Welcome to the 2nd Trimester

Well, the first trimester really is over now! YEAH! Overall, it wasn't too bad. Main "symptoms" were:

• Nauseousness for a few weeks, but no sickness
• EXTREME tiredness - I needed a nap or to go to bed at 8pm each day
• Overall nervousness that everything was going okay
• Consistent "colds" - I don't think pregnancy caused this, but it didn't help me get better
• Getting fatter. Screw all the books that say "you won't be showing until the 2nd trimester." BOO to you! Although maybe people couldn't tell I was pregnant, they were thinking I was gaining weight as I started to develop a spare tire around week 8.
• Total inches gained: 2, but by the end of the day, it goes up 1 more inch
• Total weight gained: It's hard to say because it fluctuates so much each day. My best guess is 4 pounds.

I am very happy to be in the 2nd trimester and cannot wait for my doctor's appointment on April 1st!

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

So I started teaching the kids about safe and unsafe products in their house like cleaning supplies. We discussed what might happen if we smell, touch or taste any of these products. They guessed many of the correct consequences and then I told them how for pregnant ladies, we have to be careful around the chemicals too because they can cause something to happen to the baby. I told how I'm not supposed to use strong chemicals or if I do, I need lots of air to breathe (remember, I teach kindergarten). So one of the boys said, "So, when you go home, do you just get to be lazy?"

Of course retelling this story to Tom he said, "You better have said yes!" as he stands there doing the dishes! ;) Thank you Tommy!

Last Day of First Trimester!

Well, not technically. I mean, a month is supposed to be 4 weeks, I just finished my 12th week, so that's the end of 3 months, right? Well, I guess first trimester ends after 13 weeks. So to commemorate the almost end of the first trimester, here is the first real belly picture. Tom has been telling me to document more, but I did not think my belly was looking that large, but apparently it is now. MANY of my co-workers made comments about the belly or touched it today. I even received two more "girl votes" (thanks Monica and Amy!) based on how the baby belly was looking.

By the way, I think the camera added 4 inches, because I really don't think my belly looks as big as it does in the picture. Maybe it's just the shirt....who knows....

End of 12 weeks:

Pounds gained: 1

Inches in belly gained: 2

1st Day Wearing "Typical" Maternity Clothes

So today was the first day I wore typical maternity clothes, even though the top wasn't even maternity. I felt more pregnant wearing my new bigger clothes. Anyway, I'm trying to document so many things, so here's it is:

Getting Bigger

So I always thought pregnancy would be fun because you were able to put on weight, but it's "baby weight" so it would be cute. Well guess what? It's not so cute.
This weeekend I went shopping with my mom to find some maternity clothes, not that I've gained any weight, but my clothes are definitely tighter on me and I needed longer tops. I tried finding a few tops in regular clothes, but medium definitely did not fit anymore, so large it is. I bought quite a few new clothes to get me through the end of the school year, but 85% of them were maternity and I sort of looked chubby in all of them! And tops that I would have usually needed a tank top to wear underneath if you know what I mean, suddenly fit me just fine. It's sort of strange, this new body that I have. I didn't think it looked that different but apparently it has a mind of it's own!

Guess the gender

I know I still have 9 more weeks until we figure out the gender, but from the moment I found out I was pregnant, I have thought it was a girl. Here is my evidence:

• I'm sort of psychic
• Lynne told me "You know it's a girl"
• Beth H had a dream (before we told her) that she was playing with her granddaughter. She had this same dream before Reese said she was pregnant and did have a girl
• The Ancient Chinese Conception Chart says it's a girl. According to my cousins, it has been right for all them.
• When I was pregnant in October I was sure it was a boy and the Chinese Chart agrees
• The baby's heart rate was 170. Theory is heart rates over 140 are girls.

Son, I apologize when you see this someday. It's not that I don't want a boy, but a girl first would be nice. Don't worry, Daddy wants a boy!

Telling Kindergarteners!

For some reason, the thought of telling my class I'm pregnant was terrifying! I had anxiety about it all day. So I waited until the last 15 minutes of school to tell them. AND MAN! They were SO excited! I honestly didn't expect them to be excited about it. So here are a few comments after the announcement:

One of the things I said when I told them was that my belly is going to be getting bigger, because I'm having a baby, not because I'm fat - so don't call me fat! :)
Student 1: "We wouldn't call you fat"
Student 2: "But you are going to get bigger"
Student 3: "Like this big!" (holds out arms in front making a pregnant belly)

Student 1: "Is it a boy or a girl?"
Me: "I don't know yet"
Students (all at once): "I think it's a boy!" "I think it's a girl!"
Me: "I won't find out for a while, not until May"
Student 2: "That's my birthday month!"
Student 3: " Can we vote on what we think it will be?"
Me: "Of course!"
Student 4: "Can we set up a polling booth like for the election?"
Me: "Sure"

Student: "How big is it?"
Me: "Not very big" (put fingers 2 inches apart)
Student: "Oh, it has to get to be this big" (shows me actual baby size)
I guess he thought I didn't know

Student: "You know, you have to get your belly cut open"
Me: "Well, I might not have to"
Student: "Well, how else does the baby come out?"
Me: "Um....ask your mom"

Student: "Hey! We need to go tell Mrs. Cochran (other Kindergarten teacher)!"
Me: "She already knows"
Like they were really the first to hear! How cute!

Some of the first graders were very excited when they heard because I had some of those children for two years (I taught Pre-Kindergarten one year and Kindergarten the following year). One of the students said "Geez! I had her two years and she couldn't get pregnant then!"

Oh those kids!

St. Matt's knows!

Announcing I was pregnant at work was more fun that I thought! I think my favorite comment was from Monica: "I've been waiting for this!" Thanks for all the hugs and congratulations today ladies (and the few gentlemen)! You made my day! Now...how to tell my class?

The Heart is a-beating!

Today we heard the baby's heartbeat! The nurse told us it might be difficult to hear since I am only 10.5 weeks, but that she was very persistent. At first it was just a bunch of fuzzy sounds and I felt like that scene in Signs, where they are all holding the baby monitors up in the air hoping to hear the aliens message. There was a lot of poking and prodding around to find that teeny tiny heartbeat but after about 15 minutes of it all, there is was, this fast little beat going 170 miles per hour - or beats per minute or something! We only got to hear it for a few seconds, but it was quite cool and amazing. Much better than just that baby dot ultrasound we had!

Welcome Baby!

February 4, 2009 Our First Ultrasound!

So an ultrasound at six weeks doesn't show much, more like a dot. So here is our Baby dot! But a dot is better than nothing. I'm glad our doc had us come in so early to ease any fears. After a miscarriage in October, I am very anxious for everything to go well. Seeing a tiny dot on a fuzzy black and gray screen made me feel so much better and at ease!