Baby kicks and hammers

My mom and I decided to plant the garden over the weekend. While doing so there was some hammering required to get some metal fencing to stand up for the cucumbers to grow along.

My job was to hold the tall metal stake as my mom hammered away at it, until it was far enough in the ground.

LET ME TELL YOU, Aiden does not like that noise!! It was actually the funniest thing. Mom would start hammering and Aiden would start kicking away right in the center of my stomach, mom would stop hammering, Aiden would stop kicking, and so on. It took maybe three instances in a row for me to realize that he was responding to the hammering sound. and OH MAN was he responding! This went on for a good minute or two until we got the second stake in..

It just so happens that later that night, I had showered and decided to sit out on the patio to enjoy the warm weather, that I felt him kick my hand for the first time.. I've been able to feel some pretty good kicks for a few weeks now, but never on the outside.. All that commotion must of woke him up a little bit. It was the coolest thing ever.

Mike still hasn't gotten to feel it. I think Aiden is shy. I'll feel him start to kick, and I'll tell Mike, but then he stops right away...

Oh well, at least I got to..


Had to share this story...

In other baby news, things are great. All my appointments have been great, I've gained an average of about a lb a month so I'm up to almost 5 lbs now, and going on 6 months. Which THANK GOD it's been do gradual, I did not want to be one of those women who gained 40lbs or something..  I'm measuring perfect, and next week I go in for my sugar test. I've been feeling so good though, I can't imagine my sugar being off..

Lets see.... Does anyone have an opinion on Birthing classes?? Did you take them? If so was it worth it? If not, did you wish you had? I have the option of signing up for them in a few weeks, but I'm on the fence about it. They cost 40$ and we would have to go to four 2hr classes or one 7hr class. I just can't see how watching a video and learning about the birthing process is going to better prepare me. I'm sure that's not what I'll be thinking of when the time actually comes anyways... Give me some input please :)


Also a little update about my knee injury from my previous post this month.. Knee is doing better, but still not healed. Dr. says it's extremely damaged, but we are holding off on MRI's and specialist because I am pregnant. the knee is still swollen and It's been nearly an entire month. I am not longer limping as badly, and require no brace, but it is still sore and stiff at the end of everyday, and boy is it still swollen.. I go for another follow up in two days.. We will see what they say

It's been awhile...

Well  I haven't posted anything in a couple weeks, So I figure I'd better write some things down here, before I start to forget things that have happened..

ALL ABOUT BABY:
                 Things on the baby front have been great, I've been feeling healthy, I've been on a normal sleep schedule FINALLY! I've been starting to feel him kick up a storm, but I've still yet to feel him on the outside, so mike hasn't felt it yet. My Due date moved up from the 14th to the 10th, (which happens to also be Mikes birthday) So as we stand now I am at the end of week 21 of my pregnancy.

I've only gained 4 lbs so far, and have been told that me and baby are right on track, and where we should be. My next appointment is on May 17th.

SHOPAHOLIC:
                I have been on a baby buying rampage!! My mom and I have hit up quite a few garage sales, and two mom 2 mom sales, and I've got to say I've scored quite a bit of stuff... I've actually kept an inventory, so I know what I have and how much I've spent.. So I'll share,

 Bouncer seat 8$
Pack and play 20$
giraffe chair 10$
walker 3$
swing 10$
bath helper .25cents
grooming kit 5$
sling 2$
head support 2$
bed gate 1$
kick and crawl 2$
3 crib sheets 2.75$
2 receiving blankets 2$
BULK Clothes, towels, sleep sacks 20-30$

All in all It's under 100$ and I really did get a lot of stuff.
At this rate, I've kind of got to cool it, the shower is not till August, and I'm not going to have anything left to get if I keep on buying... I did get a little Pea Pod costume for Halloween though, and I am in LOVE with it..

PARTY PLANNING MOMMA:
             My sister and I have also been thinking hard about the planning of my shower. The hall is booked, and I have the invitations already.. They are sooooo cute and I ordered them pre printed with all the info, so I don't have to fill anything out. Complete with my own little rhyme and everything! I want to post a pic, but I don't want to ruin it for when people get them in the mail.

We've got a lot of ideas in our heads for games, and decorations.. Soon here we will be finalizing our plans and start putting them into action. We did make a bunch of Tea light holders out of baby food jars for the tables that look adorable. And we also decided on a Candy theme for the dessert table, so I've been picking up different shapes and sizes of glass canisters that will house anything from Blue skittles, to Blue rock candy on a stick, and guest will be able to make a little take home bag of candy. (It's going to be cute)..

This is the concept, but blue

I've also got a binder full of anything shower related! as crafty as Kayla and I are, I know that everything is going to be just adorable!!


PUPPY PROBLEMS :(
    Not really puppy problems as much as it is my problem.. Mine and my moms dogs gave me quite an injury last week!! Cali (my dog) is a 114lb Rot/lab mix, and Ali (mom's dog) is a 98lb Rot/Shar pei mix. When they "Play" they really play. I was walking across the side yard and the two dogs were running full speed down the hill towards me. I knew they were going to take me out, what I didn't know was how HARD they would hit me, so I braced myself for the blow. What it did was pop my knee inwards and drag my feet across the ground, knocking me to the ground. They trampled me, and even hit me so hard that my shoe came off. I felt something pop or tear, not sure which, and it took a good 10mins before I could even think to attempt to get off the ground. Long story short, A visit to the ER, no broken bones, in a full length leg brace for a week, doctors appt Thursday to determine if I need to see a knee specialist. I cannot bend my leg, I cannot put my own shoes on, I can't lift my foot into my pants, I can't walk properly. I have to use my other foot, or hands to lift or bend my leg. I can't drive. It's been a week and my entire knee is still so swollen I can barley make out my knee cap..

It's frustrating, and I can't say that I've been following all the rules, (the brace is so damn painful) so I haven't been wearing it that often. And I limp around without it. Bad I know.

My main worry is that I do need a specialist and it's something that needs surgery or takes an extremely long time to heal (as some knee injuries do) What am I going to do if I can't bend my leg? I sort of need to bend to legs to push out a baby!! Few more days and I should have some news on the subject... Trying not to worry..



Well, I supposed that's all the memorable things that have happened in the last couple weeks... I'll post again soon :)

Little man has a name!

Well Mike and I have named our son... Aiden Eli Shaw will be joining us sometime this September!

I couldn't be happier about the name, and we both love it. I wanted an Irish name, and Aiden just popped out at me. As far as the Eli it's after my grandfather, whose middle name was actually Elias, but I shortened it.

Mike has heard so many stories about my grandpa Finn, and I couldn't think of a better way to show how much he meant to me. Aiden will get to learn all about his great grandfather, and thanks to my wonderful parents who saved everything, my son will get to swing in the swing that my grandpa made, and use the rocking horse he made for me as a little girl, as well as play with all the wonderful wooden train sets and toys that my grandpa made for me by hand..

There isn't enough things I can say to explain how talented my grandpa was, those of you that knew him, or have seen his work, you know exactly what I mean... It was very important for me to keep some part of my family in Aidens name. And I'm already ordering my dad around telling him he better do things for Aiden like my grandpa did for me..

And Yes this means having an Elf rock at the end of the driveway.. (This probably requires some explaining)
There was a rock at the end of my grandparents drive way. It was there for all of us grand-kids, the corner of the rock could be picked up and lifted off, and it had a little cave in it. My grandpa told us this story about how there were little elves that lived in the ditch, and when kids came over to visit, if we were good, the elves knew it and would put money in the rock for us. So EVERY TIME we came to visit, my sister and I would race to the end of the driveway, and sure enough there was change left for us by "the elves" aka grandpa.. It is one of my favorite memories..

 Aiden is going to have a wonderful childhood.. and I cannot wait for him to get here.

It's a weird kinda happy....

Well folks It's a boy!! It's so strange, I felt in ever bone in my body like it was going to be a girl.. .It's almost as if I already knew it was, but alas I was wrong.. . I'm not really upset, and I'm soooooo Happy that he's healthy and strong, but I almost feel however like I miss my little girl, even though I never really had one.

 This is probably because I've been wanting to be a mom since I was a little girl, and I have Never once pictured myself without a daughter... I guess I just didn't think I'd ever have a son. And I did the horrible thing to myself by getting my hopes so high up...

I thought though that I would be more upset than I am, but really I'm already starting to come to grips with the fact that it's a little man in there... I keep looking at his ultrasound pictures, and I love him already. Hes a cutie (even if he only is 11 oz and the size of a grapefruit)

I do know one thing, this boy is blessed, because I am going to be the best mother that I possibly can be. and he is going to be surrounded with nothing but love...

Still haven't been able to pin down a name.. I've been trying to think about it since I left the Dr's today. I had to stop thinking because I was getting frustrated by it.. When I thought it was a girl, the name came so easy to me.

I know I'll think of something just perfect... but until then, I love my little no-name.

How far along am I really??

Why is it so confusing to know how far along I am in my pregnancy? (sounds dumb) but I keep confusing myself..

Here's how.. I know that I am 18 weeks and 6 days exactly today.. I have this book called the pregnancy journal, according to my book you are 6 months pregnant at 21 weeks, so I would basically be 2 weeks away from 6 months. EXCEPT that this doesn't make since according to the actual calendar..

So then I begin looking and I notice my book is going by something called Lunar months. (HUH??) Technically your due date is 9 months and 7 days or 40 weeks away from the last normal menstrual period.  And it's split into 3 trimesters. Apparently (and this is the internet talking) it can also be split evenly in 10 lunar months, because it is 280 days long...

Why on earth make it so confusing to explain to people?? I have to laugh because I always wondered why when you asked a pregnant woman how far along she was the answer always came in weeks.. Well now I know!! Because they don't have a freaking clue what month they are in.. hahaha All I know is that in 2 weeks I'm going to be 21weeks along, which is either 5 months and a handful of days, or 6 months if we are talking Lunar.. You figure it out.

Just thought I'd share, since I posted onto my Facebook that I was almost 6 months and then it didn't make sense in my head how that could be true.. haha well in any case in 20 weeks and 1 day or less, theres going to be a new baby in this world :)

P.S. I GET TO FIND OUT WHAT BABY IS IN THE MORNING, AND I'LL BE BLOGGING ABOUT IT!!

Feeling like Steve Urkel and I don't give a damn!

If I knew wearing my pants hiked up like an old man was this comfy I would have started doing it ages ago!!

Just thinking about how ridiculous I probably look makes me smile...

The last couple of days I've noticed a significant difference in my stomach, and my clothes are becoming more and more uncomfortable to wear (even though the majority of them still fit).

I've been hanging out around the house in my most comfy YOGA pants, or a pair of sweats... While sitting in front of the computer the waist band was driving me nuts, so I yanked it up over my belly button, damn near to right under my bra line... OMG it feels soooo comfortable to wear my pants like this.. Needless to say I've pretty much been walking around with my pants hiked up ever since... (As long as I wear a longer shirt no one can tell)

Here's the kicker, I'm am thanking my lucky stars that I am short, (5'3) because all of pants pants are always way to long for me anyways (I swear they think every woman is 5'7 or something) with them hiked up suddenly all of my pants are normal length.. (Bonus)

I don't think I could handle walking around in flood pants..

Just thought I'd share since I've been laughing at myself for it today..

Other than that lets see.... I am now in week 17, The only thing I can really complain about is some major headaches.. The most current has been pounding in my head for the last three days straight.. Tylenol helps for like 20 mins and then it comes right back again.
 I've been getting restless twitchy legs when I'm trying to sleep, but a little adjusting of my position and kicking my legs around and it is manageable.
I've got 9 more days until my ultrasound reveling the sex, and man I cannot wait! originally I was supposed to find out tomorrow (which would have been great) but I had to reschedule. I want to start getting things ready, and shopping.. And for those of you that know me well, with all my "itineraries", and planning binders and OCD tendencies, it's a wonder I haven't gone crazy yet trying to plan every little detail out... LOL Like I said 9 more days!!
Although If I'm going to be honest my shower isn't until August, but I already have a planning binder, with a complete guest list, some sample games, a food list, a "mock" table setting sketch. I've got all my invites personalized and saved into my online shopping cart just waiting to be ordered, as well as all of my games for the shower ready to order at the click of a button. I've also got boxes of jars and other things that are going to be turning into DIY candle holders and things for the tables (just waiting on the sex for the color of deco). and a complete list of prize baskets and what the contents will be.. LMAO Like I said for those of you that know me, that hasn't even scratched the surface on my regular "over preparedness"



P.S. I learned a great piece of information today that I don't want to forget.. A woman should re-measure her breast size and buy a new size bra every 6 months, because breast sizes change so often. The true way to measure is to get a tape measure. Measure your bra line. (so where the band around the bottom goes) then measure the largest part of your breast. For example My bra line was 40 and the largest part of my breast is 45. Now take your bra line number (40) and subtract it from your other number (45). the number your left with is your cup size. 1=A 2=B 3=C 4=D 5=DD and so on...  Pregnancy is sure doing wonders, because I sure as heck was not a DD before...

Cocoa butter and Baby Einstein!!

      For as long as I can remember I thought it had been a well known fact that women put cocoa butter on their stomachs during pregnancy to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.. I'm not crazy right? this is a real thing... Because now that I'm starting to show I don't want to get anymore stretchmarks on my belly so I would start using it... EXCEPT my doctor told me to avoid cocoa butter because it contains crazy amounts of caffeine and when soaked into the blood stream will be bad!! Has anyone else heard of this???
      According to the forum section on google, one woman reported being admitted into the hospital because her baby had a very erratic and sped up heartbeat, turns out the cause was slathering cocoa butter on her belly... But other people disputed and claimed this to be UN-true... My question is, if women have been doing this for Eons why now are we supposed to avoid it?? and if I can't use cocoa butter, what can I use to improve my skin elasticity? Who knew being pregnant came with so many rules...


     Next on my "What the hell" list is Baby Einstein DVD's..  My sister and I were shopping around in our local salvation army; when I ran across a collection of Baby Einstein DVD's. now my thinking was that these would be great mind stimulating things for baby to watch from his/ or her swing while mommy is busy, instead of the mind numbing junk that's on TV today... So we check some discs for scratches, and I left the store with 3 of the for 2.99, (which I thought was a great deal.) I got Baby Newton - discovering shapes, Baby Mozart- music festival, and World Animals..
        When I returned home I showed them to my mom who said "those are bad for babies" Apparently a teacher at my moms school said that something in the way the movies are played prohibits babies from learning.. She couldn't really remember what she said exactly. 

Now I defiantly don't want to do anything that is not the best for my baby, so again I did some research.. I came across an article called AFTER CONTROVERSY DISNEY ISSUES BABY EINSTEIN RECALL. intriguing right? Well the jest of the article is basically different organizations were pressuring Disney to stop marketing these products as educational as they aim to set children in front of the television set. certain people were even going as far as saying that these DVD stop children's ability to use their imagination and play. (It is kind of obvious that a child isn't necessarily "playing" if they are stuck in front of a TV) I couldn't find any evidence that these specific DVD's were harmful. If you'd like to check the article out it's http://www.businesspundit.com/after-controversy-dinsey-issues-baby-einstein-recall/ I personally would never set my child in front of a TV for hours anyways. So if they are going to watch a 1/2 hour program I would definitely rather have it be a Baby Einstein DVD than some of these horrible kids shows that are on now-a-days.

What happened to the good old days, when the only time kids watched hours of television was for Saturday morning cartoons (which are now non-existent) When if we wanted to play cops and robbers, we ran around the yard like maniacs with kids from the neighborhood instead of putting a video game in. When not playing outside on a nice day was "Punishment"... We could eat veggies straight from the garden without the fear of some chemical. Licking the spoon and bowl after making a cake was a must (that me and my sister fought over!) So many things are "hazardous" these days. I just want to raise my child to know the fun that I had... Build a fort out of sheets, pretend that the floor is made of lava, imagine that your bed is a boat and save your stuffed animals from the sharks in the water. make believe there's a "twister" on a windy day.. run around the yard barefoot after a summer rain.  Lets not fall asleep to a movie in their bedroom at night, but to a bedtime story read by me. This is the type of mother that I want to be.


P.S. I'm in week 16.... my nausea has been returning a little, and my belly is getting bigger...I've been burping alot, and getting what I think might be heartburn..  I read somewhere that my baby is the size of a light bulb.. My appointment to find out the sex has been rescheduled AGAIN.. now I'll be waiting until the 19th. I bought the baby a hat, and a shirt this week...