Halfway

I can't believe it... at 20 weeks, we are halfway through this pregnancy already. I have to say, I have nothing to complain about. I am feeling great - other than the fact that i've been busy staying indoors studying for my upcoming board exams rather than enjoying the beautiful spring weather (oh well, by the time April ends--and my board exams are over with--mud season should be over, too!). Pat says he can't wait to "have me back" (possibly referring to the growing pile of laundry??). Anyway, I can't wait to have me back, too. And with graduation comes the job search...

This picture was from last week - 19 weeks - still growing!

According to babycenter.com, this week baby E is the length of a banana (about 10 inches) head to toe  and weighs around 10 1/2 ounces. I am so lucky to have felt him moving so early - truly the most amazing part of pregnancy thus far. Some women, especially first-time mommies, are just barely feeling movement at 20 weeks. He is very active - and totally has a routine. We are now able to even SEE kicks through my belly. Very exciting. Oh, and the most exciting thing this month: free dessert. It turns out pregnancy really does have its perks and a bulging belly can get enough sympathy out of a restaurant manager to say "dessert's on me tonight!" (side note: EVERYONE should experience the Common Man's apple pie--delicious!)

baby foot



The month of May looks like it will be a busy one. My graduation is May 20 and we will be welcoming my dad and Alison to New Hampshire for a visit. While they are here, we plan on putting the finishing touches on our living room and with any luck, finishing up our baby boy's bedroom! We are also in the process of registering for a birthing class through the Women's Health Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, which should be exciting.

Happy Easter!

Kick, Kick, Kick

We have an update from the last post two days ago. Daddy has finally felt his first kicks! Last night, baby was kicking up a storm - Pat was in the other room and was hesitant to even come in and try to feel, saying something like, "I'm not going to feel him yet, so why do you keep trying?" I nicely insisted, and delighted he was when his baby boy gave two, three, four big powerful kicks for his dad! I'm pretty sure he'll either be a soccer superstar or a football fieldgoal kicker.


Also, I forgot to add this picture on our last post. This was a few days ago - I came into the living room after a shower and this is what I laid my eyes upon; I couldn't help but snap a photo. Daddy is practicing - though I think he's had his share of practice with his neices, Harper and Paisley, in the last few years. Tonka really is a big baby, and we're confident that he will be a very good dog for our baby to grow with.



Oh, BOY!

Today marks 18 weeks, and with another look at our baby... BOY! The majority of people guessed right - and we're so happy to finally be able to call him "him", and not "it" anymore. He was a little stubborn, like his mom, and didn't stay still for long, like his dad. We had a wonderful ultrasound tech. She first asked if we were interested in finding out the sex of our baby; after taking preliminary measurements of the placenta, umbillical cord etc. she began concentrating more on baby. As soon as she focused in on his "parts" - I knew and my eyes welled up with tears. Then she wrote "MALE" - Pat looked at me, squeezed my hand and had a huge grin, ear-to-ear for the remainder of the appointment - and day. Our baby boy measures at 18 cm (7.1 inches, a long baby) and weighs in at about 8 oz (equivalent to two sticks of butter). As far as they can tell, we have a healthy baby boy. We would have been thrilled whether boy or girl, but we could not be happier to be welcoming a baby boy in just five short months.

Sweet baby boy

Skeletor-face

I've been feeling great and my belly is still popping. I began feeling movement about two-and-a-half weeks ago, and now feel distinct, regular kicks. Pat has finally been able to feel movement in the last couple of days, though my girlfriend Jamie is the only one that has gotten a kick so far. Tonka is taking notice, too. He often comes to 'snuggle'. Below is a picture of me at 18 weeks and T cuddling with his baby brother.

18 weeks



Love already