Preparing for Baby's Arrival

On Thursday, February 25, I went to see Dr. Swanson for my 38-week check up with Kevin in tow. Dr. Swanson did his usual exam and then checked my cervix to see if I was dialated yet, which, according to him, I was to a one. After he finished his exam, he looked at us and told me that he wanted me to check into the hospital Sunday night at 5 p.m. and he would meet with me at the hospital first thing Monday morning. Not really sure about what is going on, we said okay and went home.

Well, once Kevin and I got home, we realized that there was still quite a bit a things that we needed to do before the baby's arrival, like finish hanging up pictures in the nursery and going to have some maternity pictures taken.

On Sunday morning, Kevin and I went to the mall and had some maternity pictures taken of us before the baby came. This was the first time the two of us had had our pictures taken like that, aside from our wedding, was when we had first started dating, nearly twelve years ago. That task alone nearly took all afternoon. Needless to say, we didn't make it to the hospital on time, but when Kevin is involved, when are we ever on time!

27 weeks and counting

Well, a lot has happened over the last two weeks. Here's a recap:

On December 1, 2009, as I was laying on the couch watching TV while Kevin was getting ready to go to work. While lying down, the baby started to move and kick quite a bit for about 15 to 20 minutes or so. When Kevin came out in to the living room, I told him to come over to me. He looked at me funny and told me that he was getting ready for work. I told him to come over to me again, and he did. I told him to put his hand on the side of my abdomen and hold it there. He then put his hand where I told him to and waited a few seconds. He looked at me and said, I don't feel anything. I told him to have some patience. After a few seconds, he looked at me and had a big grin on his face, the baby had kicked him in the hand pretty hard a couple of time. He was so excited. I don't think I could have given him a better birthday present.

The next day was his birthday. With him being so hard to shop for because he never asks for anything, I decided to get him a "Family" photo frame and put a couple of pictures in it. I put one of the two of us together, a picture of my growing belly that he took and a picture of the last ultrasound that was done. We went out to dinner with him mom, step dad and sister that night. After dinner, I presented Kevin with his present.

Needless to say, Kevin loved the present. So did everyone else.

Also on December 2, 2009, I had to go to the lab to have my glucose test done to see if I have gestational diabetes. (I'm told that every pregnant woman has to do this test.) it is a test where they make you fast overnight and go in first thing in the morning, drink a really sugary flat orange soda tasting drink and then wait an hour before they draw your blood. Well, I go the test results back yesterday and was told that I have to go back and take the three-hour test because my glucose level was elevated. I was also told that my iron count was low, but all I had to do to fix that problem is take an iron supplement at night. I will be going back to the lab on Monday to have the long test done.

Yesterday, I also had my 27 week checkup with Dr. Swanson. Other than the glucose issue, my pregnancy is going great. The baby does not like the doppler that the doctor/nurses use to check the baby's heartbeat as it just moved around every time the doctor tried to get a reading. i go in and see him again on December 28th, then in January I start seeing him every two weeks and then in February its every one week until the baby's born.

Only 13 more weeks or so!

25 weeks.....

As of today, I am 25 weeks along in the pregnancy. That leaves me with 15 more weeks, give or take a few days, to go until our little bundle of joy arrives.

Yesterday, I went and had a maternity massage at Zena's Island Day Spa. It felt soooo good. I would love to have one of those pillow things they have that has a whole in the middle so you can lay on your tummy and not put any pressure on the baby. I think that it might help me sleep a little better at night as I have always been a tummy sleeper. I only had the 30 minute massage, but am thinking that if I go again, I will do the hour long one next time.

The baby has been moving quite a bit the last few days. I can feel it as it swims about. I can only imagine how big it is by now as it's movements are getting stronger everyday. My only concern about the baby moving this much at this point is it wrapping the umbilical chord around it's neck. I guess it's something that I can talk to my doctor about at our next visit.

Baby movements....

A few nights ago, Kevin and I were laying in bed watching TV when the baby started moving/kicking me pretty hard in my tummy. Kevin looked at me as I winced a little in pain as the movement had caught me off guard. I told him that the baby was moving and was kicking pretty hard.

He placed in hand on my belly and looked a me and said, "I don't feel anything." I told him to give it some time and he might feel something. After a few seconds, he looked at me again and smiled, "I still don't feel anything." I told him, give it some time.

After a few minutes, I felt the baby move and Kevin looked at me with a confused yet excited look on his face and asked me, "Was that the baby move? Did I just feel the baby? Did you feel it?"

I looked at him and just laughed and told him that that was in fact the baby moving. He thought it was the neatest thing to finally feel the baby.

Baby news!

Well, I guess the news is out to everyone...and I'm a little slow for posting on here. I'm pregnant with our first child! Kevin and I are so excited. Our little one is due March 5, give or take a few days.

Our little bundle of joy at 19 weeks, 3 days

Me at 23 weeks, 5 days - Starting to show....

The experience so far has been great. I never really had any morning sickness with the exception of the occasional bout of nauseousness. I started feeling the baby move at about 20 weeks or so and that alone has been entertaining. I have had a few nights where the baby would not let me get comfortable enough to fall asleep because it was moving so much. One of those times, Kevin laid down next to me and started talking to the baby and humming a lullaby. Amazingly it worked and the baby calmed down enough for me to get some rest that night. Recently, the baby has discovered how to push and bruise my ribs. I have never felt anything so painful in my life, but then again, I guess paybacks a bitch!

I'll continue to post more as we get closer to the due date with more pictures and funny stories should they arise. Until then...enjoy!

Never Forget September 11, 2001

These are some of the pictures that Kevin and I took at Ground Zero last year on September 12, 2008 while we were vacationing in New York City. We avoided Ground Zero on the actual day because of all of the attention is was getting and because both presidential candidates were there.

We actually arrived by train from Boston to New York on September 11th to find the whole city in a very somber mood. It was still full of the hustle and bustle you see on TV, but it was very quite for NYC. Kevin and I will always remember what it was like to be in NYC on this day.

Ground Zero - the rebuilding process: 7 years later

Ground Zero - a wreath standing along the Memorial alley

Ground Zero - Another wreath along the Memorial alley

A plaque we found on a wall outside a Firehouse in Manhattan

To the 343 men and women who gave their lives to save thousands of others, you will never be forgotten! Thank you and God Bless you and your families.

It's been awhile!

I know. I haven't posted anything to my blog in quite a while. I won't lie. Kev and I have been pretty busy as we both have pretty hectic schedules. Here is what has gone on the last couple of months:

May 2009: I turned 30 on the 13th. I didn't do much that day. Kev and I had originally planned for me to work a half-day and then we were going to go to the Visalia Rawhide game since it was an afternoon game. That never happened as Kevin got directed at work and had to work a double. He ended up taking me to an early dinner at Famous Dave's, so it didn't turn out that bad. For the Memorial Day holiday, Kevin and I drove up to Shaver Lake to spend the weekend with his family at the new family cabin they just bought.

June 2009: We got to enjoy quite a few Rawhide games this month. You all know us and baseball! Kevin and I did get to attend the 2009 California/Carolina League's All-Star game in Lake Elsinore. We had a lot of fun and met a few new friends in the process. Kevin and I were able to get two bats, one for each league, signed by the entire team! We had two Rawhide boys there and got to see them both pitch amazing innings. In the end, the Cal League beat the Carolina league in the bottom of the tenth with a walk-off home run! The following weekend, I got to go to Pismo for a couple of days with Becca and her family. It was so nice to escape the heat of the valley for the nice cool, overcast weather of the coast. On Saturday, we drove over to the Oceano Dunes to meet up with Matt and his family for a couple of hours. Matt took everyone riding on the dunes in his Jeep. Dreu had an awesome time. We also took Wes and Beek down to the water to let them play. Although Beek fell asleep in Auntie Jessi's arms before we got to the water, Wes had a good time pulling me into the water and riding on the boogie board. I'm sure he slept the entire way home after all of that excitement!

July 2009: I spent the Fourth of July holiday at Shaver Lake with Kev's family and celebrated Melissa's 23rd birthday. Friday night, we sat out in the lake on the boat watching the fireworks. Kevin came up on Monday morning and we stayed until Wednesday night. On the following Saturday, Becca and I drove up to spend the weekend on the lake with the family again after going on our weekly dog walk out at Woodward Park. We had a great time until I got really sick on Sunday. Becca had to take me back down the hill before Kevin even got there. When I got home, I took a shower and slept the whole rest of the day. The next weekend, Kevin and I went to San Jose for the weekend for a Union convention that he had to attend. I met a few San Jose Sharks hockey players while waiting out in the lobby for Kevin just before lunch one day. That was the highlight of my day. On Sunday, after Kevin was done, we went shopping at the Gilroy outlets and then ended up in Santa Cruz at the Boardwalk (my first time!). While we were there, we found a street called 'Westbrook Street'! For dinner, Kevin took me to my favorite Italian food restaurant, Carinos! (They have the BEST lasagna!) So far, the rest of July has been pretty uneventful. We did go to a few Reno Aces' game when they were in town playing the Grizzlies, but that was about it.

I promise I'll be posting more often. Kevin and I are going to have some changes coming up in the near future that I will be posting. Until then, much love from the Westbrook's!