We went for our 'Big' ultrasound...the one where all the key measurements are taken to assess fetal development. This is also the u/s that confirms or adjusts due date, as well as the potential opportunity to check out the gender of the baby.
It's been the question on everyone's minds, and we've certainly been curious ourselves, so we have been looking forward to taking this particular diagnostic test for quite a while.
Now, to prep ourselves for potential disappointment, and because it happens quite a bit, I had been joking that our little Peanut would likely prove ornery about showing the goods. I pictured a contrarian fetus crossing its legs, bringing down its hands and hiding behind a privacy bush specially erected to thwart our prying eyes.
Well, it turns out we actually got a semi-OK look, not the best angle, and grainier than usaul visuals. So, our u/s technician announces that, based on what he was seeing we were having...a....
70% Girl.
Huh?!?
Not sure what to make of that, folks. I've been thinking girl myself from the get-go...though according to the baby pool many of you are getting a boy vibe.
So, I guess we're back to wondering and hypothesizing around here. And, scheming on how to get ourselves a coveted 3D/4D ultrasound now to get a really good look inside to see what's going on in there! ;)
In the meantime, keep a lookout for new photos from this last round of scans. Coming as soon as my Scanner Man gets around to it!
xoxo
tara
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Get in on the Baby Pool!
For those who missed it down at the bottom of the page, now's your chance to place your full bet--while we're all fully in the dark. Because, come Wednesday we may know what gender we're brewing in there. Oh, the suspense! It's been 18 weeks waiting for this tidbit of info, and we're hoping Poindexter Peanut is neither shy nor contrary when it comes time to flash the goods! ;)
So, for the full baby pool betting experience, now is the time to get your bets in, folks! Once we know the gender--assuming we do--you can still place a guess on date and weight and length, but that last column (or first, as the case may be) won't be as much of a mystery....though I do hear that occasionally the prediction is wrong, so who knows!?!
Anyway, my point is: PLACE A BET!!!! ;)
And, check back in later this week for new, gripping photos of Peanut's BIG Ultrasound! ;)
So, for the full baby pool betting experience, now is the time to get your bets in, folks! Once we know the gender--assuming we do--you can still place a guess on date and weight and length, but that last column (or first, as the case may be) won't be as much of a mystery....though I do hear that occasionally the prediction is wrong, so who knows!?!
Anyway, my point is: PLACE A BET!!!! ;)
And, check back in later this week for new, gripping photos of Peanut's BIG Ultrasound! ;)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Every party needs some balloons!
So, here are some to entertain, amuse, and possibly challenge and obsess you! Just click the image to open a balloon-y game in a new window! Have fun!
Um....Okay.
Just for fun...clearly not the most psychic blog thing in the world! Anyone else wondering their status? Don't rely on this for an answer! ; )
You May Be Pregnant |
 Yup, you could be preggars! See a doctor to confirm, okay? |
Only 158 days to go!
Or, so says my tracker gizmo... Yup, four months have ticked by and we're into the fifth. Here's the lowdown on how things have been going thus far, and I'll swing in regularly to keep things as up-to-date as exhaustion allows.
Well, first off, I should give y'all some background. We started 'trying' sometime around the end of August. Interesting experience, after a lifetime of successfully employing a finely honed, multi-dimensional, and somewhat paranoid, pregnancy prevention plan to actually set about to actually get pregnant. So odd.
And, of course, never having tried before, we had no idea what kind of potential obstacles to conception might exist...those eggs have lived, ya know?
So, after we experienced our second round of swinging and missing, I decided it was clearly time for a gadget. Not that kind, got that covered. ;) No, it was time for a fertility monitor...time for some scientific guidance, a technological advantage, a new toy to play with that signified the seriousness of this endeavor. Or, as Ross prefers to look at it: Time to spend some money! In short order, a fertility monitor and packet of test sticks were ordered and delivered to the front porch. Aaaah.
This is when I learned that I am completely untalented in the pee-on-a-stick arena. Sigh. The monitor requires that you adorn a stick with your first morning expellation, and further demands that this occur at roughly the same time every morning. Those who know me well can already predict where this is going. And, yes, twice in a 30-day period I managed to miss my 'pee window' by failing to rise before the close of said window--generously (we thought) set to end at 1pm. (Head bowed in pseudo embarrassment, yet tilted with a small dash of pride.)
My favorite pee-on-stick failure, however, was the time when I was groggily still unwrapping the stick when I realized that the opportunity had passed and was awaiting launch to sewerland. Ah well. Note to self: unwrap sticks before ascending throne. This error, at least, was not repeated.
Anyway, some may not be familiar, but the fertility monitor is pretty useless the first month you use it. During this time it is busy figuring out what hormonal levels are normal and calibrating itself so that starting in the second month it can alert you when fertility time is on the rise, peaking, and waning. So, cool...good to know, right? Meanwhile, during that first month, as far as the monitor is concerned, we were a nice level of high-fertility (not peak, mind you, but definitely high) for weeks on end. Hmmmm.
When the monitor cycle was entering into it's 30th day, we raised an eyebrow, but carried on...I mean, I was never particularly great at tracking these things...a general idea of what was expected to happen when, but not precision-oriented. So, who knows, I could have a 32 day cycle for all I know. Well, after a few more days of this, Ross started suggesting that perhaps I might want to pee on another kind of stick some morning soon.
I resisted...I was pretty sure I was PMS-ing, so why waste a stick? We only bought 3 of those, after all...why blow one when clearly there was no way.
A few days after that, on a whim, and slight twinge of 'maybe,' I decided to indulge the curiosity--if only on the theory that disproving the condition would encourage my monthly cycle to get on with it already. So, I peed on the EPT stick and waited to see what happened. According to instructions, this particular brand gave one line (no) or two (yup, knocked up!). I got one very strong line...and then one very, very faint one. I declared us not pregnant. Ross begged to differ, and went online to gain evidence to back up his argument.
So, next day we went for round 2...this stick said the same, faintly positive, thing. Hmmm... But, I'm good at denial, it turns out--despite a lifetime of stark realism. So, off to the Dr. to see what's what. Even with their confirmation, it did take a while before full coming to terms set in. I'm a Taurus, we're stubborn. ;)
This all went down during the week between xmas and New Year's. During this time, and still, to a lesser extent, now, I've primarily contended with extreme exhaustion, intense appetite surges, unflagging heartburn, vicious gastric issues, and a preference to remain unmoving on the couch. I've also had bouts of searing pains, sore muscles and hips, intense back pain, migraines, congestion, and 'pregnancy brain.'
On the up side, I've managed to completely avoid any morning sickness whatsoever. Yea! My skin and hair look pretty much the same as ever--maybe slightly better skin, slightly more frustrating hair. And, I've had a great time enjoying the enhanced, somewhat insane dreaming experience that accompanies this condition. I mean, I've always been blessed with intensely detailed, visually stunning, and entertainingly plot-heavy dreams...but, WHOA!, these are some out there dreams I am having. (One of my favorite, and only, baby-related dreams was the one where I gave birth to a golden retriever puppy with a minor birth-defect (one of its nails was malformed and needed corrective nail-optomy performed). So cute!)
To this point, all of our tests have gone very well, come back completely normal and with encouraging odds. We've gotten to see the Peanut swimming and lazing several times, and had heartbeat checks that all sounded great. Our next ultrasound is scheduled for next week--it's the 'big one' where we may learn what gender we're cooking up, assuming Poindexter Peanut wishes to share this info. We won't be surprised if our fetus proves to be a bit of a rebel, and crosses legs and hands over the crotchal area. ;)
Thank goodness I got a bunch of maternity shopping in last week, because I have definitely begun to pop. For weeks it has looked like I've been letting myself go, pigging out and drinking beer by the keg...finally, it's begun to morph into a more rounded protrusion. It is still possible to mistake with a beer belly, but at least the maternity clothing I got (all supremely cute) manages to frame it in a more positive light.
Aside from the new wardrobe, my favorite pregnancy purchase so far is definitely shaping up to be the pregnancy pillow. It has made sleeping SO much more pleasant. And, now that I'm attempting to spend the majority of my time maintaining proper preggo-position (left side), it's a lifesaver. Winston likes it too...he's pretty good about surrendering it to me when it's bed time, but I can tell he wishes it were his. ;)
So, that pretty much brings y'all up to date. I went on a bit more than I planned, if you made it all the way through, you get a Virtual Shower Brownie Point and big hugs from me for being such a caring, supportive friend! Makes me want to cry! Oh, did I mention the occasional tears brought on by sappy movies like--I kid you not--The Cutting Edge?!? Sigh. I try to get a hold of myself, but damn, them hormones are powerful things!
I'll try to keep you updated as things progress!
xoxo
tara
Well, first off, I should give y'all some background. We started 'trying' sometime around the end of August. Interesting experience, after a lifetime of successfully employing a finely honed, multi-dimensional, and somewhat paranoid, pregnancy prevention plan to actually set about to actually get pregnant. So odd.
And, of course, never having tried before, we had no idea what kind of potential obstacles to conception might exist...those eggs have lived, ya know?
So, after we experienced our second round of swinging and missing, I decided it was clearly time for a gadget. Not that kind, got that covered. ;) No, it was time for a fertility monitor...time for some scientific guidance, a technological advantage, a new toy to play with that signified the seriousness of this endeavor. Or, as Ross prefers to look at it: Time to spend some money! In short order, a fertility monitor and packet of test sticks were ordered and delivered to the front porch. Aaaah.
This is when I learned that I am completely untalented in the pee-on-a-stick arena. Sigh. The monitor requires that you adorn a stick with your first morning expellation, and further demands that this occur at roughly the same time every morning. Those who know me well can already predict where this is going. And, yes, twice in a 30-day period I managed to miss my 'pee window' by failing to rise before the close of said window--generously (we thought) set to end at 1pm. (Head bowed in pseudo embarrassment, yet tilted with a small dash of pride.)
My favorite pee-on-stick failure, however, was the time when I was groggily still unwrapping the stick when I realized that the opportunity had passed and was awaiting launch to sewerland. Ah well. Note to self: unwrap sticks before ascending throne. This error, at least, was not repeated.
Anyway, some may not be familiar, but the fertility monitor is pretty useless the first month you use it. During this time it is busy figuring out what hormonal levels are normal and calibrating itself so that starting in the second month it can alert you when fertility time is on the rise, peaking, and waning. So, cool...good to know, right? Meanwhile, during that first month, as far as the monitor is concerned, we were a nice level of high-fertility (not peak, mind you, but definitely high) for weeks on end. Hmmmm.
When the monitor cycle was entering into it's 30th day, we raised an eyebrow, but carried on...I mean, I was never particularly great at tracking these things...a general idea of what was expected to happen when, but not precision-oriented. So, who knows, I could have a 32 day cycle for all I know. Well, after a few more days of this, Ross started suggesting that perhaps I might want to pee on another kind of stick some morning soon.
I resisted...I was pretty sure I was PMS-ing, so why waste a stick? We only bought 3 of those, after all...why blow one when clearly there was no way.
A few days after that, on a whim, and slight twinge of 'maybe,' I decided to indulge the curiosity--if only on the theory that disproving the condition would encourage my monthly cycle to get on with it already. So, I peed on the EPT stick and waited to see what happened. According to instructions, this particular brand gave one line (no) or two (yup, knocked up!). I got one very strong line...and then one very, very faint one. I declared us not pregnant. Ross begged to differ, and went online to gain evidence to back up his argument.
So, next day we went for round 2...this stick said the same, faintly positive, thing. Hmmm... But, I'm good at denial, it turns out--despite a lifetime of stark realism. So, off to the Dr. to see what's what. Even with their confirmation, it did take a while before full coming to terms set in. I'm a Taurus, we're stubborn. ;)
This all went down during the week between xmas and New Year's. During this time, and still, to a lesser extent, now, I've primarily contended with extreme exhaustion, intense appetite surges, unflagging heartburn, vicious gastric issues, and a preference to remain unmoving on the couch. I've also had bouts of searing pains, sore muscles and hips, intense back pain, migraines, congestion, and 'pregnancy brain.'
On the up side, I've managed to completely avoid any morning sickness whatsoever. Yea! My skin and hair look pretty much the same as ever--maybe slightly better skin, slightly more frustrating hair. And, I've had a great time enjoying the enhanced, somewhat insane dreaming experience that accompanies this condition. I mean, I've always been blessed with intensely detailed, visually stunning, and entertainingly plot-heavy dreams...but, WHOA!, these are some out there dreams I am having. (One of my favorite, and only, baby-related dreams was the one where I gave birth to a golden retriever puppy with a minor birth-defect (one of its nails was malformed and needed corrective nail-optomy performed). So cute!)
To this point, all of our tests have gone very well, come back completely normal and with encouraging odds. We've gotten to see the Peanut swimming and lazing several times, and had heartbeat checks that all sounded great. Our next ultrasound is scheduled for next week--it's the 'big one' where we may learn what gender we're cooking up, assuming Poindexter Peanut wishes to share this info. We won't be surprised if our fetus proves to be a bit of a rebel, and crosses legs and hands over the crotchal area. ;)
Thank goodness I got a bunch of maternity shopping in last week, because I have definitely begun to pop. For weeks it has looked like I've been letting myself go, pigging out and drinking beer by the keg...finally, it's begun to morph into a more rounded protrusion. It is still possible to mistake with a beer belly, but at least the maternity clothing I got (all supremely cute) manages to frame it in a more positive light.
Aside from the new wardrobe, my favorite pregnancy purchase so far is definitely shaping up to be the pregnancy pillow. It has made sleeping SO much more pleasant. And, now that I'm attempting to spend the majority of my time maintaining proper preggo-position (left side), it's a lifesaver. Winston likes it too...he's pretty good about surrendering it to me when it's bed time, but I can tell he wishes it were his. ;)
So, that pretty much brings y'all up to date. I went on a bit more than I planned, if you made it all the way through, you get a Virtual Shower Brownie Point and big hugs from me for being such a caring, supportive friend! Makes me want to cry! Oh, did I mention the occasional tears brought on by sappy movies like--I kid you not--The Cutting Edge?!? Sigh. I try to get a hold of myself, but damn, them hormones are powerful things!
I'll try to keep you updated as things progress!
xoxo
tara
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Don't forget to sign the Guestbook!
Please take a moment to scroll down to the bottom...all the way down to the end...and sign our Guestbook. To enter your name and leave a comment click "Post" at the top of the page. Thank you!
You know you want to...
A pregnant belly enters a room, and lo and behold everyone's an expert with advice to offer.
And, hey, we do our homework, but that doesn't mean we know it all. We can parent furbabies like nobody's business, but the human variety is a bit of a mystery around here. ;)
So, let's hear those gems of insight, those pearls of wisdom, and those tales of baby wrangling genius that might prove useful some pre-dawn morning when Darlin' Baby Jacobs is howling inconsolably and the desperation is setting in. Who knows, by then we might just be willing to try anything!
Offer it up, folks! This is your advice forum...
And, hey, we do our homework, but that doesn't mean we know it all. We can parent furbabies like nobody's business, but the human variety is a bit of a mystery around here. ;)
So, let's hear those gems of insight, those pearls of wisdom, and those tales of baby wrangling genius that might prove useful some pre-dawn morning when Darlin' Baby Jacobs is howling inconsolably and the desperation is setting in. Who knows, by then we might just be willing to try anything!
Offer it up, folks! This is your advice forum...
The Name Game
You know you are dying to weigh in on this one...and we enjoy the endless amusement of critiquing name submissions...so, go ahead! Get creative! Just remember, we reserve the right to scoff loudly, boo heartily, and generally disregard all names that fail to meet guidelines. (What guidelines, you ask? hmph, that's personal!) ;)
That shouldn't hold you back from throwing them out there...you never know, we may just be persuaded by one of your genius suggestions.
Once we get a decent list going, we hope to evolve this into a poll. Who doesn't love a good poll? Woot!
That shouldn't hold you back from throwing them out there...you never know, we may just be persuaded by one of your genius suggestions.
Once we get a decent list going, we hope to evolve this into a poll. Who doesn't love a good poll? Woot!
Place your bets!
Your guess is as good as mine. So, shimmy on up and take your best guess. Is it a boy or a girl? What day will the grand entrance occur on**, and at what time? How big a bruiser do we have swimming around in there? And, the question that's been haunting us since we first started standing next to each other in public (yes, America, we know we're tall!): how long will this string bean turn out to be?
Get in on the action, folks! Grand prize is the satisfaction of proving your psychic abilities once and for all! ;)
**Now, to be fair, and because we all know no self-respecting baby ever arrives on the due date, we feel we should disclose that the Predictive Wheel of Expectation declared that Peanut is due on August 23, 2008.
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