We've made it to the first month!

Bo is officially one month old today. This milestone inspired a photo shoot.

one of the few things to convince me that Annalee really isn't a baby anymore...

my happy boy is officially one month old today!

embracing his fate to be one of my main models... 

the proud big sissy. 

The first month has been good. I can't believe it's already been a month - but at the same time, I feel like Bo has been with us forever. It's hard to imagine life without him.

He's a relaxed baby for the most part - and a little sweetie.  I think he might have some sensitivity to dairy though - he was acting extra fussy (and he's not really a fussy baby) after I would eat dairy-heavy foods, so I've chosen to cut that out of my diet for the most part - at least cow's milk (I learned it's probably one of the proteins in cow's milk and it's kind of common for new babies to have this sensitivity). For a dairy-lover like me, that's rough, but I've found some fun replacements like almond milk. And I've been keeping my hopes up that maybe he'll outgrow it in the next few months.

Hump Day Bump Day! (2/17/10)

We got some really wonderful news at our ultrasound appointment yesterday morning!  Baby has flipped and is now head down.  YAY!  We were able to cancel our scheduled C-Section because Baby is no longer breech.


And I think Baby finally flipped two nights ago - or maybe even yesterday morning based on how the kicking changed - but Don thinks that my belly even just looks different now too.  Here's the HDBD photo from last week and the one from this morning...  drop much?  ;)

 

Last Week's HDBD Photo

Today's HDBD photo.

just a little longer...

we're officially at 31 weeks now.  Just a few more days and we'll be at 32 weeks - or 8 months for those of you that don't want to do the math...

here's a picture (courtesy of babycenter.com) showing what Baby is up to now - it's kind of cool to see that Baby actually looks more like a baby now.  :)

No wonder my belly is getting so big that I waddle!  And Baby weighs about the same as 4 naval oranges (3 lbs. 3 oz.).  Again - here's a picture for reference:

I feel like we're in the home stretch now - only a couple more months - 10 weeks tops and we'll be welcoming our bundle of joy into this world.  I CAN'T WAIT!  :)

Updates and Thingamabobs

Don and I just finished watching Julie & Julia - it was a great flick.  And for those of you that don't know - it has to do with cooking... and blogging.  The main character in the movie was a much more dedicated blogger than us Bratschies though.  But alas, thanks for hanging in there with us and checking back everyone once and again to see what's new.

So - be warned, I was inspired to write another blog entry.  And I fear it will be a lot at once.  You might want to tackle this post in sittings.  Anyway - here's what's new:

The biggest news is that we've decided to build an extra room into our loft space instead of moving.  We really love our home.  It's a great fit for us and I have a hard time imagining us moving anywhere else.  If you've ever been in our place, the nursery/den will be where the dining room currently is.  A good friend of ours drew up some plans for us on what the new room will look like, we just have to find some contractors to put in drywall and schedule it all to be done after the Holidays and before Baby gets here.

Also, I'm at 26 weeks now - if you don't feel like figuring it out, that's 6.5 months!  And I'm constantly at the point where I don't think I could get any bigger.  For anyone that's already had kids - I'm sure you think this is just adorable...

Baby is kicking all the time too.  It's really cool to feel Baby moving around inside.  A lot of people have asked me if it hurts - and to be honest, I'm not sure if it will when I get closer to delivery, but it sure hasn't yet.  It feel more like bubbles moving around - or like my stomach is growling, except there's no actual hunger pangs. 

I just had to change my footwear too.  I used a DSW reward coupon to order myself a cute pair of flat boots.  Not as sassy as my heeled boots, but still cute.  I think I might just wear them every single day.  They have an easy zipper too - makes getting them on and off actually something that I can do.  (I'm starting to get to the point where I can't touch my feet anymore - the baby bump is just that big - like I said I'm always convinced that I just can't get any bigger...)

I've also started to rely on some new things to help me keep it together during this time that Baby and me are spending together prenatally.  I might do separate posts on each of these things - which would help me get back in the habit of blogging and keeping folks informed on the Baby Bratschie happenings, but here's a list just to get started: a neti pot, momma bee belly cream, aveeno moisturizing lotion and regularly changing my toothbrush.  The belly cream and lotion are probably obvious - my skin (particularly on the belly) is stretching out and in order to avoid dry, itchy skin - I need to keep it constantly moisturized.  The neti pot and new toothbrushes are my way of avoiding getting sick.  Because us preggos can't really take cold medicine or even sinus spray - and because my immune system is particularly susceptible to all things contagious right now - I'm doing everything I can to help my immune system out.  And if you don't know what a neti pot is - don't worry, I'll definitely blog about that all on its own.  You'll love it.

25 Weeks! What's a Rutabaga?

As of Friday, Baby is roughly the weight of a rutabaga - or 1.5 lbs.  I know, I know - what exactly is a rutabaga anyway?  Although it's interesting to say/write - I'm not exactly sure anyway.

But I did score a cool picture from that babycenter slideshow.  Here it is:

So - we know it's big.  And in the family of turnips.  And for anyone who has some extra time on their hands, I even found some recipes online for rutabaga.

ENJOY! :)

Hump Day Bump Day! (12/2)

We missed HDBD last week - I think I was in a turkey-induced coma, or maybe we were overcome with black friday deals...
Anyway - we're back and on track again.

Here's proof that Baby's in there - rattling around:

Can you believe I'm only at 6 months?  Sheesh. 

Hump Day Bump Day! (11/18)

We barely made it today.  Phew!

Not only am I getting HUGE - but I believe my nesting instincts are starting to kick in.  I'm knitting a blanket - and I baked cookies from scratch twice in the last 4 days.   Of course, maybe those two things are related?

Anyway - enjoy the update.  It's time for me to toddle off to bed.  ;)

Photo Shoot #4...

Yesterday morning we went for the 2nd half of our Ultrasound.  Again, Baby was uncooperative.  However, we did manage to get one good shot from the ordeal.  Yes, it's fuzzy.  Yes, it's blurry.  But it's Baby, dang it.  And we LOVE Baby.

That's Baby's profile on the left and belly on the right.  It kind of looks like Baby is blowing bubbles here...

At one point, Baby's feet were rolled up over Baby's head!  It's getting to be tight quarters in there...

Weeks 21 and 22

So - it looks like weeks 21 and 22 have flown by without me posting the produce pics!  I can't believe what a bad preggo-blogger I am!  Let's blame this one on momnesia, shall we?

Here's the info for week 21:

Your baby has grown as big as a banana. (Length: about 6 1/2 inches from head to bottom, and 10 inches from head to heel.)

And here's the info for week 22:

Your baby -- currently the length of a carrot -- weighs about 3/4 of a pound. (Length: 10 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

We'll know what the next magical produce item is on Friday or Saturday - so stay tuned.  ;)

Hump Day Bump Day! (11/11)

We've made it to another HDBD!  This one almost got by too!  You'll have to forgive my lack of posting lately.  I'm going to blame it on a shorter-than-usual attention span...

The bump is getting so big - I think we should call it something else now... maybe a mound?  No - probably more like extra-planet-on-my-belly.  That doesn't have quite the same ring to it though.  I guess we'll stick with bump for now...

Hump Day Bump Day! (11/4)

Good news!  We found my phone!  I had left it in a friend's car.  I know, I know - I should be more careful.  But hey - at least I didn't leave it in a cab... this time.

So - without further adieu - this week's HDBD photo...

TA-DA!

While we were taking this photo, Don said "stop sticking out your butt."  He really did.  And then he immediately lost brownie points.  It's okay though - he won them again when he made me a delicious lunch.  YUMMY!

Oh - and purely for fun comparison - here's the first HDBD photo - from the archives:

19 Weeks!

As of yesterday, Baby is at 19 weeks.  WOW.  I can't believe it's already 19!  One more week and we'll be at 5 months!  This seems like it's going by so quickly!

According to our babycenter.com email, Baby is approximately 8.5 ounces and measure about 6 inches from head to rump - or, in produce terms, is as long as a large heirloom tomato.  Because "large heirloom tomato" is quite vague, I'm including the official picture again.  Here it goes:

Again - use the quarter for comparison.   Because of the latest produce comparison, Don has enlightened me that a heirloom tomato merely means that the tomato is not a hybrid, but a pure tomato.  So - the quarter is even more helpful than I thought... (here's the wikipedia article for anyone that might be a doubter out there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_tomato).

Hump Day Bump Day! (10/21)

Week 18! - Bell Pepper

Baby is about the length of a bell pepper this week (5.5 inches long).  Wow!  This little one is growing FAST!  The gender organs are also developed at this point too - but no, we're still not going to find out if it's a Brat-he or a Brat-she. (HA!  Get it?  A play on our last name?!  I'm so funny!)

Anyway - I included this babycenter.com picture to help anyone who may not know what size bell pepper these peeps are comparing Baby to.  It might help to use the quarter for comparison...

Enjoy!

17 Weeks - TURNIPS!

As of yesterday, Baby is 17 weeks and  I still haven't felt any kicks or flutters (although I wasn't sure if maybe I felt it last night... could've been indigestion).

According to my weekly babycenter email, Baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to hard bone.  Seems like good timing for Halloween, no?  ;)   And now Baby weighs roughly 5 ounces - the size of a turnip.  YAY for turnips!

 I don't even know of what we can make with a turnip though - anyone got any good turnip recipes?

16 Weeks! And Babies are Really Just Produce...

Baby is 16 weeks (4 months) as of yesterday.  Wow.  We're almost halfway through this pregnancy thing.

According to our Babycenter email - Baby is roughly the size of an avocado and is growing toenails, among other things.  The first thing I thought when I read that was, "Getting toenails is the first step to pedicures - YAY!"  (If Baby is a girl, that is - not that boys don't get pedicures, but they don't usually talk about it).

The second thing I thought was "what size avocado?"  Out of pure coincidence, we made guacamole last night - yeah, I guess that's a little sick in retrospect but take heart in knowing that it wasn't planned.  Of course, now we might actually try to work whatever produce item Baby is currently the size of into our menu.  I kind of think that would be funny.  Anyway - we used 5 avocadoes and they were all such different sizes!

So - back to this idea of Baby being the size of produce - Babycenter has this slideshow that compares Baby's development every week to a 'common' produce item - to help give people a better idea of how big their baby is getting.  (As if a giant belly wasn't enough of an idea)...
They have everything from a sesame seed to a pumpkin.  That's right - a pumpkin.  

The key to note here is that the growing baby is like this produce item in some way, usually weight or length.  Otherwise, some of these don't make sense - like an ear of corn at week 24?  I can hear it now "What?  My baby is like an ear of corn right now?  NO WONDER I'm uncomfortable!"

Latest Checkup - 10/1

We had our monthly checkup yesterday morning.  It was what they call a "belly check".   I just go in, pee in a cup (they check it for potential problems), get weighed (up a few pounds from last month), and wait for the doc to come in and make sure Baby and I are doing great.

This time we had Dr. Chen.  He was quite personable and very funny.  He commended me on using the old hairtie-wrapped-around-the-button-hole trick.  And then - he pulled out this special "heartbeat listening" device so that we could hear Baby's heartbeat!

The first heartbeat we heard while that thing was on my belly was my own.  lub. lub. lub.  We heard my heartbeat through my belly - cool.  Doc found Baby's heartbeat shortly after that.  Baby's heartbeat was much quicker and not quite as loud - Doc guestimated Baby's heartbeat at 140 beats per minute!  Wow, that's quick!  :)

Then, to top it all off - I got my first ever flu shot!  Yay for parental preparedness!  :)  But - my arm is still sore.  :(

Feeling Any Movement Yet?

According to all the baby stuff we've been reading, I should expect to feel Baby moving any minute now.  Of course, it could take up to even a few more weeks to feel anything too.  It depends on how active Baby is and how alert I am to Baby's movements.

And the fact that I don't really know what I'm watching out for makes it a little bit harder to watch out for it.  But I got some tips to help me out - like I'm more likely to feel Baby's movements when I'm just lying down and relaxing or right after I eat.   So - at least until I feel Baby move, I plan on doing a lot of lying down, relaxing and eating.  I want to make sure I'm giving Baby optimal conditions to help me feel Baby movements.   

15 Weeks!

Today marks 15 weeks for Baby.  I know, I know - that's lovely  - but what does that really mean for Baby?

Well - Baby is about the size of an apple (4 inches long, 2.5 oz)... and Baby's legs are growing longer than the arms now.  (Maybe that's why I've been so tired these last few days...  I'm always convinced that when I'm particularly exhausted, even though I've gotten plenty of sleep, that Baby is up to something BIG.)

Oh- and probably the biggest news - Baby is forming taste buds!  This is big news mostly because Don's favorite hobby is cooking and he's darn good at it too.  Baby's taste buds are sure going to come in handy!  :)

14 Weeks - Baby can now squint!

Baby can also frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck her/his thumb.  Although I don't really like to think about the peeing part that much because - where's it all go?  yeah.  exactly.

So Baby is officially 14 weeks today based on the first due date we were given.  We've since heard that Baby was a few days older based only on size - but our due date wasn't officially changed...

Anyway - every week, on Fridays, I get an email telling me what Baby is up to this week.  I signed up for it online at babycenter.com - it's a site that Don found.  Not only does it have great information for what Baby is up to - but it gives some helpful hints for mom and dad too - like what I should be expecting this week and what Don can be expecting too.  :)     (Although no one really warned us about my new carnivorous meal choices...) 

I love knowing what Baby is up to and what it can do now.  Last week it got finished up with it's fingerprints!  What a busy Baby!  And we know that Baby is roughly the size of a lemon now too.  (Doesn't exactly explain why my baby bump is so huge...)

Every time I get one of these emails describing what Baby is up to and how quickly Baby is growing, it totally reminds me of Psalm 139.

Psalm 139:13,14:
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.