What was that?!

We have big news to report today! (No, we have not changed our minds and decided to find out the gender of the baby – sorry) Jeff was able to feel the baby move for the first time last night. I know that will be a common occurrence over the next few months but there is something extra special about the first milestones. We were sitting on the couch and I could feel him/her moving all over the place. I put his hand on it and his eyes got very wide and there was a huge smile! I don’t think I have ever seen a smile that big. The baby must already know and love daddy because s/he moved around quite a bit over the next minute. I wanted to be sure that it was the baby he was feeling and not just other belly movements. It definitely was. I am very happy for him to get to experience some of the really exciting things I have been experiencing for a few weeks now.

Changes

I am excited to report that I actually have things to update you on. First and foremost, I felt the baby move on Friday night! It was the most amazing thing! Those of you that are moms know what I am talking about. On Friday, I was just a day over 17 weeks so I wasn't sure at first that was what it was. I just looked at Jeff and told him that I thought that maybe I had just felt it but wasn't sure. Then, about 45 seconds later, I felt it very prominently and just about jumped out of my skin! The best way I can think to describe it would be like having a June bug enclosed in your hand that is trying to fly away and has its wings flapping. Jeff stopped what he was doing and touched my stomach. I can't wait for the baby to get big enough that he can feel the movement too and experience what I did.

Our other big news is that I have been able to eat normally all week! That may not sound like a whole lot to some of you, but trust me - to me, it is a big deal. I am still taking the Zofran for anti-nausea every 6 hours but as long as I take them, I can eat. If you know me, you know I love food. I had a long list of things that I couldn't wait to eat and I have been digging in all week. First on the list was salad from Olive Garden. That was delicious! Then, it was on to Basil Fried Rice at Jasmine Thai (I know that it doesn't sound that great but it is very tasty!). The bonus to the Thai restaurant is that it is also a favorite for some of my really good friends (Erin and Nick) so Jeff and I were able to meet up with them for lunch last Saturday. Dad and Mom Reed were in town on Saturday night and we went to Champps for dinner, also very tasty. Boy, reading back on this is sounds like I have been a pig! I promise I am also cooking at home, ha-ha. The only other place left on my "must eat" list is On the Border Mexican. Once I get that (and we already have plans with our friends Becky and Keith), I will have completed my list and we can get on to the list of things that I have been wanting to cook but haven't been able to.

I am wearing maternity clothes now. A BIG thank you to my friend Jess for passing down her totes of clothes! Also to Mom and Dad Cox for the clothes that they have sent my way. I also got some work clothes for Christmas that have been coming in very handy. I am sort of in an awkward -- maternity clothes still seem a bit big and unnecessary but my regular shirts are too short and pants are uncomfortable -- stage. We are going to Florida (in 16 days!!) and there are not too many summer clothes out in stores yet. I did find a cute maternity suit though (that was excitement in itself for me because I had found suits -- just not anything that I would wear). Thanks Target!

Check Up

I had a dr.'s appointment this morning. Jeff wasn't able to go because he worked over an extra 3 hours last night and didn't get to bed until right before I left for work. He hates missing appointments (and the opportunity to hear the heartbeat) but he needed to sleep.

All is well with the bean. Today was the 1st time that he did belly measurements. The doc said that the baby is growing at a normal rate. I am still a little under my pre-pregnancy weight but I actually gained 3 lbs! I am still not sure how that happened because I have to fight to keep food down. Maybe it has something to do with fast food (Burger King) staying down better than most foods. Hmmm....I hate that though. I am normally such a healthy eater with fruits and vegetables. Someone told me that the grease actually helps to settle the stomach. I guess it makes some sense but I am hoping to be able to each much healthier soon. Another bit of good news is that while the doctor said that the nausea may not go completly away, it should be substantially better over the next few weeks. (Of course, he has been telling me this for weeks!)

Our next ultrasound is set for March 12th -- this is the big one where they could determine the gender if we wanted them to. Their policy is that the technician will not even check on the gender so noone in the office will know and accidentially tell us. I set this appointment for the afternoon to make sure Jeff would be able to make it. We are very excited to see how much s/he has grown.

The Nursery

At this point the room that will be the nursery still looks like any other spare bedroom. There are still several things to do before we are ready to paint and start decorating, but we have the theme and are pretty sure about the color scheme and paint colors.

We like the dark red around the frog for the bottom half of the room and either the tan around the puppy or the kitten for the top half.

Stay tuned for more pictures as we actually start on the room. (Which means we have to get the "office" organized so we can merge my craft table out of the nursery and into it -- oh the projects.)

So far...

At the start of this blog, we are just over 16 weeks along. We found out that we were expecting on November 3rd. There was a rush of feeling after our emotional eptopic pregnancy and loss in July of 07. Jeff and I are both SO EXCITED about being parents and the arrival of our "little one" (as Jeff always says). It is scary to think that we are going to be responsible for another human being and for helping him or her become an asset to society. BUT...one thing at a time and first things first. Let's just get him or her here 1st!

I have been pretty sick since about week 6. There have been ups, downs, IV's, weight loss and anti-nausea meds. The term morning sickness is definitely misleading....it has been more like morning, afternoon, evening and night sickness. We kept looking to week 13 as the light at the end of the tunnel -- the sickness only lasts until the end of the 1st trimester right? ha-ha....wrong! Honestly though, what it really comes down to is that I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. I cannot think of any better reason to be sick. Besides, I think it has helped me to prepare for this baby. You may be shocked to hear that I may just be a little Type A, or more bluntly called -- anal. (ok, you can stop laughing now). All of this sickness has forced me to realize that my house is not going to fall down if it is not clean, friends and family will not stop visiting if there is clutter and I am not going to get fired from my job for leaving some things for tomorrow. Jeff has been wonderful -- he has pitched in and done more than his fair share around here, went without the home cooked meals and been a rock for me. All of our friends and family have been very supportive and loving. We are so lucky to have so many that care and want to be involved in our lives and be close to welcome this baby!

At 16 weeks we are getting things together for the nursery, thinking about names, starting to see a belly bump and waiting anxiously!