Double Digits...99 days left!

 

 

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and got to spend it with your loved ones. We had a busy 3 days and are sure glad that it is over. As you can see by my ticker at the very bottom of this blog, I have hit the double digit mark. I have 99 days (give or take) left until we meet Baby Natasha! And only 2 more weeks until I say goodbye to the 2nd trimester and welcome the 3rd trimester. Time is flying by!

Natasha is still the size of an eggplant, but putting on more weight. She is moving around more and more and I have definitely felt some strong jabs/kicks. Her eyes are forming this week and she will soon be practicing how to blink. The network of nerves in Natasha's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She should now be able to hear Zac's voice, so we will have him start reading to her too!

I am happy to report that the wrist guards have helped me with my Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. Zac says I look like a fighter wearing them to bed, but they are getting the job done. The bolster is also helping my hips, but I have been noticing some sciatica pain in my lower back when I sit/stand/walk for too long. I guess this is all part of growing a human being in my uterus!

We wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!

My Little Bademjan

My little Bademjan

Natasha is the size of an eggplant this week (25 weeks). For those of you that don't know Farsi, Bademjan means eggplant and it happens to be one of my favorite Persian dishes. This week Natasha is learning to distinguish right side up from upside down. This explains all the movement I have been feeling lately. Last Sunday, Zac got to feel Natasha for the first time. We were lying in bed watching TV and I told him to just rest his hand on my belly for awhile. Sure enough, she kicked his hand twice! Zac couldn't believe how strong she was. It was so cute and such a special moment.

My baby bump has definitely grown. I still have a lot of energy and keeping up with my exercise routine, but my hips are starting to hurt a bit at night from lying on my side and I have been having some trouble with my wrists and hands (carpel tunnel syndrome). My prenatal instructor told me that instead of sleeping with a body pillow (which compresses), I should sleep with a firmer bolster. I can also sleep on my back as long as it doesn't make me nauseous. In regards to my carpel tunnel syndrome, I should start wearing wrist guards to bed. So we will see if these tips work.

I had my 24 week check-up with my doctor last week and Zac and I both got our H1N1 vaccine (well I made Zac get one, since I had to get one). I took it like a champ, but Zac took it more like a chump (ZING!). My blood pressure and weight gain so far is fine and Natasha's heartbeat was great and wonderful to hear on the doppler. In 2 weeks I have to take the 1-hour glucose test to test for Gestational Diabetes. I'm not looking forward to drinking the sugary drink, since I don't drink soda anymore, but hopefully I will pass and not have to take the 3-hour test.

The nursery is almost complete... well the paint part of it. The crib was delivered yesterday, but the dresser won't arrive for another 4 to 6 weeks. At least we can assemble the crib and figure out what else we will need in the room. I started our baby registries (Babies R Us and Target). It's not complete, but it's a good start. The holidays have been keeping me occupied, so afterwards I will have more time to figure out everything we will need for Baby Natasha! Thank you for following our blog and I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

23 Weeks and a Sneak Peak at the Nursery!

 Natasha is the size of a papaya

I am 23 weeks pregnant and I'm sure some of you are wondering what happened to week 22? Well, blame it on pregnancy brain, or the fact that work was super busy last week and I was too tired at night to update the blog. I'm pregnant, gimme a break. At week 22 baby Natasha is the size of a papaya and this week she will stay the same size but put on some more weight. Since Saturday night I have been feeling some strong movement from her. Especially when I am reading to her at night while lying in bed. On my way home from work today she was moving to the music I was listening to in the car. It's very exciting and I can't wait until the kicks and jabs can be felt from the outside so Zac can share these special moments too! This week baby Natasha's face is fully formed minus the baby fat. Loud noises that become familiar now - such as Chauncey's bark or the constant sports on TV - probably won't faze her when she hears them outside of the womb. I think she is already learning to tune out the sports commentators, just like her mommy! As for me, I'm still doing well except for some lower back pain that only occurs right before bed. It must be this cold weather. I haven't noticed swollen feet or ankles yet and hopefully I won't be sporting cankles during this pregnancy. The pictures (besides the papaya and bump progress) I posted are a sneak peak at Natasha's nursery. Our friend, Braulio started priming the walls on Monday and finished the green paint today. He will come back on Thursday and next week to finish the surprises we have in store for the nursery, so you will have to stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Happy Turkey Day everyone! I am thankful for many things this year. First I'm most thankful for being pregnant with our beautiful baby Natasha, who we can't wait to meet in April. I'm thankful for my husband, all my family and wonderful friends and the time I get to spend with them. I'm thankful for all the wonderful food I will be eating later today. And I'm thankful for my 5 day weekend!

I started out the day by sleeping in, until Mr. Chauncey (my trusty alarm clock) woke me up around 8am. It was still sleeping in. I ate a yummy breakfast and then took Chauncey for a nice walk around the neighborhood. Then Zac and I went on a bike ride (thanks to Jackie and Geoff who gave us their bikes). The hills were too much for this preggo lady, so we stayed on level ground for the most part. It was a good ride and I am glad I got some exercise before the day of eating begins. I have to make some room in my belly for all that delicious food, since I have a banana occupying most of the space. I'm 21 weeks pregnant and I still feel pretty good. I'm trying to stay active by walking Chauncey everyday, taking a couple of Prenatal yoga classes and now bike riding. I'm feeling Baby Natasha more and more, but no definite kicks yet! This week Baby Natasha's eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. Her eyelids are still sealed, but her eyes are very active. Her taste buds are formed on her tongue, so she will be enjoying Thanksgiving dinner too!

This extended weekend's goal is to clear out the guest bedroom, which will now be Natasha's nursery. I received her bedding in the mail and can't wait to get started on the room. I still need to order her crib and dresser, but I have some time since the room needs to be painted first. A good friend of ours will be doing the painting and now that I have the bedding we can match colors. I will post pictures along the way. The rest of weekend I will relax and take some yoga classes and hopefully go on another bike ride. That's all for now...

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for following our blog!

20 Weeks and Half Way Done!

Baby Natasha is the size of a Banana at 20 weeks!
 

I can't believe I am halfway done with my pregnancy...where has the time gone! I am 20 weeks today and Baby Natasha is about the size of a Banana. She is swallowing several ounces of amniotic fluid a day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. At our last ultrasound at 18 weeks we could see her gulping fluid and awhile later the ultrasound tech showed us how her bladder was filling up. It was very neat to see. Today at my appointment we got to hear her strong heart beat and Zac and rocking out to it...very cute! My doctor is also starting to measure my belly, so it will be interesting to see how it changes in the next 4 weeks until my next appointment. I've begun to feel little flutters or bubbles this week, especially while lying down at night before bed (this is when I read her stories). I can't wait to feel some real kicks soon! As for me, I feel great. I guess this is why they call the second trimester the most comfortable. I try to walk Chauncey everyday and I am still taking my prenatal yoga classes, which I look forward to every weekend. Soon we will be starting the nursery for Baby Natasha. A good friend of ours will be painting her room and painting a small mural on the walls. Hopefully in the next week or so, I will order Natasha's crib and dresser. But first we have to clear out that room first! That's all for now.

The verdict is in...

 

Zac and I are so excited to welcome our baby girl into the world in April! And we have a name... Natasha Olivia Larson (Zac has already given her a nickname..."No L")! We had a great ultrasound and Baby Natasha was not modest at all. The first thing we did was find out she was a girl. She is quite flexible...we think she wanted to suck on her toes and not so much her thumb! After moving around a bit she then settled in for a nap. Natasha definitely did not like that our ultrasound tech was trying to wake her up. We think she gave us a "look." Already developing a little attitude...we are in trouble now! While napping, she was sleeping with one arm on her head...just like her Daddy! It was so cute to see that. Other than that, everything is progressing well and all her measurements are right on track for 18 weeks!

Also, Baby Natasha will have an automatic best friend when she arrives! My best friend Jackie is expecting Baby Kyra in February. Baby Kyra and Baby Natasha will be about 6 weeks apart (give or take). I'm looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life with my best friend right there too!

Stay tuned for more on Baby Natasha and her nursery (I'm so excited to finally get started)!

xoxo,

The Larson Family

It's an Onion!

Baby Larson is now the size of an onion as I enter my 17th week of pregnancy! Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone. And fat is finally accumulating around it. His/her umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger. Also, Baby Larson's finger and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints! I'm still waiting to feel Baby Larson move and I have been reading to him/her often. We have gone through some nursery rhymes, The Little Engine That Could and Where the Wild Things Are. As for me, I am definitely showing more this week. And my jeans are starting to feel a little snug (even with the rubber band trick). After I took Chauncey on a walk, I had to get out of my jeans and into my comfy velour stretchy pants (keyword being "stretchy"). I might have to wear this pants everyday. My mom and I went looking at cribs and other baby furniture yesterday. It's so fun to start thinking about the nursery. I also found a bedding that I really like that could work for either a boy or a girl. Only six more days until we find out Baby Larson's gender (if Baby Larson is not modest)! Do you have a guess on whether we will be joining Team Blue or Team Pink???

OM

I started taking prenatal yoga classes this week and I love it! I have been going to yoga two days a week for the last 5 years and now I will be able to continue to go throughout my pregnancy. This morning's class was much larger than last Sunday's class and it is so great to see women in different stages of their pregnancy. You also get to hear what to look forward to as you grow (shortness of breath, wrist problems, lower back pain, etc.)...awesome! But the instructor gives helpful tips/poses to relieve the pain. The class is a gentler form of yoga than the vinyasa flow class I took on a regular basis. We did alot of supported floor poses using props, such as blankets and wood blocks to prop our hips up or rest our head on. There are many benefits to prenatal yoga especially for the birthing process:

*Relieves tension around the birth canal and cervix.
*Yoga can influence the position of the baby and turn it in advance if needed.
*It focuses on opening up the pelvis and to make labor easier and quicker (this better be true)!
*Relieves fluid retention and cramping (hopefully no more Charlie Horses for me).
*And it stimulates bowel movement (sorry for the TMI) and appetite.

Zac asked me the other day when he gets to start coming to these classes with me and I told him that these were just yoga classes not the birthing classes that we will have to take. It was pretty cute...he doesn't want to miss out on anything! I did tell him that he can always join me for a yoga class...he would be the only man there though.

We did sign up for our birthing classes at Hoag Hospital (where I will be delivering). We start on February 3rd and go one day a week for 3 weeks. We are also looking into taking a couple of other classes, such as a breastfeeding class and an infant care/safety class.

Namaste.

I love Avocados!

 I am 16 weeks today and Baby Larson is the size of an Avocado! Tiny bones are forming in his/her ears, which means he/she should be able to pick up my voice. I better start watching what I say, especially when I am driving on the road...ha! This might be a good time to start reading to Baby Larson. I have been collecting and receiving great children's books over time, so they will come in handy before and after Baby Larson arrives. Also, eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in...Baby Larson might be a Baby Monkey with all the hair that Zac and I have combined!

As for me, I'm still eating and resting! My bump still has not popped (I will have to post some pics this weekend and you can see for yourself). In the middle of the night on Saturday I experienced Charlie Horse cramps in not one, but BOTH of my legs. Zac was off pheasant hunting in South Dakota (he shot 2), so I was alone with Chauncey (our English Bully) moaning and trying to massage both my legs at the same time. Not fun and poor Chauncey had no idea what was going on. My calves are still sore today.

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will start to feel Baby Larson moving and grooving in my belly. And we hope to find out the gender on November 2nd...so stay tuned!!! There is a link on the right side of my page, under "Followers" to submit your email address. You will receive an email when I have updated or posted on the blog.

Happy Tuesday!

15 Weeks!!!

According to BabyCenter.com and TheBump.com, Baby Larson should measure 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weigh in at about 2.5 ounces this week! Although Baby Larson's eyelids are still fused shut, he can sense light. If we shine a flashlight on my belly, he will likely move away from the beam. There's not much for Baby Larson to taste at this point, but he is forming taste buds! I think he will like Mexican food b/c that is what mommy has been craving...and PB&J! His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all of his joints. I hope in a couple of weeks I will be able to feel Baby Larson moving (they say between 16 and 22 weeks)...I can't wait!

Today I'm Pregnant and I Love My Baby

It's official!

 12 week ultrasound pics...Baby Larson was waving!

Welcome to our blog! It's official...we are expecting Baby Larson on April 6, 2010 and we couldn't be more excited! The title of this post is a mantra that I got from the wonderful ladies on The Bump who like me have unfortunately experienced a miscarriage. So today, I'm celebrating that I am 14 weeks and 6 days pregnant!!!

After our 12 week ultrasound/NT scan we shared the wonderful news with our parents and siblings, then waited until the following weekend to make our BIG announcement to our family and close friends. Everyone knows Zac is into funny shirts (and owns many), so I found this shirt (3rd pic) to wear to our Oktoberfest Celebration that Zac and I hosted in our home. It was so fun to see our guest's reactions after reading my shirt and some you could even see the wheels turning in their head trying to figure out what was going to happen in April. Everyone said they had a feeling that I was pregnant or knew I was (I guess they have been watching my every move), but they have been kind enough to never ask.

The first trimester went well and passed by fairly quickly. No morning sickness, but definitely more tired and more hungry with an occasional mood swing or two. The second trimester is going well too, except for this head cold that I am trying to get rid of. I have been making more trips to the bathroom and that is starting to cut into my sleep time...I guess it's all in preparation for midnight feedings.

 

Our next appointment is November 2nd and this is the BIG appointment where we will hopefully find out if Baby Larson is a girl or a boy! I don't really have an inkling to what he/she will be, but at our 12 week appointment the ultrasound tech said she saw three lines (but don't they all start out with girl parts?). By then we can start planning the nursery. I got some great ideas this past weekend in Minnesota, since we visited 5 baby stores in Minneapolis. I wrote down the three bedding sets that I liked (one for a boy, one for a girl and one that is kind of gender neutral).

 

Stay tuned for more updates and pictures!