Getting Practice...

We babysat Gianna last night when Ryan and Catt went out to dinner. Gianna was soo good and stayed awake pretty much the whole time. We introduced her to the dogs when she got there (they were on the other side of the fence at first) and they sniffed her and then ignored her. Well, they ignored her until she cried and then Jagger just stared at her like the photo above(actually, that is what Uncle JR did when she cried too - and then he handed her to me!). In fact, I think Jagger and JR are making the same face in that picture above. I love the picture of her sleeping on my belly and can't wait for her cousin to come out and play with her!

Introducing Ronan Douglas Fisher

My good friend Jody Cook-Fisher and his wife Michelle just had their first son on January 21, 2007. He weighs 8lbs 5oz and is 21 inches long. Everyone is doing well! I am shocked and speechless and so happy for them! Little Ronan is so cute!

Glucose Testing and Kick Counting

JR tucking the dogs in for bed!
29 weeks!

I had to drink what looked like a bottle of orange soda today and then have my blood drawn exactly one hour from the time I finished the drink - there was six minutes of error time allowed and I hope I made it so I don't have to drink that 'soda' again. This test is to ensure that I don't have gestational diabetes which can lead to many unwanted things in the third trimester of a pregnancy. I don't get results for a week - and that is IF the blood was drawn within the time frame required.

I also got a "kick card" to keep track of how long it takes Baby Reynolds to kick 10 times. I am supposed to count at about the same time every night (I am doing 7pm because that seems like a time when the baby is always kicking). And once I feel one kick, I write down the time and then write down an ending time after the 10th kick. If for some reason, the baby kicks less than 10 times in 2 hours, I need to call the hospital. This all seems very scary and serious to me because I am one of those people that will call if the baby only kicks 9 times or something... Tonight though, Baby Reynolds kicked 10 times in only 20 minutes.

Today at the doctor my stomach measured just over 28 centimeters which is right on track and means the baby is growing appropriately. I am also growing and it is official -- exactly 20lbs heavier than I started... and hopefully only 10lbs more to go!

Baby Gianna!

TOOO CUTE! My niece Gianna is growing up so fast (8 weeks old!) and she looks adorable! Here are the newest photos!

The Most Uncomfortable Day Ever...

I have nothing to really point to that will explain why I am uncomfortable today, I just am. My legs are antsy (sp?) and I am tired and I just don't feel up for being at work today. (See Karen, you aren't the only one that complains! :)). I'm trying to write it off as "just one of those days": I am hitting all the wrong keys on the keyboard, I hit my knee on my desk, I feel like I have to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes, and it is taking me longer than usual to answer people's questions because I am just mentally slow.
Ok, so I know I will have WAY more uncomfortable days than today and I hate to complain but hopefully next time I feel like this, I won't be sitting in an uncomfortable office chair trying to concentrate and think.

Doggy Adjustments...

I had to put these pictures on here too because Maya and Jagger have been so cute and so good lately (and because they are our first children). JR and I keep joking around that if our children go to sleep half as well as our dogs, we will be very lucky. I will upload a photo tonight that I have of JR "tucking" the dogs in before we go upstairs to bed. We are not people that sleep with our dogs and JR and I decided that right away (plus, our dogs are too big). And while it was tough at times to keep Jagger out of our bed (especially when he kept us up at night when we were first got him and we were exhausted), we managed to stay tough and Jagger slept next to the bed in a crate when he was a puppy and then in a dog bed when he got bigger. When we got Maya, her previous owner had told us that she slept outside. I don't like that he kept her outside all day and all night (because no one forces people to get dogs and if you can't handle it or don't want to deal with them - DON'T GET A PET) but now we have her and it is better for everyone. The night we got Maya we decided to try putting both dogs to sleep in the garage (which has a doggy door so they can go in and out at night as they please). Well, surprisingly it worked. We have about 4 dog beds and 3 blanknets in the garage and around 9pm (if the dogs aren't already in the garage sleeping) we walk out there, lay them down, cover them with a blanket, turn the light out and walk out. Sometimes they bark in the middle of the night or early in the morning if they hear something outside, but for the most part, JR wakes them up in the morning to take them on a roller blade or a walk before he goes to work. It has worked out incredibly well, not to mention that it is so much easier on us and will help when the baby comes - and that is why we say - if our kids go to sleep half as well as our dogs, we will be lucky. I am sure there are many other doggy adjustments in the near future with Baby Reynolds coming soon (we already started one after these pictures were taken: no more dogs on the couch!).

More Photos!

These were taken at 28.5 weeks...

Babies R Us

What an experience that store is. I have ordered gifts on-line from Babies R Us for other people's baby showers but before yesterday I had never been inside. Now I know why. First, my sister in law, Catherine, was nice enough to go with me and spend hours (yes, hours) registering with me yesterday. And baby Gianna was with us and could not have been better. She did sooooo well for being there for so long and after projectile vomiting on the floor of Babies R Us right when we got there, she slept for the rest of the time in her Baby Bjorn (and yes, I registered for one of those things too). Despite Catherine's amazing knowledge of what to get, what not to get and where it is in the huge store, it still took forever because there is soooo much stuff to get. I kinda thought, a car seat, a stroller and some diapers were pretty much what I needed and was shocked when we were looking at sheets for changing tables, thermometers (both for ear and butt/underarm), baby detergent, saucers, toys, first aid kits, mittens..... and much more. Plus, there are about 50 choices in each of those categories and some are 'better' than others and some are 'better and safer' than others. Luckily, Catt has just gone through all this with Gianna and had done the research, saving me a ton of time.
As soon as it was done though, I was really excited and it became a little more real. Now, on to getting a nursery together.....

Ummm... Third trimester already?

Where did the time go? I think the first few weeks of a pregnancy go by agonizingly slow... but then after that, something happens and all of a sudden you are in your third trimester, going to the doctor every two weeks and people are asking about a nursery that you haven't even thought about much less managed to start. While the thought of being in the final stretch is a little sad since I feel pretty good and am enjoying this part now, I am also getting nervous about the fact that this baby inside me is about 15 inches long right now and weighs around two pounds. Wrapping my head around that fact is difficult since I sort of still picture this baby as being a group of cells. OK, maybe in my mind this baby has taken on a human form, but there is no way I expected it to be 15 inches long yet! I have taken more pictures but our internet at home is giving me trouble so I will try to upload them again tonight.

No to Classical Music?

For the last couple weeks, I have been playing classical music to the baby through headphones placed on my stomach. Last night was no different except that I dont think Baby Reynolds was in the mood for music this time. I received four kicks to the stomach, exactly where one of the headphones was placed. I told JR that maybe I should take the headphones off but instead I just turned the volume down (though it was already low) and moved the headphone a little lower on my stomach. We kept looking at my stomach to see what would happen (we can see kicks now through my stomach) and when I received another kick to the new location, which JR saw this time, I decided to take the headphones off and try again another night. The ear and foot/arm coordination of Baby Reynolds is amazing. Because it happened five times on the exact placement of the headphone, I don't think it was just random kicks. I am glad JR saw it too, or else I am not sure I would believe it myself.

If you make it to one, you can make it to two...

JR and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary this weekend with a wonderful trip to San Francisco. The waiter at the restaurant we went to said "Congratulations, and you know what they say: if you can make it to one, you can make it to two." I have never heard that saying before, but I like it. My parents also celebrated their anniversary the same day - 29 years for them!

New Belly Photos

These photos are at about 27 weeks (it will be 27 weeks on Saturday).

Tremors and Belly Fur

Nice title, I know but it is a little true. JR and I were looking at my stomach this week and noticed that there is a lot of peach fuzz type hair that wasn't there before. It is probably nothing you would notice without me pointing it out but it is still there.

This weekend we also discovered that the baby's kicks can actually be seen, rather than just felt, by looking at my stomach when he/she is kicking or punching. Yep, the punches and kicks are getting strong enough to see them from the outside.

Lamaze

I am not sure I knew how to spell Lamaze before this week but today I just signed up for my Lamaze classes. The classes begin on February 7th and go for five weeks. The woman on the phone tried to get me to sign up for the class session that started tonight so that I would finish them in the first week of February, giving myself plenty of time and the recommended 6 weeks of leeway before my due date. I went with the February classes because I think I need to prepare a little more (mentally) for these classes. And I am still giving myself 4 weeks of leeway. I also signed up for Breastfeeding classes, the Infant CPR class and the Baby Basics class along with a tour of the facility. I don't really know what else to say. Wow.

Sick and Clumsy

So, maybe you can tell by the title that I didn't have the best weekend ever. Both JR and I were sick with a REALLY bad cold and cough and pretty much stayed on the couch all weekend. We did manage to leave twice to go to Hollywood video both times (by the way, we rented season 1 of Prison Break and are both big fans now).

Ok, so cold/cough and the fact that I can't take medicine aside, I also realized this weekend that I am now clumsy. I burned two of my fingers while getting something out of the oven, I smashed two of my other fingers under the kitchenaide mixer (they are really heavy) and managed to have the dog step on my foot about a half dozen times - right on a cut that I have on my toe - opening it back up time and time again because I wasnt quick enough to move out of the way even though I had time and saw him coming.

We did manage to cook a really nice meal for New Year's Eve (using cook books and all), even though we did not stay up until midnight. In a weird way, it was actually kind of nice for both JR and I to be sick at the same time. Despite the fact that we hardly got up all weekend, neither of us got bored and we got to spend a lot of time together without interruption. Luckily, the dogs were also in the mood for a mellow weekend and spent most of Sunday sleeping in the sun (see the photo above). So overall, I guess it it worked out for everyone.

100 days to go...

So the countdown ticker above says 100 days to go... still seems like a long time, but I know it will be here before we know it. Above are also more Christmas pictures of Gia.

Great Grandpa and Grandma Guin

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Guin meeting Gianna for the first time.

25 weeks

I went to the doctor this morning for my 6 month appointment. Each time I go, I weigh in, of course, but today I was a little apprehensive since I was weighing in right after Christmas and Thanksgiving! I really don't mind the weight gain and am eating healthy and exercising every day, so whatever is going to happen will happen - but I would rather not know the 'number'. Well, unfortunately they said the number today before I could tell them I don't want to know. So far I have gained 16 pounds. Seems like a lot to me but no one seems concerned so I guess that means it is within the normal range.

The doctor also did the Doppler today - a machine that monitors the baby's heart beat. Baby Reynolds' heart rate was in the 150s. Again that is normal, but according to old wives tales, a heart rate above 140 means girl and below 140 means boy.... We will see! Baby Reynolds also kicked the monitor that was on my stomach - enough for the doctor to notice and say "Wow, that was a big kick". Those big kicks are starting to become the norm and happening more frequently. I am getting kinda worried about how strong these kicks will be in another few weeks when the baby gets even bigger and there is more muscle behind each one.

As I was leaving the nurse asked if I had signed up for all my childbirth classes. I said that I had not and she gave me the paperwork for doing so. It shouldn't be too difficult to do, but the first line on the paper says to sign up by your 24th week. Obviously it is not going to be a big deal that I sign up now but it is funny how I seem to think I am only 10 weeks pregnant with nothing to do yet.

Christmas Family Photos

This was the photo that we had made of our family.

This was the photo my dad has been wanting to take for weeks now - we managed to get it done on Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas!

Great Grandma Donna with Gianna.

Gianna being passed around.... She did a great job with all the new family in town and even managed to open her eyes a couple times to take a peek at us and everything that was going on around her.

The New Gia-Hog

Uncle Tracy took the position (from me) of Gia-Hog during the Christmas holiday. It was exciting having a baby around and boy did she get passed around! She slept through most of it but we definitely need more babies around!

Bigger and Bigger...

Oh my goodness, when I look at those pictures, I have to laugh. I am not sure it registers in my mind that that is me. And then I just think it is funny.

Kids...

Jagger and Maya, our first two kids, taking a nap.

Symptoms

I just realized the other day how being pregnant has taken over my entire body (Ok, maybe this should have hit me months ago, but I am realizing it now). It is actually kind of amusing. From the top of my head to my toes, each part of me is feeling the effects of pregnancy...

• my eyes - my contacts are irritated and I am finding myself squinting more than ever
• my skin - so there might be some minor 'pregnancy glow' but it is hard to tell with the new acne
• congestion - my nose is not only congested but a little bloody most mornings
• my gums - yep, they bleed when I brush them
• my neck and shoulders - sore from learning to sleep on my side when I was 100% a stomach sleeper before this!
• breasts - they are not as sore as they were in the beginning but they are still tender and getting larger by the month
• stomach - obviously getting bigger and itchier
• legs/feet - restless and a little uncomfortable, probably a little swollen
• hands - I recently took my wedding rings off because they were getting so tight I was developing a rash under the bands. And I was scared that soon I would have to have them cut off my finger.

I hope this list doesn't come across as a laundry list of complaints. Really, none of these changes are that bad or hard to deal with (ok, the nausea and extreme tiredness in the beginning was a littler harder for me). I mostly think this list is funny and I am enjoying watching the changes as they take place.

By the way, my stomach looks really big in this photo - I think it was taken after a big meal (Ok, maybe I am still in denial a little bit).

Eyes Wide Open...

It is a good thing I am pregnant right now because ever since my niece Gianna arrived, I have to admit I have 'baby fever.' I cannot stop thinking about her!




Each photo I see is my new favorite and these are no exception. I have seen her a few times with her eyes open and I just cannot get enough! She is so aware and so focused when she isn't sleeping. These pictures are too cute. The left is my brother (Gianna's dad) with her.

Grandparents for the First Time!

My parents as Grandparents with their first grandchild! It seems crazy to me that my parents are grandparents... Luckily, Gianna came at the perfect time and both my parents can say they were grandparents before the age of 50! :)

Baby Gia

Auntie Nicole (aka Gia-Hog) with Gianna!!

Boy or Girl?

As I mentioned before, we are not finding out whether we are having a boy or a girl. If my husband had wanted to find out, I wouldn't have had a problem with it, but somehow both of us wanted to have the surprise in the delivery room and so here we are... Our doctor told us that less than 5% of people choose, like us, not to find out. I was surprised how low that number was!

Anyways, not finding out officially or medically has not stopped us from guessing and having others guess. My husband thinks we are having a girl, but I think that is because everyone else seems to think we are having a boy!

Last week, I went to the tailor who did my wedding dress. This man is known for correctly predicting the sex of pregnant women's baby bumps. He was right with my sister in law who just had beautiful Gianna and another friend and he even told me people come to him just to have him 'guess'. He said it wasnt actually guessing, but more of a feeling he got. I went and saw him and he got a BOY feeling from me!

I have also done the chinese gender prediction calendar which came up with:

Woman's Birth Year: 1978 Month: 6 Day: 27 Time Zone: PST
Conception Year: 2006 Month: 7 Day: 4 Time Zone: PST
It's a boy! (Chinese Age 29 at Lunar month 6)

Though I have to mention that the Date of Conception used above is a total guess and could be off by days or even weeks...

I also took a gender prediction quiz at http://www.justmommies.com/quizzes/gender_prediction_quiz.php

and the results were: 67% chance of having a girl!

We of course do not care what the sex of the baby is, but guessing is always fun! The picture above is the latest photo of the baby bump for your guessing pleasure!