was very smooth. Tom is a great boss. He makes sure I know how much he values me as an employee. He perfectly balanced his congratulations with sadness, because I won't be coming back full time. He made it very clear that there is nothing more important in life than parenthood. It has been his greatest joy. He was very understanding of whatever I decide to do from here on out. I am relieved to have had that conversation.

I also told Sarah. It was hilarious. She did not catch on at all so when I finally told her "I am pregnant" she calmly said, "Oh you are." And then did a double take, and was excited. It was too funny. I also told a couple of my friends that are also expecting. It's really fun to tell people in person, I think. So we are making sure we tell all of our close friends and family before any online announcement. My next ultrasound is next week and I am SO excited!!

Ten weeks

I already feel like I am swollen in my mid section, but I have only gained a pound. I started out at 145 pounds, and I am hovering around 146 lately. I am pretty sure it is mostly in my boobs. Super swollen! I am trying to keep first trimester weight gain to a minimum because I really would have liked to get pregnant at 138 pounds. While weight gain is far from the most important thing, I want to keep it healthy. Hopefully I will top out at 170.

Chase and I have talked about names lately too. We have loved the name Kate for a girl for about a year. I am 99% sure that is our girl name. Our boy name right now is Corbin. Chase has a good friend, Corbin Gale, who we love, and we love the name. I am not sold on that one yet, but we will find out the gender before we spend too much time on the name.

We are mostly focused on getting the house done. I am trying to manage cash flow while also moving the project forward and it's tough. Chase is busy in school but helps when he can. Connie has been a life saver. She comes over several days every week to offer her help and it has made a huge difference. When we were in St. George, Chase asked Connie if she would surprise me by finishing the paint on the basement fireplace. And she did so much more! Rich, Tiffany, Sarah, Hona, Henry, and Megan all came to help. They got the entire basement painted, touch ups and all. They installed the basement toilet, cleaned the basement windows and screens,  started the shower hardware, fixed a huge hole in the wall in the upstairs bathroom, sealed the basement tile and grout, mudded the upstairs office walls, moved a light switch and primed the hallway. Basically 40+ hours of labor while I spent time with Chase in St. George. I cried when I came home to the best surprise!

Speaking of St. George, the marathon went great! I mean, considering I was 8+ weeks pregnant, had hardly trained, and I have knee issues. Lauren and I ran the whole thing together and finished at 4:27. We had initially tried for 4:20 (10 minute mile pace) but miles 20-24 were REALLY hard so we fell off pace a bit. We felt great for the first ten, like we weren't even trying. Even the big hill at miles 7 was not a big deal. We stopped on the way up because we spotted open potties, then kept moving. The hill continues gradually for another 4 miles or so. That took it out of us a bit. At about half way we had our first little hiccup. Lauren stopped to stretch and get an icy hot rub for her hamstring. The next 7 miles went great, we just had to work a little harder than the first 10. We had only stopped at aid stations to drink water and then we would run again. Lots of water, gatorade, orange slices, and gu. At miles 16 Chase, Sean, Alfie and the kids came to cheer for us. At this point I handed off the banana I had been carrying for 16 miles in case of hunger. Seeing our people was definitely a highlight. Then at mile 20, I hit a little wall. My knees, ankles, hips and back started to hurt SO bad. It wasn't muscle pain, just joint pain. Luckily, no IT band pain (a miracle) and no cramping in the baby area. The next four miles felt like 20, but Lauren held back a little and stayed with me. At mile 24, the 4:30 pacer passed us. That was enough to kick us into high gear. We finished strong with sub 9 minute miles and it was fun! We finished without injury=success!

That night I was in a lot of pain, still just the joints. The next two days were more just muscle pain. And now I feel great!

At nine weeks and two days we got to another ultra sound. Perks of being a "high risk" prego. Dr. Barton has me coming in every two weeks up to this point. Chase got to come with me this time and I am so glad! It was so fun to be together and it became a little more real for both of us. Here are the pictures and video...


Can you even believe it! The baby already moves around! I was so excited to see that! What a neat experience. I don't think I ever appreciated how fast a tiny embryo turns into a functioning baby! I learned that at ten weeks, everything is in place and from this point forward the baby mostly just gets bigger. There is still lots of developing to do, but all of the organs are formed and present. I love looking up the different developmental stages every few days. I measured two days early at my last ultrasound and this time I measured three days early. This is good! My due date is Tuesday, May 10th. Chase finishes spring semester April 29th and starts summer semester May 9th. So we are hoping for May 1-4 so we Chase can have a week off to be with us! I think we have a decent chance because I was 8 pounds 3 ounces on my due date, and Chase was 8 pounds 6 ounces three weeks early. So if we have a big baby we have a better chance at going a week early.

We had the family pumpkin patch party a few days ago, always a good time! I saw Maggie who is 21 weeks along with a boy and it was fun to chat about things! She wants to name her boy John and call him Jack.

I told Emily about the baby last week and she was so excited! She asked to be an honorary aunt, and I think she'll make a good one. We also told the Lakeys because Loni saw the ultrasound on the fridge! They are excited for us too.

Today is Chase's birthday and I am ten weeks and one day. Chase is really sick and has a chemistry test, so we may celebrate tomorrow. But I just can't help but be grateful that, even when days are long and hard, we are really blessed with everything that is going on in our lives right now.