No RICKI-NO RICKI!

OK, so we decided to rent some DVDs from the library, you know, just so we're familiar with whats going on.

I found this gem by Ricki Lake.

It was horrible and gross. Im sure there are some women out there who are into the whole "Natural process", but that was not appealing AT ALLL.

I'll take my hospital and doctor, thank you.

She kicks like a mule

Jaclyn is very active. Sometimes it feels like she's just kicking my ribs. Of course, those of you who've had children understand this is probably very common and a good sign that your child is definitely alive and active.

The past few nights she has jostled me and woken me up at 2 in the morning and its been tough to get back to sleep.

For the first time, just last week we were able to use our "at-home heartbeat audio" kit to hear the heartbeat. But no sooner that i found it, she moved. She's quite the stinker and never sits still. She also likes to do the worm.

baby bump

Ive been told by many when they were far along as I am that they were much bigger. It seems a baby fits differently on different women and different body types.

I meet with my doctor often, and been told my weight and Jaclyn's growth is right on par.

How's Jaclyn?

Jaclyn is very active. She moves around a lot. Some days she's flipping all over the place, then other days she's kicking and jabbing. I've become quite fascinated with what she's doing in there. I lay in bed with the tv remote on my stomach and just stare at it and watch it jump around for hours.

We also have a fetal microphone that amplifies the sound. To be honest, thus far i hear nothing. But its a great for listening to Mark's tv in his room on the other side of the house.

The Crib and stuff

Mark and I finally put the crib together. Our friend Elaine was kind enough to bring us this crib from Tampa. Its a great crib. It turns out someone was getting rid of it just when we were looking for one. Lucky us.

The Crib also has a changing table.

Little by little we've been adding little things to Jaclyn's room; blankets, clothes, baby monitor, giant inflatable bathing duck - whatever we find.

We have a Name

Selecting a baby name was harder than we thought. I was 100% certain this child would be a boy that all our lists were boy names. The very first thing i thought of once i stopped crying when we were told it would be a girl was . . what will we name her.

Marilyn was clever - a combination of Mark and Lyn. But meh . . .too hokie.

Sophia was nice, but too flashy.

Mark was pushing hard for Rachel, but i said no.

Then Mark threw out a name . .and it was good. We tossed it around a bit, slapped it against the wall to see if it stuck, and it did. We loved it.

We are going with JACLYN.

Jaclyn without a "K", just like our favorite Charlie's Angel.

So far no middle name. We are offering the middle name up for auction to the highest bidder. The highest bidder gets to provide the middle name.

Good Luck!

Surprise Baby Shower

On a trip to see family, my family and friend, Elaine planned a surprise baby shower for me. I'm not the biggest fan of baby games, but I thought it was very sweet of everyone. Living in Texas, with no family around, it was nice to have this casual party with my mom, sister, nieces, sister-in-law and friends. - Oh, and Mark was there too, reluctantly.

We played the usual games, guessing which melted chocolate bar was in the diaper, guessing which babyfood was which, and the name game. We had a good time. I may have been a little reluctant to sample my first chocolate diaper, but it was fun.

My favorite Junk Food

It would save me a trip down the stairs if we had a mini fridge in the bedroom. My favorite snacks are toasted peanut butter sandwiches on wheat bread before bed, Oreos, Cheetos, Diet Coke (of course), Reese's Peanut Butter cups, Gummy Bears and Butterfingers.

I also consumed all the pickles and have a weird craving for Fanta Pineapple soda all the time.

Baby Stuff Shopping is Hard!

Today Mark and I went to a few baby stores.

The first place was "USA Baby". They were having a huge 60%  OFF "MADNESS" wild & crazy  Sale.

I'll be honest, I didnt see anything all that wild & crazy going on there.  I found a lot of over priced items for things Im almost certain I'll never use.

Mark found an item called the "Wiz Guard" that is essentially a miniature athletic cup or cod piece for babies that blocks the diaper changer from getting wizzed on, as something genius and fascinating. We did not buy the "Wiz Guard."

After nearly 2 hours at USA BABY, Mark and I gave up there and drove to "BABIES R US" to see what we could find there.

NOW . . this was more like it.  "Babies R Us" had it going on. 

We decided to make it official and do the Baby Registry thing walking around the store with a price gun nabbing all the items we think our loved ones "may" buy us. 

It was an exhausting, overwhelming day staring at an assortment of bottles of different sizes, nipples made of different materials, bathing tools, diaper bags, blankets . .  you name it, these little guys require their own gear and accessories.  It was cute and fun at first, but eventually we'd pick things off the shelf and look at each other and say, REALLY?? Do we really need an electric formula mixer or a bottle steamer?

Overall it was a very fun, exhausting, eye opening day to the world of baby stuff shopping. We almost felt like we were now part of this secret club as we passed by other expecting mothers and couples as lost as we were, deciding which assortment of nipples we should buy.  - Should we go with the Long Lasting?.. or the extra strength?

Nope, not a BOY!

When Emily and I came home today, we received a visit from my friend, Suzanne from church who lives down the street.

She was kind enough to remember that today was the date we would learn the sex of our baby.  I was touched she'd remember.  Very sweet of her.

Suzanne had a gift in hand and it was a little miniature Thomas the Train cake and a note congratulating us on having a BOY!

She too, was certain it was going to be a boy.  

We thought it was cute and I knew Mark would get a kick out of it.

It's a GIRL!

I've had the strongest impression that I would have a boy for the longest time.  

When planning and preparing for the baby, I just new, yet creeping thoughts a baby girl would enter my mind from time to time. Of course, i would shoo it away.

We started buying little things for the baby - of course for a boy.  We thought of names for the baby, again, for a boy.

Today we learned we are having a girl. We are happy to report according to the doctors examination, scans and all we can tell, she seems to be developing right on schedule. All her limbs, parts and pieces see,m to be where they should be. 

Not a boy, but we are still very happy and excited.

Will SOMEONE please scoop the kitty litter!

As you know, when you're pregnant, you're NOT supposed to scoop the kitty litter.

Since I was the ONLY one who scooped it before, it's been nearly impossible to get Emily and Mark to help out and do this.

Emily says its gross, and  Mark claims neither of those stinkin' cats are his, nor does he like them, so why should he clean up after them. - Nice, huh?

They're doing it, buy i have to nag them to do so.

Maternity Jeans

I purchased a few pair of maternity jeans.

Right now they're quite baggy and loose in the front. I expect I'll fill that area up very soon.

The image to the left is NOT me.

New Stroller

We now have a stroller/carrier. - a gift from my mom.

It collapses and opens a bit rough right now, but i'm sure we'll get used to it.

Boy or girl, we felt the color was neutral enough.

Two words . . .CUP . . . HOLDER!

2nd OB visit - taking shape

The first OB visit - detecting a heartbeat.