Dear Baby Girl,

You should know that you are one loved little girl. I can't think of any two men that love you more than your Daddy and my Papa.

Every morning when your Daddy gets up, he kisses you good morning and tells you how much he loves you. And every day before I leave to go to work, he kisses you again and tells you to be a good girl for mommy. He loves to rub on my belly and talk to you about the dreams he has for you and the fun we are all going to have. He even talks to you about the guns and ammo he has in mind to purchase to keep the boys away! I think he is a little ahead of himself.

And you should see your Grandpa. He tells everyone he meets about you. He calls to check on me during the day and tells me "to tell Baby Marie that he loves her and to be a good girl!" Before he had to out process for Afghanistan, he had your picture from your seven week ultrasound on his desk, and he would show all of his patients his "grand baby." He is the proudest Grandpa I have ever seen.

You are so loved already, and we can't wait to meet you when you are all done bakin' in my tummy. But stay in there longer cause you're not quite halfway through yet! :o) We love you!!

Love,
Mommy

It's a....

GIRL!!

The technician was super slick when she told us, we didn't even see the picture. She was looking around at the spine and said, "It looks like... you're having... a... lil'...girl." and off went the wand in a different direction. Then she says "Yep, it's a girl." So at the very end, we asked her, "Are you sure it's a girl?" Haha. She went back to the bottom and took this imagine. She pointed everything out to us (yeah, I can't read these things) and sure enough...IT'S A GIRL! Mom, Papa, Paul and I were all smiles!!!

We are still debating on the names. I think we have it narrowed down to two. (Gabriella and Kaitlyn). I told Paulie that he should decide. The middle name will be Marie, however, after my maternal grandma. It has been such a wonderful day. What a blessing the Lord has given us.

Perinatologist Appointment and Level II Ultrasound

17 weeks, 6 days

Weight: -3 lbs
BP: 120/60
Fetal Heart Rate: 148

We had our appointment with the Perinatologist this morning. We were scheduled at 10am, so we got there a few minutes early to fill out the paperwork. They had a sign by the window that said to pay $5 if you wanted your ultrasound on a disc, so of course we had to do that. What a pleasant surprise!

I did the standard: pee in a cup, weight and blood pressure before being seen. My blood pressure was actually good this time - YAY! The technician that did the U/S was very nice. She took lots of measurements of the baby, starting with the head. She got the spine, abdomen, kidneys and legs. The femur and the head are measuring 18weeks and 2 days. All the other measurements were right on track or a day within the due date. She was having a difficult time getting a few shots of the heart, the tailbone and the lips. The baby was being stubborn....wonder where that comes from? lol.

When the doctor came in, she was able to collect the other measurements, and we got a good profile picture. She said the baby looked great, she was happy with my blood pressure and she said that she didn't see any markers for chromosomal defects or abnormalities. We haven't gotten the results from the triple screen back, but based on what she said/saw, I am assuming that it will be just fine. Also, the doctor said that pending no further complications, she won't have to see me again unless my OB wants more ultrasounds.

We did find out the sex, but Paulie is waiting to tell his momma in person tonight, so I will post a separate post with the sex after 5 pm. We are both over the moon excited!!! Here is a profile shot of the baby for now.

Some Q&A, so that I remember...

*How are you feeling?
Of course, this one changes daily. LOL! I almost hate to answer that I feel fine or even good because I did that on the 28th of July and ended up going to the ER.

I was good and can recall "not even feeling pregnant" up until about 5 weeks and 5 days.

Then the spotting started that night when I got off work at midnight.

I woke up with HORRIBLE nausea at 6 weeks, and the 24/7 nausea didn't disappear until about the 11th week.

At week 11, the nausea came and went throughout the day, and I only got sick once a week or so until week 19. No throwing up during week 16.

Started getting daily headaches at week 11 and my blood pressure started to elevate.

Had a migraine during week 13 and week 15. Finally had a Head CT at week 15 and everything is fine. I have Imetrex now for emergencies. ETA: At 19wks, the Imetrex isn't helping because I don't take it in time. I had migraines during weeks 17 and 19.

*What do you want to eat?
Really, I am okay with anything. I will pick around till I get full. I can't eat nearly as much as I used to, and I can tell my stomach is ALREADY compressed by my bowels.

*Any cravings?
Nope, just aversions. Out of nowhere during the 1st trimester, I couldn't eat chicken, but that seems to have resolved.

I eat a LOT of tacos. Small bean and cheese tacos to be exact. With hot sauce. I have a hard time eating hot sauce (and even really lame, tame sauce) for some reason, but in a bean and cheese taco, I can hang. I seem to feel better when I eat these.

And the baby likes Ice Cream, but I haven't eaten a whole ton of it. I am not the pregnant lady on the couch gobbling up her second 1/2 gallon a night. lol. Just a few scoops here and there. It's been a million degrees out there. I need a break.

Okay, maybe I do have cravings. :o)

I can't drink my bottled water anymore. It has to be ICE cold. With ice in the glass. Very odd. But I am drinking a lot of it.

*How is Paul doing?
Well, I don't get this one a lot, but I want to throw it in there. HE IS SO WONDERFUL!!! I could not imagine having anyone else beside me. He is the most amazing, patient, loving, thoughtful, compassionate man. I am truly lucky and blessed to have such a wonderful husband. I could gush all day at how good he is to me, how much he spoils me and how much I love him. Seeing the joy and excitement he has for this baby and our family makes me melt. He is going to be the most amazing father, and I am so glad that he was made for me. :o)

Movement?

When we were at the OB Friday, I was waiting out front with Paul when I had a sharp "poking" sensation in my right lower pelvic region. It was a bit different from the sharp "stabbing" sensations that I feel when I stand up quickly or whatnot. I didn't really know what it was, and before I could think about it too long, the tech came to get us and take us back to the room.

She tried on the Left to find the baby, the middle...no luck. I just knew that she would find the heartbeat on the right, and sure enough! She found it right where I felt that poking sensation!! I told Paul as soon as she left that I thought maybe I felt the baby.

Today at work, I felt something odd again. I was sitting still in the medication room. This time it was more in the middle, but still low pelvic area. It felt like "pop, pop" and then "pop" a few seconds later.

I have no idea what I will "feel" when I feel the baby move. Does this even sound like I am feeling the baby or is it something totally off base??? Who knows. I am excited to finally feel something cool!