Mango Baby

Mmmm, mango sounds pretty good about now! Yes I am 23 weeks today, and yes it is still flying by! Bradley is kicking stronger every day, and I started feeling him kick at the top of my uterus which was a little different...weird knowing it is really up that high! Here are the updates:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

The only thing I don't like about these comparisons to fruit is that they are not always a SIZE comparison. Sometimes they are a just a weight comparison. Oh well.

Otherwise things are going great with everything still! No nausea, no excessive weight gain, no stretch marks...don't be jealous :) I think I'm up about 9lbs now. The belly has most definitely gotten bigger since my 20wk picture, and next week is the next one so be sure to check back for the update on that. Next week is also my 6 month OB appointment and glucose test.

In non-pregnancy news, the hubby and I have finished painting our two extra bedrooms, and now just need to work on organizing clutter and deep cleaning the house so that we can get it listed for sale! I decided that doing it FSBO would be way to much of a headache right now, considering I would be the one to deal with everything. So after doing some research, we decided to go with "Help U Sell". They do everything for you except show the house, and they list it on several websites and provide signs. They can list it on the MLS if you like, but then you would have to pay 3% commission to a realtor who found it. Otherwise the fee is a flat $4000 due at signing for a selling price <$200,000. That's a lot better than the $12,000 commission if we went with a regular realtor!!

Today while we were out and about running errands, we also stopped at the apartments that we decided to use so that we could go through their "model" apartment. It is very nice and clean, gated w/24hr security patrol, a fitness center, pool, and year round hottub. We are either going to get a 1,100sf or 1,200sf 2 bedroom apt, and it includes a full size fridge AND a full size washer and dryer! It will be a big change for us to downsize from our current house to this apartment, especially for Nick because he has never lived in an apartment. But it is purely temporary and will really save us money while he is finishing school and (hopefully) I am working part time.

Nursery Ideas!

I haven't actually bought any of the big stuff for Bradley's nursery yet, so I thought I would post and at least show you my tentative ideas for the theme:

We have decided to go with the jungle/safari theme, and I particularly like this set because it is so colorful, and not too cartoony. And of course it had an adorable matching lamp and wall decor that go with it!! My plan is to paint the walls one of the khaki colors (we will be in an apartment) and then hand paint letters spelling his name out above his crib, probably one of the dark greens. As for the letters, I have bought the B and the R. I'm just getting a few here and there, I'm in no hurry. I want to drag this out as much as I can!!!

I wasn't quite sure when I should start buying the big stuff--crib bedding, crib, car seat, etc. I'll be 23 weeks next week, and I think my baby shower will be around the end of April. So probably around the end of March?

As for the crib...I have thought about, and I love dark cherry wood, but our next house is probably already going to have dark wood floors, and I don't want too much dark furniture. I am leaning toward white furniture in the nursery, because a white crib would be a whole lot easier to repaint/repair for long term use. Also if I find other pieces of furniture that work in the nursery, I could easily paint them and decorate to match! Keep in mind I am very frugal and have no intention of blowing tons of money on furniture/decorations. A lot of it I'm going to make myself, like wall art and curtains. And when spring gets here, that is the perfect time to start hitting up garage sales because we all know that baby stuff only gets used for a few months till it's outgrown!

In closing, I most likely will buy a new crib, just because I will know that it is in good shape and warrantied, and I definitely want a convertible one so that it can grow with Bradley. So here is a picture of what I am thinking...

My Squash, and Weekend Trip

I am 22 weeks today, and Bradley is already up to 1lb and almost a foot long!!! I can really feel him moving around in there at times, and it is getting easier for Nick to feel him too. We are very excited about his arrival this summer!!! I had a question about where I found the updates on his growth and the website is babycenter.com. Here they are:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

As for our trip--we had the best time!! We rented a car Friday morning and arrived at our resort in Colorado Springs, CO Friday evening. Saturday we enjoyed the light snow that was covering everything, then headed up into the mountains to see Pike's Peak. Later that evening we treated ourselves to a New York strip steak dinner for Valentine's Day, then relaxed the rest of the evening together. Sunday we checked out and got breakfast, then hit the road and got home just after midnight Sunday night!! The beautiful scenery there just reinforced our decision to get out of Oklahoma and move on to better things!! Here are the pics:

21 Weeks

Only 3 more weeks until the 3rd trimester is here! I'm still amazed that I'm even pregnant, much less 2/3 done with it. I'm a little sad that it is coming to an end soon, but then again I am going to enjoy being bigger and so obviously pregnant that everyone will know! I can finally be one of "those" people :) Here are the updates for the week:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

This weekend is Valentine's Day, and while I think it is an overrated holiday that is meant for dating couples who want to impress each other, we are semi-celebrating it by a weekend trip to Colorado Springs, CO. The way it worked out was Nick and I had been wanting to go to CO for awhile because neither of us had been. My friend Sara decided to book a surprise trip there with her hubby and told us we should come along. So we said "Sure!" and booked ours. Well when she told her hubby about it he didn't want to go so they cancelled the trip, but we are still going and looking forward to it! We like to take roadtrips here and there, and I'm looking forward to what Colorado is like. We leave Friday morning and return Sunday night, so be looking for a big post next Monday with pictures from the trip and a 22 week update!!

Banana Boy--Halfway There!!

Today ladies and gentlemen, I have reached the 20 week mark. I am already halfway to the big day!! I absolutely can not wait to hold my little Bradley and smell his head and change his diapers :) I can frequently feel him moving around in there, sometimes kicking, sometimes stretching. I don't think I've felt any hiccups yet, and it's a bit too early for Nick to feel him kicking. Here are the updates:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

I am up about 5-6 pounds, and hungry all the time! I've been trying to watch what I eat so the weight gain is slow and steady. Otherwise me and little Bradley are still doing great, no complaints here! Work is going good--a lot of overtime for me. I am looking forward to my 3 month paid vacation this summer :) The hubby is doing well and getting ready to take one of his computer certifications. That's all the news for now, hope you like my new look on here!

Bradley at 19 Weeks

Today I am 19 weeks along, and also had my 5 month checkup at the doctor. All is looking well and right on track. Heart rate was in the 140's, and fundal height is right at my belly button. Here are the updates:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

My next visit is March 2, and we will be doing the glucose test then also. No other big news right now, check back for updates soon!

Pink or Blue?

Everything went really good at the ultrasound (except for waiting for an hour to get back there). My little one is measuring in at a whopping 10oz and 3 days ahead of schedule. Now check out the pictures and the big reveal!!!

^Profile view

^The little hand!!

^And the tiny feet!

^All curled up in a little ball

It looks like 58% of you were correct!!

Bradley Nicholas Pierce

18 Weeks

18 weeks is here already, and only 3 more days till our Level II ultrasound!!!!!! My next post will be all about that on Thursday, but today is our weekly update:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

As for an update on us, one of the things we talked in depth about on our anniversary is our next residence location. Basically right now we are still going to sell our house and get an apartment to cut down our living expenses and save money while he is finishing his degree. But we are probably going to reopen the option of moving out of state. We have to do what is best for us and our family in the end, and we hate to leave our family and friends behind if we do move, but we must keep it as an option right now. We probably have at least a year before we seriously do anything next but that's it for now!

Check back Thursday for the big news!!

6 Years as Mrs. Pierce

Yesterday was our sixth wedding anniversary already! It's like everything else in life--the time seems to go slow but when you look back it has flown by. We met almost 11 years ago and married just months after we officially started dating. We are more in love than ever, and of course ecstatic to finally have a little one on the way!! We have come so far and achieved so much together from where we started, and we have more big plans for our life coming up!

To celebrate, we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Guthrie, OK. We had a great time there, good food, and long intimate talks. Here are some pics!

My Little Turnip

Today I am 17 weeks along, and I am still so freaking excited about my upcoming ultrasound!!! It is one week from this next Thursday. Nick really wants a girl, but I kind of have a feeling it's a boy. We'll see! Either way we will be so blessed to finally have the miracle we have wanted for so long. Here are the updates:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

I finally bought my first pair of maternity pants--those things are not cheap! I guess I feel that since you only wear them for a few months, they should cost less than regular jeans. I guess not! My sister-in-law is have a baby this month so hopefully when she finally does I can swoop in and borrow hers. I have a friend--Lisa--at work who just had her second baby at 1am on Jan. 9. They did it the old fashioned way and waited till delivery to find out the gender. It was a girl! She is very happy, and I will be visiting her and baby in a couple of weeks (and also swiping some of her maternity clothes). And I have finally gained a couple of pounds! Hopefully I can keep it under control. With Lisa's first pregnancy she gained 90lbs, and fortunately with a lot of hard work she lost it all before this one. So with this one she was very strict and only gained 25lbs.

As for me, things are good. Work is busy--I decided not to take the supervisor position because I simply need to focus on the other priorities in my life right now without being weighed down with additional stress at work. I was always kind of back and forth on it, but I canceled my interview and I'm not looking back. Nick is back in school but will probably be able to go ahead and get a job next month after he gets his A++ certification (some kind of computer lingo).

Holy Guacamole!

I'm a day late, but yesterday marked the 16 week milestone!! I can't believe I'm already this far, and for you who just recently found out you are expecting--it flies by!! I still have a little belly, still no weight gain, and I SWEAR I felt kicking on my way home from work today. Here are the updates!

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avacado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

The bad news is my handy dandy ghetto ultrasound at work no longer works for me because she is too big to see!! I can only see appendages and bones, and can't hardly make out what I'm looking at. That makes me a bit sad, but we have a really nice one down in the ER--I just have to convince someone to use it on me when they're not busy.

Other than this, we still have bunches going on with the house, land, my job, and his school. Also an anniversary coming up!! I am wanting to stay at a B&B in Guthrie for it, so check back for the one we decide on.

One last special treat...belly pictures! Sorry for those who like full body shots, but this is all you will be getting from me. These are just about ALL after a 12-14 hours shift at work, so that doesn't make for very pretty pictures :)

Hopes and Dreams for 2009

This entry will not be specifically about my pregnancy, so breathe a sigh of relief! And I am not doing the typical "New Year's Resolutions" list either. I don't really do those, and I never have. I forget about them the next day anyways so it's never worth it!

So what is this entry about? Well my darling husband Nick and I have a lot of really huge things coming up this year and I feel like talking about them :) I'm talking major life milestones--things that people plan for and hope to achieve their entire life. Those of you who know me personally are aware that I'm pretty gung-ho and am all about making goals and plans for my life and family. And not only making them, but executing them and seeing them through! That's the best part. 2009 is going to (hopefully) bring a lot of those plans that have been in the making for years now into reality and we are very excited!

**The first of these is the obvious--a child. Since March of 2003 Nick and I have been trying for a family of our own. I have always wanted to get my own life started and going and having a "family" was right there on the list. But God had another plan for us, and he decided that our time would not be until the summer of 2009! I absolutely am going stir crazy waiting to find out the gender and am ready to buy everything for the nursery now!!!!!

**Next on the agenda is--moving into our "permanent" residence. I say that in quotations because we have sort of been vagabonds the last few years, moving every couple into a different house. But we both planned that the house that we design will be the one that we live in for at least 15-20 years and raise our children in. After that--retirement baby! We are currently in the process of buying an acre in the semi-country, and have submitted a few house ideas to a builder for estimates. We are actually meeting with him tomorrow afternoon to find out what they came up with. This will be our first estimate, so we will still talk to another builder after this to get an idea of our options.

**This brings me to the next big thing--selling our house. We bought our current house in July of 2006. We both knew when we moved there that it would not be permanent because there was practically no yard, and nowhere to put a shop for Nick. But we loved the house, and the neighborhood was VERY safe as opposed to our previous house in the ghettos of southside OKC. So now that we are building our next house in a different city, we need to sell our house first. And not with a realtor mind you! Nope I'm going to take it into my OWN hands and list it FSBO. It will be a huge headache I'm sure, but in the end, the money we save from handing over commission to a realtor will so be worth it.

**The big thing for Nick will be--graduating college! He got a little of a late start on his further education (thanks to lack of encouragement growing up...) so then I come along and fill his head with all the possibilities of life and eventually convince him that he too can get a college degree. So right now he is almost done with his Network Technology degree and should finish up next year. Things are a little whacky with the baby coming, and me going on maternity leave but we'll figure it out! I'm very proud of him for doing so well--he is at the top of his class!

**And last (thank you for sticking it out!) is me--getting a new job!! No I don't think I'll be quitting OU because I really do value the experience I get in the ICU. But my goal is to get into home health care and cut back my hours to part time. Nick will be working also and our mortgage will be less than it is now, so we won't have to both work full time. I will start looking into this after I am done with maternity leave in September and hopefully find something quickly after that so we don't have to use any daycare!

An Apple a Day + Christmas Pics

Well lately I've been eating a few clementines a day, not apples, but that's how big my baby is so far! Each week gets more exciting, and I'm loving every moment of it. I still have a little belly but not really anything all that noticeable. I have been eating just about everything I come into contact with, so I need to watch it! No weight gain yet though. Here are the updates:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

A pinch over 3 more weeks and we will find out the gender!!!! Even if he/she is hiding the goods, at least we will get more US pics! Lately I have been checking out albums and getting ideas for my pregnancy scrapbook. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep the color neutral or go along with the gender for color theme. And I probably won't start doing it until I'm about 30 weeks or so. Once I get started on one of those I get OCD and don't stop until it's done. I don't want it to go too quickly! I have a very vast supply of the CUTEST stickers and embellishments already so I'm doing good in that department. Of course more will come after the gender is revealed!

Our Christmas was fabulous last week! Unfortunately I am also taking advantage of all of the holiday pay available at work, so I've been doing a bunch of overtime (and it sucks) so I had to work Christmas Eve. That means I was a zombie Christmas Day because I only got a couple hours of sleep! But that is one of the good things about working nights--even when you have to work on a holiday, if you sacrifice sleep you can still enjoy festivities during the day. Nick spent Christmas Eve while I was gone with his family about an hour away...that didn't go over too well. So we made up for it with my family on Christmas. There was tons of food and family and presents, and of course pictures!! Here are a few:

^The feast!

^Nick and I before eating

^My mom Kathy and stepdad Gary

^My brother Shane and his gf Audra

^Me with my bounty

^Nick excited about his presents

^My grandma Margie and I

Second Trimester!! Making Lemonade...

14 weeks is here and I may possibly be showing a bit!! Still no weight gain but I know it will come. I will start posting belly pics once a month soon, probably starting at week 16. One month from today we find out the gender, and of course get more US pictures!! That will be one of the best days ever! Next year truly is a huge year for us. Here are the updates:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Christmas is just a few days away, and we are both very excited about this time of year with our family and friends. But I am sad that it will all be over!! We can take solace in knowing that FINALLY after almost 6 years of trying for a baby, next Christmas we will have three in our family!!! Plus the kitties of course :)

Finally Some Christmas Pictures!

I promised I would post pics of my decorations, and here they are! I didn't take any of the outside lights because they are pretty minimal--just a line along the roof and some little white light trees. Not to mention the barrenness from the lack of grass, leaves, and SNOW. But at night it is simple yet elegant! Inside is where I love to go all out, and if only I could capture the pine and bake apple pie scents wafting through (from candles of course)!

^Christmas tree with new tree skirt and ornaments

^Kitchen table

^Fireplace decorations (notice the bear?)

^Coffee table knick knacks

^Couch and window decorations

^My little village on the back of the piano

^Banister in entry way

^Table in entry way

^Last but not least, this is Crisp. He is a handed down, hand carved bear that looked a little "crispy", so we named him Crisp. We dress him up for Halloween and Christmas!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Yesterday was my 3 month prenatal checkup, and everything is looking great. My CF screen was negative, and everything on my chromosome screening was normal so we are looking great in that department. HR was in the 150's and strong. The next appointment is on January 26, which will be AFTER I find out the sex!!!! I can't wait! Only 5 more weeks.

In other news, Nick and I are very excited to be buying some land here in the very near future. Today at 2:30 we are going to look at some acres in a new addition, and to talk to a builder about some house plans. I don't think I had mentioned it before, but we are planning on moving to the semi-country and building a custom Victorian house. We will be putting our house up FSBO hopefully in early March 09. After we sell it, we will temporarily live in an apartment until our Victorian house is built. So little Madilynn/Bradley may spend their first months in an apartment, but that's just fine cause then they can spend the rest of their childhood in a beautiful one-of-a-kind house!! I'll keep you updated.