Waiting, Waiting, Waiting at 40 weeks

Well, this week's appointment did not go as I had hoped. Still only 1 cm dilated and 90% effaced. Our baby girl is getting big and doesn't want to come out. She has officially been given her eviction notice and if I don't progress naturally by next week, we will be induced next Wednesday night. We've heard the good, the bad and the ugly from everyone but we fully trust my doctor and his opinion for my health and the baby's health.
He stripped my membranes to see if it would help me dilate and contract on my own, but so far, nothing new to report.

I guess it is a good thing that we have another week since the car seat doesn't fit in our cars and we have to figure out a creative plan to all three fit. Oh fun! Looks like mommy will be in the backseat squished with baby. Everything else is ready and waiting anxiously for our little girl's arrival! As you can see in the picture, I'm not sure my stomach can stretch much further without rupturing! Stay tuned for pictures and the announcement of Little Missy's name!

39 Weeks & Counting!

So much for having Little Missy this week! I guess it is still possible but I'm not holding my breath. Here is an update from this week's Dr. appointment:
-I am 90% effaced but still only 1 cm dilated.
-Baby Girl is still in good position for a natural delivery (with drugs).
-She also grew and now the Dr. thinks she will be over 8 lbs when she is born. YIKES!!
-Dr. said everything looks good and healthy and it's just a waiting game...just what I wanted to hear!

Today was my last day of work and I'm so excited to relax tomorrow and do everything possible to help move labor along...if any of the wives tales are true!

As you can see, we are dropping lower and lower. Come on Baby Girl!!

Three More Weeks!

I think I'm starting to go crazy! I went from being terrified of labor and delivery to wanting and trying to get there! The last month truly is the hardest. Everything hurts. I hurt in places and ways I never knew existed! When the pain first started, I was almost in tears just trying to get up to go to the bathroom. Now, I can't tell if the pain has let up or if I've gotten used to it.

We took our full day crash course birthing class last weekend. When we left I was more terrified of giving birth then when we started the class. There is no reason they need to show us an episiotomy or a c-section. We did learn some good techniques to cope with the pain and have been using them ever since which do seem to help for a moment. We also toured the hospital while we were there. I have always hated hospitals and learned that so does Paul. Keep in mind, we are delivering at Sharp Mary Birch, a women and newborn hospital. At one point during the tour, Paul leans over and mentions he isn't feeling too well (dizzy and nauseous). I look up at him and he is sweating also. I hope that during labor, Paul is standing and calming me instead of passed out in the bed next me!

37 weeks

One More Month!!

This week everything became very real. My doctor said that since I'm at 35 weeks they don't stop me if I go into labor. Part of me was terrified while the other part was hoping I do go into labor because I am over being pregnant! My feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my thighs hurt and I could really get more done if I moved my office into the bathroom since I'm there every 10 minutes.

My doctor gave me a sonogram last week to make sure all the fluids were good and he did confirm we are having a girl! Yes, I was having nightmares that the baby could be a boy and I washed and folded all the girly clothing. She is head down and in position (hopefully she is ready to see the world and isn't too comfy in there). I have started getting contractions and they aren't necessarily painful but more very uncomfortable. My doctor told me how to monitor them and when to go to the hospital. The best news of all was that if I'm dilated at my August 1 appointment and am done being pregnant (which I am now), we can discuss being induced. This will also help ensure my doctor will deliver our baby girl.

It's been so hot this summer so I have been swimming whenever I can and it feels so good on my stiff, pregnant body and truly helps relieve water retention!

35 weeks

Do I like Pregnancy?

I was asked today if I like being pregnant. It is such a loaded question. I mean, think about, who really likes being pregnant? You say yes, you're a liar. You say no, you feel guilty for not liking it. Pregnancy is just such a different experience and truly does affect everyone differently.

1st Trimester: I threw up everyday, multiple times a day. I could barely drag myself out of bed to go to work or do anything. Did I like being pregnant then? NO.

2nd Trimester: I started to feel better and eat a lot, but I still didn't really look pregnant. This was the first time we felt Little Missy move and it was amazing. Did I like being pregnant then? I wouldn't say I liked it, but it was not such a bold NO answer as the first trimester.

3rd Trimester: WHOA, I've been hit by a truck! I am exhausted. I have to get out of bed to pee 4x a night. Getting out of bed is a trial in itself. I'm pretty sure Paul wakes up each time I get up from my strange maneuvering and groaning. By the end of each work day, my feet and ankles are swollen and in pain. I can no longer get up off the couch without help.The anxiety level is higher than ever right now: freaking out that we will have a baby soon, freaking out over labor/delivery and freaking out that we still have to wait for her to get here. Little Missy does move a lot and she responds to both Paul and I when we talk to her which is pretty cool. Do I like being pregnant now? Not particularly.

Don't get me wrong, I love feeling the baby kick and move around like crazy and can't wait to meet her. Having a good excuse to eat a lot is also not so bad. All in all, do I like pregnancy? Not really.

33 weeks

Showers Galore!

We are so lucky to have had two baby showers thrown for us: one in Las Vegas and one in San Diego. Between the two of them, we have pretty much everything we need. Paul commented that the baby already owns more things in our house than he does...I sure hope this is not a sign of what is to come! For such a small little thing, she does have a lot of large items to make her happy!

Here are some pictures from both showers - Enjoy!

30 Weeks and Counting

I can't believe we are already 30 weeks into the pregnancy yet still 10 weeks away!

Today I had a doctor's appointment and I left so excited (happy, excited).
Here is what we learned:
-I'm about to start retaining a lot of water. Note to self: Try to get pregnant in the summer next time and deliver in the winter.
-Because of the water retention that is about to take place, I'm going to gain more weight whether I diet or not. Hence, my doctor said it's my call to eat healthy or go crazy with sweets and carbs (yes, he might be the most awesome doctor ever). Don't worry, I'm not going to crazy since I know this baby weight must go away and it won't be easy.
-Baby Girl is head down already - woohoo! But, I'm sure there is still a chance she can turn upside down and scare us a little. We'll see.
-Doctor said if I we go until 40 weeks, she will be between 7 and 7 1/2 lbs. Let's hope this estimation is correct because mommy and daddy were much bigger babies...YIKES.
-Technically, I'm not supposed to have any more ultrasounds, but Dr. said to remind him at my next appointment and he will give me one (once again, yes, the most awesome doctor ever).

The closer we get, the more excited we become (and nervous)! Little Miss Pigott will be here before we know it!!

30 weeks and growing

Third Trimester Begins

Wow, I can't believe we are in the third trimester already! Even though it feels like we are never going to meet our baby girl, it is definitely flying by!

Here is a snapshot of what has been going on in our world.
-I failed the gestational diabetes test and had to take the three hour miserable test, which I passed!
-We've decided to not name the baby until we see her. We have a few names that are our favorites but will not make the final decision until we see her little face!
-I've entered the uncomfortable phase - achy hips wake me up in the night and my sciatica flares up after days when I'm at my computer all day.
-No, we don't have the nursery ready. The only thing we have set up is the crib and bedding. We are waiting to see what we get from both baby showers and will go from there. Can you believe I've been so good and only bought one baby outfit?!

28 weeks

Getting Ready for Baby P

We are lucky enough to have two baby showers: one in Las Vegas and one in San Diego. Both will be held in June and have made me realize we need to start getting things in order. Trying to figure out what to add to a baby registry is hard! We live in a 2 bedroom apartment with hardly any storage space so we don't want too much crap but we know there are some larger items that we need. The registries are stressful to say the least! I think we've finally narrowed down the lists but then again I'm very indecisive these days.

The nursery will eventually be where Paul's office/man-cave is now. It is currently filled with a large desk and computer, a keyboard and guitar, a bed, and signed Star Wars autographs and a light saber (all of which must come down!). A lot of work has to be done - and yes, I realize we do have 3 months until she arrives.

All of you know my favorite color has always been purple. So it should come as no surprise that Little Missy's room will decorated in purples (and some green for daddy). I had a breakdown over bedding because all of the bedding we both liked and agreed on was out of stock or unavailable. Finally, we found a set and just got the email that it has shipped! WHEW! 

27 weeks

 

New Discoveries

Well, Little Miss Pigott has been to Maui and snorkeled with Hawaiian Green Turtles, beautiful coral and tropical fish. Not sure if she liked flying or not, but she didn't stop kickboxing the whole flight! We had a fabulous time and enjoyed one of our last trips as just the two of us for a while.

Here are some of my discoveries during pregnancy:
1. I LOVE Caesar salad.
2. I definitely do have a coffee addiction because I can't wait to have coffee again. I go downstairs in the mornings at the office after the coffee has been brewed just to smell it.
3. Swollen ankles are not fun.
4. People are much nicer to pregnant women.
5. People stare at pregnant bellies.
6. I'm hot all of the time.
7. My feet grew an entire shoe size.
8. I have lost all ability to concentrate on one task from start to finish.
9. I'm thirsty ALL the time.
10. Sitting like a lady with my legs crossed is a thing of the past and it is very annoying to be unable to cross my legs.

As you can see below, Little Missy has grown since our last photoshoot. Here we are at 25 weeks.

Sweet Cravings

I am officially hungry all of the time! I gained my biggest weight gain this month but my doctor said I was due for a bigger gain since I haven't gained much yet. I'm sure if I gain another 10 lbs next month, he won't be as nice about it!

Little Miss Pigott already has a sweet tooth (I can't be solely blamed for this considering her father also loves his Reeses).

Here are some of latest cravings:
Snickers
Blizzards from Dairy Queen (yes, they must also be Snickers)
Tootsie Rolls
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easter Candy: Starburst jelly beans are amazing and I've always loved the mini chocolate Cadburry eggs - SO good

Don't worry, I also still eat regular food as well:
Turkey sandwiches (I think I've eaten more turkey sandwiches in the past 5 months, than I've ever eaten in my entire life!)
Potatoes: potato cheese soup, mustard potato salad, and even egg, cheese and potato burritos (very strange considering I've never been a big fan of them and only eat them during the Holidays)
Mexican Food (I could eat salsa with a spoon right now)
Salads (believe it or not, I do usually opt for a salad at lunch meetings)

23 weeks

Holy Bump-a-licious!

21 Weeks

Well, I think you can finally look at me and say, "She's pregnant!" I was at an event yesterday and a man walked up to me and asked when I was due. I was shocked at first since people are a little timid to ask the question. My boss who was standing there when it happened said later, "You definitely do look pregnant now." He then went on to tell me that I'm walking pregnant. Really?

Later on that night at home I was trying on some clothes to see what fits and realized I definitely do look pregnant. Paul is ecstatic and LOVES the belly.

I've started feeling some of the movement that I see during each ultrasound. The other day Little Miss Pigott did not stop moving from the time I got to work in the morning until I went to bed that evening. Let's hope she gets the busy body out of her when she's born so mommy and daddy don't miss out on too much sleep! I know, wishful thinking. :)

Our next doctor's appointment is next week - we will let you all know how it goes! Hopefully, I don't get scolded for my weight gain. :/

Almost Half Way There!!

Little Miss Pigott

It's official: We are having a GIRL! This means I won't refer to her as little piglet anymore and hopefully Paul will stop referring to her as "him" and "piggy." Paul knew all along we were having a girl. Every time we would talk about what the baby might be, he would say, "Trust me, we're having a girl. I just know it." At least one of us has the parent's "intuition" since I had no idea the past few months.


My doctor has told me at each monthly appointment that I have a very active baby. Paul finally got to see it firsthand and was shocked we can't feel all the movement yet. Little Miss Pigott did not stop moving the entire time. She was hiding her face so we were unable to get a clear profile shot and she kept turning over on her back and we did get a good look at her head - which is very, very round. When she finally stuck her butt in the air to get a good shot of the sex, her hand was covering the area. I thought right away that she was a boy since the hand was already in the pants! Sure enough, she was just being a good little girl and keeping herself private!

The technician said he was unable to discuss anything with us and the doctor's office would only call if there was a problem. He did, however, say that everything looked normal. Today I got a call from the doctor's office and my heart sank into my stomach. All is good though - they were calling to let me know that everything looks normal and they will go over all the measurements with me at my next appointment. Whew!

I have a feeling we may not agree on a girl name until August 14...girl names are just so much harder for us!! Stay tuned.

Boy or Girl?!

Well, we are getting close to finding out the sex and are so anxious!! At first, Paul was the one that wanted to find out the sex while I thought a surprise would be fun. Now, I'm the one who is going crazy with wonder about the little piglet. Everyone keeps asking me if I have that mother's gut feeling about the sex - I don't.

My dreams are even about the gender of the baby. Recently, I had a dream that I was at my baby shower. Everything was so clear: I could see everybody who came, the food, the cake but there were no colors and no baby clothes to indicate a little boy or girl. I woke up frustrated, needless to say.

Our sonogram is scheduled for March 14th and hopefully little piglet cooperates so we can start shopping!

I definitely woke up one day this week looking pregnant instead of bloated. I'm still not sure how I feel about posing sideways for the camera (as you can see with the look on my face). Everyone keeps asking me to take pictures and send them, so I guess its sort of like being a team sport.

                                                                  end of 17 weeks

Recent Food Favorites

My appetite has increased. Before I was barely able to eat half of my plate, now I'm cleaning it. Last night we went out to a Mexican restaurant, not only did I eat my enchilada, taco, beans and rice, but I reached for Paul's plate and ate his rice as well. I've become a human garbage disposal.

Some of my favorite foods lately are (in no particular order):
Chocolate milk
Oranges
Cottage cheese
Avocados
Peanut butter and strawberry jelly (yes, it must be strawberry jelly)
Turkey sandwiches (I've been craving turkey sandwiches since about week 6 of pregnancy)
Greek salads
Peanut m&ms
Beans - refried, pinto, bean soup
Dill pickles (not a good thing to forget you put in your purse for a snack...)
Oreo cookie milkshakes (must be from Jack in the Box)
Starburst
Strawberry Kiwi Crystal Light

All week I have been craving a hot dog but haven't actually ate one just because I'm not sure if it will make me sick or make me want hot dogs all the time. I may just have to give in this weekend and try a hot dog!
Paul is still hoping I will start craving steaks and hamburgers (since it has been probably 15 years since I last ate red meat minus the pepperoni I do enjoy on my pizza).

With my new found appetite, the bump has started to grow (although not enough for Paul).

                                                                       @ 16 weeks

The Bump

The news is out for the most part - I think my entire industry knows I'm pregnant and I think it might be the best marketing strategy of all. At my first tradeshow since the news broke, everyone was coming up to me and commenting about my bump or lack thereof. It was a little strange since some people said I look so cute with a bump and others were annoyed that I'm not showing - so which is it? I found myself getting upset at those telling me I had a cute bump and was much more pleased by those that were upset I looked the same. I know, it sounds very crooked since I am pregnant and will at some point have a HUGE bump.

I may just know how to cover the extra weight well by wearing certain clothing. Because to me, I definitely notice a round belly starting to grow. Paul mostly notices it at night after a day of eating sporadically and it seems to grow just in about 8 hours.

The pains I've been having are normal according to my doctor - ligament pains - caused by my uterus expanding. I just have to watch sudden movement and try to slow down, which for me is a bit difficult.

OK, all of you keep asking me to post baby bump pictures. Here is the first one - taken at 15 weeks.

The 2nd Trimester has begun!

Today I went to the doctor and was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience! I was actually seen by my doctor (I was told I wouldn't be seen by my doctor until later on). Getting onto the scale I was feeling a little weary since my clothes are almost too tight to wear and I've been feeling better so I'm eating a little more. But, I had actually lost a couple pounds from my last appointment - WOOHOO! I know you're probably thinking, "What is wrong with her, she's pregnant," but the longer I can postpone blowing up like the whale I'm sure I'll turn into, the better. Just ask Paul.  It was even better to hear my doctor tell me that because I'm long, I may not start looking pregnant for another month or two!! Of course now that I'm telling everyone this, I'll probably blow up and look very pregnant overnight.

The checkup went great - everything is testing normal, great blood pressure, no weight gain and I got to see our little piglet again! Apparently I wasn't due for another ultrasound but because we couldn't hear the baby's heartbeat with the doppler so my doctor said, "This is actually okay because now you get another ultrasound!" I could not believe how much little piglet had grown! Don't worry, if it's a girl, I will stop using the term little piglet so she doesn't get any premature self esteem issues. Even more exciting was that the baby starting moving around and actually stretched its legs out twice and then lifted its fist (to me it was like LP was waving, "Hi Mommy"). The picture of the ultrasound is blurry but you can see the fist near the head - looks like we might have a thumb sucker!

The Big Announcement

I know my so-excited-husband told almost all of his friends about the same time as we told our families and swore you all to secrecy. But I wanted to wait a little longer, as most women do, to make sure everything was good.

I decided it was best to tell my boss since I had such bad morning sickness and was so exhausted and didn't want him to think something else was going on. He was surprisingly excited for me and told me he would keep it quiet until I was ready to announce.

It lasted for 2 weeks - not bad considering my boss. Earlier this week my boss yelled at me from across my office, "Where do pregnant people go for lunch?" I can only imagine the look on my face because right away he ran in my office and whispered, "You haven't told anyone yet?" Needless to say, I didn't need to make the announcement anymore since it spread like wildfire.


I called Paul right away to tell him what just happened. As he was laughing on the other end of the phone, he was updating his Facebook status. Whether I liked it or not, the announcement was about to be official.

We're going to be parents!

I know many of you thought I would never have kids, but there is a bun in the oven! Here is a recap of the first 12 weeks.

After taking 3 pregnancy tests (one which was a digital), I was finally convinced that I was pregnant. I think I believed like the rest of you that we may never get pregnant!

About 6 weeks in, morning sickness struck hard! I wake up in the night to pee and have a hard time falling back asleep because I feel so sick. Then I wake up for work and usually throw up a few times before finally getting out the door. Some days I throw up a few more times throughout the days, while others I'm okay until I eat dinner and it all starts again. It is slowly getting better, I think, or maybe I'm just really getting used to it.

I'm not exactly showing yet but am starting to look as though I am eating an entire large pizza with a 6-pack of beer all on my own a few too many times a week.

Even though it's been a rough couple of months, we are very excited for this next stage in our lives!