The Baby Lab

I ran across a new show on the health channel called The Baby Lab. When I switched the channel I thought it was about baby labradors, yet it was about something I knew much more about. It takes 3 couples and shows their stories of infertility. I'm not sure which gets more tears flowing, watching someone get bad news after undergoing IVF or watching someone get good news.

It reminded me just how lucky we were in our treatment process.

1st: We live near several quality fertility clinics. Some people spend the entire month of IVF in a hotel close to their doctor.

2nd: Our infertility issues appeared to be one sided. As if that's not challenging enough, many people are battling a female and male problem.

3rd: Though we aren't considered young in terms of having kids, we're younger than many people undergoing treatments. And in this process age is really important.

4th: We spent a year in treatments. For many people it takes much longer.

5th: And of course, the most important reason we are fortunate, it worked! For so many it never does.

As for our baby, he's kicking up a storm and as of last week we can see him movin and grovin! I just can't believe such a tiny baby can be so strong. As for me, I've made the transition from tums to pepcid and other than that I feel great. And, we're now in double digits....only 99 more days to go!

Family Art Night...for Baby Hayes

Just starting...

Signing our work....

My masterpiece...

Chris put us to shame...

Nonna's pig, I mean car...

Overall, I was quite impressed with our talent, juvenile as it may be!

6 month check up

I went to the OB on Thursday. After waiting for forever in the waiting room I was called back. First things first, I got on the scale. Expecting a 4-5 pound gain, I was quite surprised when the scale revealed a 23 pound gain! Say what! I giggled and said, "I'm fairly certain that's wrong".

The nurse (and I use that title loosely): "A lot of women say that".
Me: "No really, I think I would have noticed a 23 pound wait gain!"
Nurse: "Oh, lets try another scale."

Turns out I gained 5 pounds, about a pound ahead of schedule, but lets face it, the scales in that office are not all that trust worthy.

She then took me to the bathroom where I was instructed to pee in a cup. I had to go really bad so I went, forgetting the cup completely! Opps. A couple cups of water later I completed the task!

Baby's heartbeat check, blood pressure check, urine check, braxton hicks contractions check. Yep, turns out the tensing in my belly are braxton hicks. She said some are normal and ok and gave me parameters and directions for handling more. No worries.

I have another appointment in a month and then I move to every two weeks...

Last night we went to Chris's work party. I'm happy to report I wore a regular-non-maternity dress!

The Name Game

After "do you know what you're having" typically comes "do you have a name picked out". No. No we don't. And yes, yes we're thinking about it (suggestions gladly accepted). No worries, our baby won't be nameless. But here's the humdinger, once we decide on a name, it will remain a secret until little man is born. We have our reasons. Sorry Mom!

4 month countdown...

The first time I felt little man kick, at 21 weeks, I looked at Chris and said "I think I felt him...maybe not". Then a minute later, "I felt it again". Then once again a couple hours later. I knew it was the real deal when I kept feeling it the next day. It felt like a little pucker from inside. A very gentle tap. And each day I feel more and more. In fact, at 23 weeks Chris was able to feel him kick!

Along the same note, sometimes I feel like my uterus is spasming, it feels hard for no longer than a minute. Maybe it's baby boy doing a body roll...who knows. Oh, and I realize this sounds nuts, but leave it to a previous NICU nurse, little man is now viable outside my uterus. Of course, I'd rather not put that to the test.

I hit the 6 month mark this Saturday. Sometimes I feel like I have forever and other times I feel like he'll be here in no time. We're slowly working on the room. The crib is put together. The closets are painted and the shelves will go up this weekend. Chris also plans on building the valance over the weekend. As for me, I'm working on cleaning and organizing the office (trust me, this is no simple task). I feel a sudden urgency to get this place in order!

Chris is still working on getting a job. Actually he just left for dinner with one of the possibilities. I'm happy so long as he's happy, but I'll admit being 6 months pregnant makes me feel a bit more pressure.

Here's my belly at 23 weeks...


And a few pics of project crib...

Quote Possibilies

I can't decide what quote to hang above the crib. Here are some ideas. Comments, thoughts, ideas appreciated....

From small beginnings come great things

Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight,

I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

Frogs and snails,
And puppy dog tails,
That's what little boys, are made of

Peace, Love, Baby

The Baby's Room

Since we’re turning our current guest room into the baby’s room we’ve been contemplating what to do with our future guests…

Option 1: Murphy bed ($$$)
Option 2: Daybed (space sucking)
Option 3: Bed in the closet (current frontrunner)

The room has two closets, one of which is just big enough for two twin mattresses. We’d keep 2 popup trundles in the ‘barn’. We could then use one bed for a single guest or both beds to make a king size bed. With guests in the house, baby boy will simply sleep in the pack n play upstairs near us, which is the plan for the first few months anyhow. And we can use the other closet for all the baby goodies.

My curtains arrived and have turned into quite the family project…

Me: Bought the curtains
Nonna and Me: Found the perfect fabric to enhance the curtains
Nonna (under my supervison): Started sewing the curtains
Chris: Building a wooden valance
Nonna: Returning to VA to complete the curtains
Me (under Nonna's supervision): Bat and cover the valance


We are leaving the room the same color (khaki-ish), but we’re painting the beat’en up walls inside the 2 closets blue. The shelves have been removed (damn, I didn’t take a picture), the hundreds of imperfections have been filled and sanded, and Chris’s weekend project is to paint. Who knew closets would be so exciting?

Glider/swiveler sneak peak--use your imagination and picture in chocolate brown

Other baby things underway…
-I’m looking for a quote to use on the walls
-I’m contemplating art work ideas
-I’ll be making a lumbar pillow cover to place in the glider
-We (Nonna and I) will be adding fabric to the crib skirt

Rug sneak peak