It's a Girl!!

Well the much anticipated and LONG 5 month wait is over, now let the planning begin!

                                      

D.L. and I prayed prior to heading to the doctor's office and I must admit, I could hardly sleep last night, waking at 1:30, 2:30, and 4:00 in the morning, for thinking of "what will it be"?   D.L. says I have O.C.D., (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), but I like to rebut that by saying I'm just organized and thorough!  (Call it what you want)  

So here's our 10 ounce beauty... 

While the ultrasound technician was getting the images, she kept moving around giving the technician every shot she needed.  When the technician needed to see between her legs, she cooperated.  When the tech needed to see her spine, she turned face down, and when the tech needed to see her frontal face view, she looked directly at the screen, I think she loved the camera!  So she should get used to the poses now, because I will be all the paparazzi she'll need!  :-)

Well as much as I plan to keep the decor gender neutral, knowing that we're having a girl is going to be hard to keep the feminity out of the picture, but hearing D.L. tell me in the doctor's office that we'll be trying for a boy next year this time....makes me think I WON'T be going crazy on the baby girl design & purchases!  As a matter of fact, D.L. is still hanging on to a little bit of hope that the technician couldn't really see if it is a girl or not, so we will have one more look during the third trimester.  Whatever!  Technology these days are pretty accurate, so he'll have to accept that this baby girl will soon have his heart wrapped around her tiny fingers!!

It was so refreshing to know that she's a normal size with all 4 heart chambers, beautifully created lips, no chromosomal disorders and seemingly as healthy as can be.  I pray that her development continues to progress according to God's will!

Baby Bump??

Of course this is my first baby on the way, but I keep hearing my belly is small.  I know that some friends I know have shown earlier, but I'm sure I will look back at this post and say, wow, I don't even remember my belly being that small!  The amazing thing is that I feel the baby flutters.  I wish I could feel them all day long, but for the quick moments that I do, I always thank God for this blessing.

Here's a pic at 18-weeks.

I look pregnant to me, and here's my zoom in!

So I have 7 days to count down!!  Count down to when you ask??  To find out the sex of our little one!! I still tend to think it's a girl and D.L. of course, still thinks it's a boy, so we'll soon find out! 

I've already gotten a prediction from my friend that the lunar calendar reveals that it's a girl and the calendar touts 76% accuracy.

I can't wait for my next Tuesday post!!

Consumer Overload

Well, this baby planning thing is definitely overwhelming! Especially for a perfectionist like myself that wants to read all the consumer reviews to make sure that I'm getting the best quality for the best value!  I never knew how much I'd be researching from books, to strollers, to nursery decor, to car seats, and the list goes ON!
Here are a few things that have caught my eye for now, but I still need to complete my consumer reviews!

1.  Strollers -  Who knew there were SO many types of strollers...I didn't.  Now I find myself trying to determine which one do I REALLY want need?   Who knew?....can you guess which one costs $1,259?

UppaBabyChicco

Stokke

I would never pay for this...but I must admit, I love the style!

2.  Gliders - I posted a brief mention on gliders in one of my previous posts, and now I'm drooling over including this one in the nursery.  I have been eyeing this glider for past 2 months because of its ability to fit perfectly in the basement when the time comes to retire the nursery.  

I'm totally in love with this!  Not to mention, I'm fighting praying for Daddy Lav to give in to the color scheme I'm hoping for.  Right now, I'm hoping for shades of gray, creams or white and purples....girl or boy!  Gray and purple have been my favorite colors and color combo since I got my first big kid 10-speed!  Okay, perhaps I'm being a bit nostalgic, but I hope I get my way!

3.  Cribs - Colors, styles, functionality, versatility....where do I begin?

So many things to think about!

Sweet Dreams

Lately, in my sleep, D.L. says that I often make sounds.  I already knew this, but he says that my sounds are more often these days as I'm sleeping.  In my online reading, I found this article about dreams during pregnancy.

Many women report that their dream life shifts into high gear during pregnancy. Interestingly, during the second and third trimesters, you spend less sleep time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the cycle in which most dreams occur. Why, then, all those frequent and vivid dream memories?

I thought the article below was funny also because I told D.L. the other night he better step up his game.  For some reason I have had a couple of dreams about my ex-boyfriends!  Where was THAT coming from?  It looks like their seems to be an explanation for a lot of my "out of character" moments that have been happening lately.

You have a sexy encounter with an old flame. Many mothers-to-be are concerned about their changing figure and its effect on their sex life — while many others feel more sexually charged than ever. Both feelings are often reflected in your dreams. Not only do erotic dreams offer comforting reassurance, but they may mirror the sexiness you feel during your waking hours, too.

I must admit, some of my dreams have been fun to have.  It's like I've had a few "outside of my marriage" thoughts dancing throughout my dreams.  HEY...don't judge...that's why they're dreams.  I'd NEVER make them a reality!  :-)  At least I'm brave enough to admit these nocturnal moments! 

10-days of Love with my Fam

I was so excited to host my two nieces and my nephew who flew in from Louisiana.  They left me now, but it was such a joy to have them with me.  I only get to see my family maybe twice a year these days and I NEVER thought I would be that person.  Life sets a direction that you thought you'd never go in and boom, all of a sudden what you never thought would happen becomes a reality!  I really enjoyed exposing them to so much that they'd never done and seen before.  During their time here, we went to New York, Washington D.C., Dave & Busters, Howard University, Blacks in Wax museum, and several other little tours!  But to see the expressions on their faces when they saw the city, the monuments, the crabs, etc., it made me have an even better time.  Even though all the walking was tiring for me!

 At this point in my life, having little helpers around is SO key, since now I find myself coming home from work tired and sleepy!  So I must admit it was a pleasure to assign "kitchen duty", sweeping and vacuuming and being free from a few chores for 10 days!!

Wine-ing Already

 Ok...maybe the title is a play on words, but I have been SO tempted lately for a half a glass of wine.  The fact that I'm interviewing for two different jobs this week is NOT helping either.  I feel like just a short glass of wine may take the edge off since I literally haven't sipped anything with any percentage of alcohol in 4 months...I only need a sip!   Okay, maybe I sound like a lush, or just a working pregnant woman that enjoys a libation every now and now!  Well I went to the web to research the "you can have a glass of wine while pregnant theory".  


 Of course, the first article I read totally taps into my guilty mom conscious.  If this line wasn't written to make ANYONE thinking of drinking while pregnant feel guilty:  "Most pregnant women are willing to do anything to ensure the health and well being of their unborn child."  I want a healthy baby too, but I also want a glass wine!  Ugghhh!  So NO wine for me (right now anyway).