Lately I have noticed that my baby belly is growing fast. I know baby is not very big, but with the water and all the protection around the baby, it is fast feeling like a not-so-soft softball in my belly. I read that all my organs are moving over to make room for the baby belly. I had forgotten what early pregnancy is like. Funny since this is far from my first pregnancy. It has been over three years since I was at this stage in a pregnancy.
I am having nasty tasting regurge. Not exactly heartburn, but then again I don't eat very acidic foods. Well, not all the time. I do love my chocolate though!
A very important box came in the mail yesterday! My mom sent a flat rate box that contained "What to Expect When You're Expecting", "Emergency Childbirth", a BP cuff for Travis, a baby Doppler for me, and CHOCOLATE!!! Oh yeah, and Ziplocs--extremely important here, and equally as expensive. One box of gallon size Ziplocs in the store costs about $20 US!
I read about saving some stuff from now and putting it into a time capsule. I think I will do this for this baby, but also for the other children. I want then to have good memories of living in the Caribbean. We have enough bad ones--Trajun's seizures, hospital stays, nasty sores, the heat, the bugs, kidney stones, tonsillitis, being away from our friends and family, the list goes on...
To end on a good note: friends of ours are coming down for mid February to early March to see us after or during the time the baby is born. I will be so happy to have them. Our children get along well and we share many of the same interests. It will be fun!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Planning Baby's Wardrobe
I have searched for a list and have finally found one that gives what I need for a newborn. I guess I have to go neutral since I am going to "be surprised" like with our other children.
Here is my modified list of what I will be gathering for baby, and what mode of gathering I will use:
Any of the items without patterns I am searching for patterns or ideas.
Sewing
4-6 long-sleeved gowns
4-6 footed sleepers
4-6 lap shoulder tees (pattern from Martha Stewart kimono shirt)
4-6 onsies (pattern here)
4-6 pants
4-6 bibs
3-4 receiving blankets
3-4 hooded towel
Diaper stacker (pattern here)
Diaper bag (pattern here)
Baby quilt (pattern here)
Lap quilt (pattern here)
Changing pad (pattern here)
Knitting and Crocheting
2-4 pairs no-seam booties from Pickin' and Throwin' (pattern here)
1 sweater set with extra caps (boy's cardigan & cap pattern from FamilyCircle's easyCrochet Fall 2006 issue) Replaced with pattern I found on the web for button front knit sweater.
Here is my modified list of what I will be gathering for baby, and what mode of gathering I will use:
Any of the items without patterns I am searching for patterns or ideas.
Sewing
4-6 long-sleeved gowns
4-6 footed sleepers
4-6 lap shoulder tees (pattern from Martha Stewart kimono shirt)
4-6 onsies (pattern here)
4-6 pants
4-6 bibs
3-4 receiving blankets
3-4 hooded towel
Diaper stacker (pattern here)
Diaper bag (pattern here)
Baby quilt (pattern here)
Lap quilt (pattern here)
Changing pad (pattern here)
Knitting and Crocheting
2-4 pairs no-seam booties from Pickin' and Throwin' (pattern here)
1 sweater set with extra caps (boy's cardigan & cap pattern from FamilyCircle's easyCrochet Fall 2006 issue) Replaced with pattern I found on the web for button front knit sweater.
Buy
Socks
Does anyone have a yearning to sew or knit for a baby? I would love help!
Update 8/12
I decided to change a little bit on my wardrobe for baby.
I am using a pattern I found on the web for knitting a sweater set since I am much better at knitting than crocheting.
I know there could be a huge debate on which is easier, but I prefer knitting as it creates a looser, softer fabric. Crocheting is great for a denser, stiffer fabric. Maybe it is because I don't have the right size hook, or maybe my tension is too tight, but crocheting is not working for the baby sweater. I started the one from easyCrochet and had to pull it out because I did not like it.
Besides, my baby and my friend's baby will not need a heavier sweater. Both babies will be in the Caribbean and then the US for summer, not to mention that they both will outgrow these sweaters before they reach cold weather.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
11 weeks gestation (13 weeks)
This past Thursday was another week counted toward my due date.
Here is some info on baby:
Week 13 marks a milestone for your baby-to-be. Developmentally speaking she's no longer an embryo, but a fetus. She's looking—and acting—more and more like a baby every day. She appears to be resting because her eyelids have formed and are fused together, but her arms and legs move and twitch (although you probably can't feel it … yet). She can suck her thumb, too.
Your baby is about the size of a lime! She's growing heavier at around .5 to .7 ounces and is getting longer at about three inches long (crown to rump).
And me: I am feeling much better now. I still have a hard time chopping and cooking garlic (expect cooking in a soup). I am able to chop onions now. I have less nausea except when I smell Roseau and have winding bus rides, especially one after another!
I crave Mexican and Chinese food always. Last Sunday we had a chicken soup with bean thread noodles (you know, the clear Chinese thin noodles, saiphoon) and then taco salad. Today we had nachos. Tomorrow I plan bean burritos. Hopefully I can find a good recipe for homemade enchilada sauce and then I can make enchiladas.
I have been making my own sauces and seasonings since it is hard or impossible to buy certain ones here. The food that most locals cook is basic and very bland. They use salt to make up for lack of seasonings.
The seasonings they have here don't always make it into their cooking. Fresh seasonings I enjoy here are: thyme, parsley, seasoning peppers, chives (pronounced sive), green onion, yellow onion, garlic, seasoning celery (not as big as the US variety), and bay leaf. Every recipe I make, i add extra seasonings.
Here is some info on baby:
Week 13 marks a milestone for your baby-to-be. Developmentally speaking she's no longer an embryo, but a fetus. She's looking—and acting—more and more like a baby every day. She appears to be resting because her eyelids have formed and are fused together, but her arms and legs move and twitch (although you probably can't feel it … yet). She can suck her thumb, too.
Your baby is about the size of a lime! She's growing heavier at around .5 to .7 ounces and is getting longer at about three inches long (crown to rump).
And me: I am feeling much better now. I still have a hard time chopping and cooking garlic (expect cooking in a soup). I am able to chop onions now. I have less nausea except when I smell Roseau and have winding bus rides, especially one after another!
I crave Mexican and Chinese food always. Last Sunday we had a chicken soup with bean thread noodles (you know, the clear Chinese thin noodles, saiphoon) and then taco salad. Today we had nachos. Tomorrow I plan bean burritos. Hopefully I can find a good recipe for homemade enchilada sauce and then I can make enchiladas.
I have been making my own sauces and seasonings since it is hard or impossible to buy certain ones here. The food that most locals cook is basic and very bland. They use salt to make up for lack of seasonings.
The seasonings they have here don't always make it into their cooking. Fresh seasonings I enjoy here are: thyme, parsley, seasoning peppers, chives (pronounced sive), green onion, yellow onion, garlic, seasoning celery (not as big as the US variety), and bay leaf. Every recipe I make, i add extra seasonings.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Movement
This morning I woke with a terrible headache and stomachache. Then I ran to the bathroom. Everything that I have eaten has flown through me. Trajun is also not feeling well.
I had a dream about peeing my pants in bed, so I got up to go to the bathroom. Then there was one where I was at an amusement park with my birth family as a child, but the weird twist was that I had children of my own! I can't make sense of some of the things I dream.
Last night we had taco salad! Yum, so glad we could afford the chips! I will make it more often, but with homemade tortillas instead. But, boy was that yummy!
I had a dream about peeing my pants in bed, so I got up to go to the bathroom. Then there was one where I was at an amusement park with my birth family as a child, but the weird twist was that I had children of my own! I can't make sense of some of the things I dream.
Last night we had taco salad! Yum, so glad we could afford the chips! I will make it more often, but with homemade tortillas instead. But, boy was that yummy!
I can feel my uterus now, very definite. Like a hard balloon on my bladder. And it will only get bigger. I feel it move around- not the baby itself, because it is still too little- but the whole uterus.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
10 weeks gestation!
I am happy to be this far. Almost all of the nausea is gone. I can cook garlic and onions again!
I am still tired, but seem to have more energy every day.
What's going on with baby:
The end of the first trimester marks an important step for your baby-to-be. All of her major body systems are in place. In her digestive system, her small intestine is no longer entwined with the umbilical cord, but instead is tucked neatly within the abdomen. Her nervous system continues to develop, and her brain's structure is fully formed. Many of her organs are starting to work on their own, too. For instance, her thyroid begins to secrete hormones. Next week she'll no longer be considered an embryo, but instead graduates into a fetus. She's already looking more and more like the baby you're probably imagining—she even has tiny fingernails.
At 12 weeks, your baby weighs in around 1.5 ounces and measures about three inches in length (from crown to rump).
I am still tired, but seem to have more energy every day.
What's going on with baby:
The end of the first trimester marks an important step for your baby-to-be. All of her major body systems are in place. In her digestive system, her small intestine is no longer entwined with the umbilical cord, but instead is tucked neatly within the abdomen. Her nervous system continues to develop, and her brain's structure is fully formed. Many of her organs are starting to work on their own, too. For instance, her thyroid begins to secrete hormones. Next week she'll no longer be considered an embryo, but instead graduates into a fetus. She's already looking more and more like the baby you're probably imagining—she even has tiny fingernails.
At 12 weeks, your baby weighs in around 1.5 ounces and measures about three inches in length (from crown to rump).
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Nearing the end of the first trimester
Today I am so glad we have a holiday. I am glad that Travis can be home for today because I am still physically exhausted from the weekend. I cooked eggs with garlic and onions today - big mistake! I had to leave the kitchen and have Travis feed the kids. I just can't stand the smell still. I hope it goes away soon.
We are fast arriving on 10 weeks gestation (thursday), and I am excited for the first trimester to be behind me. I am going to celebrate by heading to the chiropractor's office and getting an adjustment. Hopefully getting out of the first trimester will mean no more nausea!
We are fast arriving on 10 weeks gestation (thursday), and I am excited for the first trimester to be behind me. I am going to celebrate by heading to the chiropractor's office and getting an adjustment. Hopefully getting out of the first trimester will mean no more nausea!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
9 weeks gestation
I am 9 weeks gestation. I have been pretty tired lately and want to sleep all the time. I read that it is supposed to ease up pretty soon, by the end of the week 10 of gestation. I will be so happy.
I have been craving cheddar cheese like crazy. I suspect I need more calcium. And protein.
What's going on with the baby this week: Your baby-to-be's body still may look a little strange. At this point in development the head makes up nearly half of his body size. Don't worry, in the next few weeks the rest of his body will catch up. Right now, part of your baby's small intestine coils around the umbilical cord outside his body—this will change soon, too.
Your baby weighs in at about three-tenths of an ounce this week, and his length is just under two and one-half inches (crown to rump).
I have been craving cheddar cheese like crazy. I suspect I need more calcium. And protein.
What's going on with the baby this week: Your baby-to-be's body still may look a little strange. At this point in development the head makes up nearly half of his body size. Don't worry, in the next few weeks the rest of his body will catch up. Right now, part of your baby's small intestine coils around the umbilical cord outside his body—this will change soon, too.
Your baby weighs in at about three-tenths of an ounce this week, and his length is just under two and one-half inches (crown to rump).
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