Bumble Bean Fort

Amelia's New Blog

2008-01-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Amelia has started blogging... Enjoy!

http://amelialynnfort.blogspot.com/

My First Month of Motherhood...

2008-01-13T21:49:00.000-08:00

I have dreamed about writing this post for weeks! I think about what I would write, compose beautifully crafted sentences while sitting in the bathtub, but I never actually find the time to write it. I literally wrote half of this first paragraph with one hand, while calming Amelia with the other.

Amelia is now 5 weeks old and Roger and I both are completely in love with her.

The First Month (an overview)
Our first month was extreemly eventful. After having our hospital stay extended an extra two days due to Amelia's jaundice levels and my high blood pressure, we came home and started settling into our new life as parents. I was thrilled that Roger was able to take a week off of work and then we eased me into staying at home mommyhood with him going back for half days the first two days and my sister came to help for 3 days after that. The stay at home mommy jitters were a little overwhelming, but my sister said the most powerful thing on our way out the door for Amelia's first trip in the car. When I told her I was nervous she said, "Ash, people do it every day"... Ahhh! What a lightbulb moment! Once my stay at home mom jitters subsided, things got much easier.

At Amelia's 2 week appointment we found out that she was down to 6 pounds (she was 6 pounds 10 ounces at birth), we also found out that day that my blood pressure had not gone down and was actually higher than it was pre-delivery. My blood pressure medication was increased and I began supplementing with formula to fatten Amelia up... we had our work cut out for us and of course Christmas was only a few days away!

My parents arrived 2 days later to celebrate Christmas with us and I cooked a full turkey dinner (I know I'm crazy). I of course got sick from sitting in the pediatrician's waiting room and ended up being sick for the next 3 weeks (I'm still not 100%)... Once my parents ooh'd and aww'd over Amelia for a few days, they left and the Fort Grandparents arrived about 24 hours later.

It was wonderful to have all of our family here for the holidays, but I was really ready to see what life would be like with a normal routine. I think all babies need a routine and so do sleep deprived mommies.

Here are some answers to our commonly asked questions...

Are You Getting Any Sleep
I cannot say I have any complaints about Amelia's sleeping patterns. The first two nights after we came home I was paranoid about SIDS so I slept on her floor.... since this is not condusive to a good night of sleep, I ended up buying a co-sleeper that goes in the bed and protects the her from me rolling over, but allows me to keep an eye on her throughout the night. I am going to start transitioning her back into her bed this week, but I know it's going to be hard on both of us.

Amelia eats every 3 hours at this point so we stay up until 1am, she wakes me up at 4am to eat (we're usually up about an hour) and then at 7am I hand her off to Roger. He feeds her and gets ready for work and lays her back in with me. Amelia will usually let me sleep until 9am or 10am after that, so all in all it's a pretty decent night of sleep. We've had one night where she has slept through the night, but I knew it was a fluke. I take all the night shifts (Roger has relieved me a couple of times on the weekend). This is my choice, I've seen Roger when he's sleep deprived, it's not a pretty picture! I need him to have energy to go to work and support me when he's here in the evenings. So far it's working out great. Roger has also been FANTASTIC about getting me to go take naps when he is homes... sometimes they're from 8pm to 10pm (that's what happens when the writers strike!)

Does She Cry Alot?
Amelia is SO mellow. She rarely cries and if she does, she can usually be soothed in less than 30 seconds... the only exception to this is when she needs to poop, but hey don't we all want to cry when we need to poop? She does fuss when she's hungry, but as soon as you get food to her she's happy and quiet. She's a great self soother and is very content in her bouncy chair or swing... I'm praying that we've really gotten this lucky and that colic will not rear it's ugly head!

So Do You Have a Life?
We are starting to... Amelia loves to go shopping, she takes her best nap of the day during "fieldtrip time" (my name for when we go run errands). Roger and I have taken her to Kincaids for hamburgers and Spring Creek Barbeque... we haven't done the full sit down exprience yet, but we're working up our nerve. She will be attending her first social event this weekend and I can't wait to introduce her to our friends. Due to the holidays and flu season, she actually hasn't met many of them.

How is Your Health?
I'm doing MUCH better! My blood pressure is finally under control (with medication) and is back to normal pre-pregnancy levels! I have lost ALL of my pregnancy weight and 15 additional pounds. I had no complications from my surgery, I was sore the first week, but since then the only thing I have is some numbness at the incesion site. I have my 6 week appointment this week and I will hopefully be completely back to normal!

How is Amelia's Health?
As of Thursday, she is now 7 pounds, 5 ounces, so she is finally gaining weight! I had my first mom freakout last week and took her to the doctor. Her pinky finger is SUPER red and it turns out it is a birthmark, but I had no way of knowing that. It will fade as she gets older.

Will you be keeping this blog?
Yes. I plan to change it to just Amelia updates... Hopefully more often than once a month!

Where are the pictures?
The best place to find pictures of Amelia is http://www.amelialynn.shutterfly.com and http://picasaweb.google.com/amelialynnfort

How long did it take you to write this post?
About an hour and a half... it's 1am and I started at about 11:30pm. Amelia decided she was hungry about 11:45 so I fed her a bottle and tried to type with one hand, then she got fussy and I had to stop completely, finally she passed out on my stomach and I was able to put the laptop on my knees... she is SOUND asleep.

Is it everything you thought it would be?
ABSOLUTELY! I never knew I could love someone this much, we are forever bonded together.

Amelia Lynn is Here!

2007-12-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

She is PERFECT! Amelia arrived December 6th, 2007 at 8:02 in the morning. She is 6 pounds and 10 ounces and 18.25 inches long (I was 6 pounds and 4 oz and 18.25). She does indeed have long legs!! She has a FULL head of brown hair (thank GOD since I made all those bows), beautiful blue eyes like her dad, and my coloring so we'll see what happens with that hair! She scored a 9 on the Apgar test and aced her hearing test today... She has the most adoring 2 sets of grandparents who cannot put her down and an Aunt Rinny who is very in love with her.

I am TOTALLY in love with her and so is her father. He is SO cute with her. She is a wonderful self soother and all the Happiest Baby on the Block concepts are working perfectly with her... Right now she is just laying here staring at me. Even her cries are sweet... they end in a meow like sound that sounds like "he he he"... it's adorable!

The hardest part has been recovering from the c-section... it is NOT an easy operation! The surgery itself was really scary to me (my first surgery ever) and the recovery has been painful. The first two days were a blur, today has been MUCH better thanks to the nurse adding motrin to my vicodin... it really worked!

I sent Roger home to sleep after the first night (the nurses would not leave us alone and it was pretty miserable) and Amelia and I have enjoyed spending the evenings together and then she goes to the nursery until her next feeding. She is a WONDERFUL cuddler!!!

Here is the link to view her hospital pictures... the password is fort http://www.webnursery.com/webnursery/parent/Registration.aspx?registrationcode=752hlee

You will also find pictures at http://www.amelialynn.shutterfly.com/action/

Today We Meet Amelia...

2007-12-06T00:50:00.001-08:00

Forgive me if any of this rambles... it's 2:50 am and I just couldn't force myself to lay in bed any longer. I slept pretty well from 10:45 to 2am... but since then I've just been laying there thinking about the unbelievable joy this day brings.

We have to be at the hospital at 6am to check-in for surgery. Other than having my wisdom teeth out, I've never had surgery and I've never spent any time in a hospital. I'm nervous, but I know that c-sections are the most common surgery in the United States and I trust my doctor completely. The operating room is booked for 7:30am, so by the time most people are headed into work tomorrow, my job of a lifetime will have begun... I will finally be a mom!

Surreal does not even begin to describe how I feel about what lies ahead... I'm in utter disbelief of how much I can love someone that I've never met! Utter disbelief of how much my life can change in a matter of minutes... utter disbelif that I can give my heart and dedicate my life to someone before ever holding them in my arms. Yes, my life will truly change tomorrow... but I've always believed that the purpose of life is contributing to the next generation and that the best way I can do that is to raise an incredible kid or two.

In a few hours, that journey begins!

On a lighter note... We had the pleasure this evening of having my parents, Roger's parents and my sister over for some pizza and distraction. It was so wonderful to see the two families together both so excited about this little girl, she is surrounded by love.

There were lots of comments about the possibility of twins being in my stomach, I've gained 6 pounds in the last week and I am so short that I just look like a beach ball is stuffed under my shirt... here is my final belly pic.

Stay tuned for pictures of Miss Amelia Lynn Fort!

We Have a Delivery Date!!!

2007-11-27T13:53:00.001-08:00

Tis the season for everyone's blood pressure to rise, so I guess when you have pre-eclampsia it's even worse! My blood pressure had stayed in the managable range, swelling in my feet had stayed down and I was feeling pretty good until last Friday. My blood pressure slowly started to rise and by Sunday it was in the "scary" zone... 160s/100s. My feet began to swell again and Monday morning I called the doctor's office.

I was sent to Labor & Delivery for a NST (non-stress test) for Amelia and some blood work and BP monitoring for me. Last time I was at Labor & Delivery I was in the triage area the whole time, kept my street clothes on and felt sure I was going home... I went in prepared for the same experience, but my expectations were quickly changed. I was put in a L&D room, put in a gown and told not to eat or drink anything else until further notice. I was scared! I called Roger and asked him to leave work and come sit with me... my worst fear is that they would decide to do a c-section and he wouldn't have time to get there.

So Roger came and sat by my side and we started mentally getting ready for our little girl to be here. After 4 hours of monitoring and bad tv, I was released to go home and told to see my doctor today for my regularly scheduled appointment.

The prognosis is that even though my blood pressure is high, my body and Amelia are handling it just fine. Well enough to wait until next week to deliver....

So Miss Amelia Lynn's birthdate will be Thursday, December 6, 2007!!

My doctor told me to get lots of rest from now until then and continue to monitor my blood pressure, but unless something drastic changes, she will see me in the OR next Thursday.

My c-section is scheduled for 7:30 am and hopefully if everything goes well we'll be accepting visitors Thursday evening/Friday morning. Roger will send an email out with the details after she is here.

The baby is coming!!! The baby is coming!!!

Here is my 36 week picture... we took it a day early...

35 week apt

2007-11-20T19:40:00.000-08:00

Ok first of all internals suck! It wasn't so bad while I was there, but I spent the rest of the day having contractions and feeling icky... ended up going to bed for 3 hours. Yuck!

My blood pressure is high, but stable. Amelia looks good (they only do her weight ever other week). She was breathing and kicking and had a finger sticking in the air... she's so cute.

My doctor is calling the hospital to schedule my induction for the week of the 5th. She is also letting me choose if I want a scheduled c-section. She says that as of now my cervix is very high and closed and that it's not likely to change before 37 weeks, this will make induction VERY hard and labor VERY long and I could end up having an emergency c-section in the end...

Roger and I have talked and I think we are leaning towards the scheduled c-section route. The recovery from a scheduled c-section vs. an emergency c-section is much easier and this way we'll know a set date for everyone to head to town. I will probably need more help during the first few days home while recovering from surgery, but I think in the end it'll be worth it.

As soon as I have the date I will let everyone know. I'm going to call the dr's office tomorrow and let them know my decision.

I can't believe we only have 2 more weeks!

Amelia's Nursery

2007-11-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

We finally finished Amelia's nursery... Here are some pics of her zoo themed room.

Door to her room with zoo mommies and babies...

View from door...

Changing table, diaper champ, growth chart & shelves...

Crib & more shelves...

All her treasures...

Closet door mural & letters...

Close-up of mural...

Bow holders...

34 Weeks

2007-11-14T08:32:00.000-08:00

Here is my 34 week pic & progression pic.

34 week apt

2007-11-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

Dr.'s appt went REALLY well... I got to see my doctor instead of someone in the practice and that made such a difference, I'm just more comfortable asking her things...

SO the news is that my blood pressure is continuing to increase (as we all know), but I've gotten Amelia through the scary time...

She is 4lb, 12oz and will be 34 weeks tomorrow which is their first goal. (According to Babycenter.com "babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.") She is meeting all of her measurement points (legs still measuring ahead) and her fluid levels and placenta look good.

At this point if my blood pressure increases again, they will deliver me (to 160/95 or higher). No sitting in a hospital bed for weeks, just time to deliver. :)

I asked if there is any possibility of me going past 37 weeks and she said no, we will be inducing the first week of December if she is not already here, so no Christmas baby for me (I'm kind of relieved).

I'll have my 34 week belly pic up tomorrow. Here is some more interesting info on premature births. Let's get Amelia to 37 weeks!!!

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1157.asp

Amelia's Latest Pic

2007-11-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

Here is the ultrasound pic from last week...

33 week apt

2007-11-06T17:56:00.000-08:00

Well today I met with the last doctor in the practice... they want me to meet with everyone, just incase I go into labor in the middle of the night and my doctor is not on call. This doctor was the "Happy Go Lucky" doctor of the group... usually this would be fine, but when you are dealing with a serious condition, it can be a little scary to have someone so upbeat.

The ultrasound went great, I ate some dark chocolate before the appointment and Amelia was super active! She danced around in my stomach and put on a little show. Her fluid levels still look good and she's growing like a weed.

I am continuing on bed rest, but we are a week closer to our goal of 37 weeks! Hang in there little Amelia!

Week 32 Doc Apt

2007-11-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Amelia looks great, she is weighing in at a whopping 4 pounds 3 ounces!!! She's measuring 32 weeks and I think her legs measured 33. Her amniotic fluid levels look good, she's head down but facing sideways... I thought that was her butt I was feeling in my left rib!

My blood pressure was high... ugh! It was 139/94 the first time and 143/87 the second... I got a big lecture about taking bed rest seriously and had to literally beg my way out of being put on hospital bed rest. I promised to do better and reassured the doctor that I thought I could do it on my own... I'm not ready to give up internet, tivo and Callie and Maggie just yet!

I got my 2nd steroid shot, which was MUCH better than the first, but the side effects have been awful! My cheeks are flushed and I'm jittery... I don't know how professional athletes torture themselves with this stuff!

So I'm off the hook until Tuesday, my next appointment.

32 weeks!

2007-10-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well these weeks now become bigger milestones than ever huh? Today was my nurse visit and 1st steroid shot, it was AWFUL! The shot was very painful and I ended up having to lay down afterwards because I was so woozy... the good news is they said that my allergies will most likely clear up for the next 90 days after the two shots... especially good news for Roger who is tortured by my snoring!

Tomorrow is my ultrasound & doctor's appointment... wish me luck!

32 weeks

Progression - I know it's tiny...you can see a larger version of it here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleerodman/1812453696/

Halloween Card

Painted tummy

Keeping Everyone Updated...

2007-10-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

Today I got my results back from my 24 hour urine collection (I can't even tell you how much fun that was!) The test checks to see how much protein is in your urine, which is an indicator of kidney function.

Normal protein findings are 0 to 150...

Preeclampsia is diagnosed at 300...

Mine was 231...

So I am still in the "mild" pre-eclampsia stage and still on bed rest until delivery.

I had the opportunity to talk to my doctor (she called me with my results). It was SO nice to talk to her and not a nurse!

Her advice was that at this point I could deliver any day. She is concerned enough about this to go ahead and give me the steroid shots for Amelia's lungs. I will go in for one shot on Wednesday and one shot on Thursday. I will also have another ultrasound/dr's apt on Thursday. These steroids will help develop her lungs. http://www.webmd.com/news/20060608/preterm-birth-steroids

She told me that I need to be ready to be transfered to the hospital after any one of my appointments, but that her goal will be to get me to 37 weeks. I was reading earlier that for every day I can keep her in the womb equals 3 days in the NICU!

I guess that is it... I just need to take care of little Amelia and lots of thoughts and prayers are of course appreciated.

Ultrasound

2007-10-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

My ultrasound went well, they only checked 2 things... the baby's movement & her amniotic fluid levels (they'll check her growth next week). Both were good... she has turned and is in the right position for delivery, although she's still pretty high. She was breathing and she looked great... although I feel a little spoiled by the 3d/4d machine... you just can't tell as much on the 2d.

Hopefully I'll find out on Monday what my protein levels were with my 24 urine collection & get some questions answered.

I'll admit that since I had my cousin with me, we went to Target to pick a few things up for me afterwards...

Well by the time we got home, my blood pressure had skyrocketed. I rested & it's back down, but I just needed to establish what my limits were... Unfortunately, it looks like those limits are pretty LOW! I promise I'm learning my lesson... no lectures please!

The news...

2007-10-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

I had my 31 week appointment yesterday. Total weight gain for the pregnancy is 11 pounds, I am measuring 31 weeks, and her heartbeat was great...

Now for the bad news... My blood pressure was still too high and I have been placed on bed rest until delivery!! My only exceptions are to attend my parenting classes, doctor's appointments, interview pediatricians, and attend my baby shower.

I am now considered a "high risk" pregnancy and have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.

Tomorrow I go in for an ultrasound to see how Amelia is doing under the stress of my high blood pressure and then I will start having weekly ultrasound/doctor's appointments until she is here.
Lots of prayers are needed!!! Pre-eclampsia can stabilize and I could go full term or it could quickly get worse and we could have her here much too soon. My personal goal is to get her to 37 weeks (considered full term) which is December 5th.

Until then, I will be cooped up at the house, feel free to send funny stories and keep me entertained and pat Roger on the back for doing such a good job taking care of me!

Grrrr...

2007-10-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Bedrest continues... my foot swelling went down, but some of my blood pressure readings were still too high.... I know bedrest sounds like fun, but it's really not. How exactly are you suppose to fix lunch if you can't get up and no one is here? I'm SO bored!

I will be on bedrest until my doctor's appointment on Wednesday... the good news is, a cold front came in and I'm LOVING the cool weather!

1st trip to Labor & Delivery

2007-10-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

I had rather hoped to not see the inside of HEB Harris Methodist until it was all done up for Christmas... something about garland and Christmas trees seem to take the scare out of hospitals in my brain... alas that was not in the cards.

For about 2 months I have had some localized swelling on my left ankle & foot. This swelling started after falling off the curb coming out of one of my many trips to Babies R Us after being startled by a car that was not intending to stop for an obviously pregnant woman... my doctor has seen the swelling and the ankle and said that sometimes when you injure yourself during pregnancy, you don't heal as easily. Your body is concentrating on other things and decides an ankle isn't worth it's time.

Slowly the other foot has begun to puff up as well and I haven't had my wedding rings on in weeks, all of which my doctor was aware of.

On Wednesday my ankle & foot had gotten so large that I jokingly took a picture of it and posted it to some of my pregnant & new mommy friends. They freaked. They assured me this is not normal pregnant swelling and then when I told them my blood pressure was 147/89, we all decided it was time for me to call the doctor.

After a 10 minute phone conversation with my doctor's RN yesterday, she said 1) she didn't forsee me actually finishing out my last two weeks of work and 2) that she was sure the doctor would want to see me that day.

I cannot explain the surprise when I heard back 20 minutes later and was told to head to Labor and Delivery!!! I calmly explained to my doctor's RN with tears running down my face that I didn't even know where Labor and Delivery was, which she assured me that they will direct me as soon as they see my 30 week pregnant belly.

The hospital experience was not so bad, I actually feel MUCH more comfortable about delivering there now that I've met some of the nurses and seen the way the L&D floor flows.

I was hooked up to a doppler belt that monitored Amelia's heartbeat and movement (crazy to listen to hiccups on a doppler like that, they are SO loud) & I was hooked up to a blood pressure monitor that recorded my blood pressure every ten minutes. I had some bloodwork done and after 3 hours of being monitored I was sent home.

Diagnosis: Gestational Hypertension (probably caused by dealing with a jerk boss the entire pregnancy) & edema (swelling).

Treatment: Complete bedrest with bathroom privledges through Monday to see if swelling reduces. Lowering sodium intake & any stressors.

Bedrest is horrible! I'm not good at staying still for long periods of time and everytime I think I have myself settled in for a little while I either need to pee, the dog needs to pee or I realize I need carmex.

The good news is I have 3 fresh netflix dvds, 3 episodes of Gossip Girl to watch & a nifty hospital bracelet.

I promise to update everyone next week. Until then, I'll be the lump on the couch!

30 WEEKS!

2007-10-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

I am SO amazed that Amelia will be here in the next 6 to 10 weeks... That's right folks, Christmas is a mere 10 weeks away! Time to start shopping! So now what use to seem SO far away is now incredibly just around the corner!

My doctor's appointments are now every two weeks and last week's was COMPLETELY uneventful. I had gained 1 pound, blood pressure was fine and Amelia's growth was right on track. Next week I get to start meeting the other doctors in the practice, just in case my doctor is not around when I deliver. I'm looking forward to meeting them (all women) and seeing some different OB styles. As much as I love my doctor, I don't feel I can be as candid with her as I'd like to be.

2 1/2 more weeks of work!

(to see a bigger version of this picture - http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w170/afort/progressiontworow30.jpg )

Let the Third Trimester Begin!

2007-10-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

The third trimester always seemed SO far away & now here it is! I'm 28 weeks today and I will admit I am hitting the "uncomfortable" part of pregnancy. Amelia kicks all day long (I have bruising on my diaphram) and sleeping has become a major adventure.

We went to see Momix on Saturday night (a dance performance) and it was the loudest music little Amelia has been exposed to... she JAMMED out the entire time... I truly think she was dancing in there!

Yesterday I gave my 1 month notice at work. My last day will be November 2nd. :) I want to start my stay at home mommyhood a little early so I can get some rest before she gets here and not be stuck in rainy/icy traffic for an hour each day while 8 1/2 months pregnant. Not that I think rain and ice are EVER going to get here at this rate... it's still 90 degrees outside everyday!!

Here are my 28 week pics...

3d Ultrasound

2007-09-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

I received the best early birthday present yesterday (almost a month early, but hey who cares)!! Roger & I went to www.windowinthewomb.com and had a 3d/4d ultrasound done of Amelia. We wanted the reassurance that she really was a girl and to see how she is developing.

She's beautiful! There are a lot of 3d pictures that I look at and say, I can't tell anything about that baby, but I can look at these pictures and see what she is going to look like. I can see her smile and her nose and her little rolls of fat on her arms... it's amazing!

She is definitely girl!!! The ultrasound tech was able to point out specific parts of the female anatomy that you almost don't want to think about your daughter having... but I now feel much better about all the pink we've bought her.

It also looks like she has the Fort long legs... so I guess I better get use to the idea of my daughter being taller than me.

For me this was more than just pictures and a dvd, this was a bonding experience. I feel SO much closer to her now that I've seen her smile and I can't wait to meet her in 3 months!

The photos are even better when they are larger so here is a link to my flickr account. If you hit "slide show" you can really enjoy the details that the 3d images produce.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleerodman/sets/72157602200903474/

In 6 days I'll be in my 3rd trimester!!!

2007-09-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a quick update...

Last weekend I went home to Corpus for my dad's birthday. It was a great weekend, lots of resting and pleasant family conversations, my sister came in town as well and it was the first time we had seen eachother in almost 2 years!

We had the opportunity to take my dad's mother out for lunch on Saturday, she's so tiny we really want to know how she carried 5 children! She doesn't think she has any pictures.

I had a doctor's appointment on Monday and had to do my glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes (yes the drink is gross), luckily I do not have diabetes! I am however anemic and they are putting me on iron supplements. No wonder I've been feeling so tired lately! I now start going to the doctor every 2 weeks... this REALLY makes me feel like baby Amelia is coming soon!

Roger has dental surgery tomorrow and I am taking the day off to play nurse... then Saturday we have our 3d/4d ultrasound... I can't WAIT to see Amelia again. Keep your eyes on the blog for 3d ultrasound pics, they should be up sometime Saturday or Sunday.

26 weeks!

2007-09-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Today I am 26 weeks... WOW do I feel pregnant!

Amelia spends about 1/2 the day now kicking, flipping & punching me... I'm sorta ready for her to get bigger so she doesn't have as much room to wreak havoc. After weeks of playing possum with her dad (she would stop kicking the minute his hand touched my stomach), Roger is finally getting to feel her incredible strength! We can see my belly move when she kicks and a few of the kicks have become painful. Although I don't feel her often kicking my ribs, my ribs are now sore to the touch, I believe because of bruising.

I feel as though I am constantly whining these days (back pain, hip pain, rib pain, heartburn, and other fun ailments), but I am also completely aware of the miracle going on inside my body.

The pregnancy books say she is now 13 inches long and I am convinced she is going to have the Fort long legs. I now firmly believe that the women who have 15 kids are crazy, 2 will be fine for me thanks.

The coming weeks will be eventful... I am headed to Corpus this weekend for my dad's birthday, my last trip home before the baby comes. Monday I have my glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes, next Friday Roger has dental surgery and that Saturday we have our 3d/4d ultrasound. Expect lots of pictures to be posted after that.

For now, here are my 26 week pictures...

24 weeks!

2007-09-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Today I'm 24 weeks... this is a HUGE milestone for us... the odds for a 24 week infant surviving if delivered after 24 weeks is 80%! http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/24weeks/ We of course want to keep little Amelia tucked away in there for a few more months, but I'm definitely still breathing a sigh of relief!

As for changes in the last two weeks, Amelia is now kicking HARD... to the point that you can see my belly move when she kicks!!! I'm definitely rounding out (as seen in the picture below) and SO excited to be sporting some fall clothes. I took some time off around Labor Day and got some much needed rest and retail therapy!!!

My tooth is doing better, although it set my wallet back $350 for a night gaurd. :( My last doctor's appointment was completely uneventful... Blood pressure was great (even though my ankle has been swelling into a cankle lately), I've only gained 7 pounds the entire pregnancy (the doctor is very pleased), but had gained 4 since the last appointment... 2nd trimester is when you are suppose to gain the most weight so bring on the food!

My cravings have intensified!!! Lately it's been cheesecake, caramel, pistachios, rice krispie treats, & shrimp dip. I'm REALLY ready to go eat my way through the State Fair of Texas in a few weeks.

Roger's parents came to visit and it was SO nice to have them here. We got to do a little shopping at Babies R Us and they purchased our Pack & Play and Travel System for Amelia. Both had to be special ordered and arrived today via UPS to Roger's work... I can't wait to see them!

Roger has been already showing his SUPER DAD skills setting up the crib & dresser, installing a ceiling fan and dimmer switch in her room (turned out to be ALOT of work), putting in blinds and installing her valance. Her room is REALLY coming together. I painted letters for her wall as well.

Can you believe it?

2007-08-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my due date is only 4 months away! When Roger's dad Newman mentioned it this weekend I was stunned... I think Roger was too... 4 months seems like nothing!

I've spent so much energy dreading summer and August (and rightfully so) that I was also shocked to discover that there are only 4 more days left in August!!! I know September will still be warm, but cool weather will be here before we know it!!!

I'm so looking forward to football season, fall tv shows, Christmas decorations going up in the stores & the first cold front... YIPEE!

22 weeks

2007-08-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here is my 22 week picture...

and my progression picture...

Life is good... I am SO excited that there are only 9 days left in August! :) Fall weather and football are around the corner!

I'm finally having that burst of 2nd trimester energy everyone talks about & Amelia is starting to kick and somersault in my tummy on a consistent basis. Oh, and my appetite is back with a vengeance!

I had a little tooth scare this week... it looks like I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep & I've inflamed a tooth (a tooth I once cracked grinding it so hard). The dentist felt like a bite gaurd could solve the issue, so now I get to spend money on that! Oh well, better than finding out I need a root canal without pain medication... OUCH!

We are excited that Roger's parents are coming to see us this weekend! This is the first time we've seen them since we found out we are going to be parents. :)

Baby Registry

2007-08-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Amelia's registry is now complete! For some reason I have found registering for her stuff MUCH more fun than a wedding registry... maybe it's how cute & tiny all of the things are! Somedays it takes all the willpower in the world not to just start buying everything on her registry myself... I'd go broke quickly, but there is something totally comforting about buying her stuff and about seeing her room quickly become "her room". For now I stick to the clearance aisles... if it's on sale, it's likely going home. :)

We have registered for her stuff at Babies R Us http://www.toysrus.com/registry/index.jsp & good ole Target http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/ref=nav_registries/601-2948169-3090534?ie=UTF8&node=306498011. Due to boredom at work, I believe it is the most comprehensive baby registry I've EVER seen (forgive me), here are some of the highlights...

I am in love with our pack & play and travel system material... it is so feminine and classy! She will sleep in the pack & play in our room for the first few weeks (or months).

For my techie friends, I think this is the funniest, yet useful mommy gadget I've ever seen...

It's called an "Itzbeen"... it helps you keep track of how long it's been since you changed the baby's diaper, fed the baby, slept, etc... specially designed for the sleep deprived mom!

The Cadillac of Exersaucers... this thing has SO many bells and whistles (literally)... You should have seen Roger playing with these at Babies R Us!

Anyone remember the episode of Sex & the City where the neighbor brought over the vibrating chair to soothe Brady... Gosh I hope it'll work!

The only swing on the market that comes with a "glide" setting... I absolutely love to glide... I wish they made one my size!

I think this one speaks for itself... I figure anything that might help deserves a place in the arsenal!

I have been in LOVE with this rocking elephant since the day I found out I was pregnant... I still can't believe I haven't bought him!

The three must haves according to every mom I know...

The Boppy

The Bumbo

The SwaddleMe Baby Wrap

Try not to go blind looking at the registries, I know we've gone a little overboard. Just wanted to share all the cute stuff we've found for her. Leia has graciously offered to plan a baby shower for Amelia in October/November for all of our Dallas friends... Yippee!

What do you mean it's not my crib...

2007-08-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

Callie has conquered getting in the crib and it's her new favorite hangout...

She can even keep the dog away...

This fur baby vs. baby thing is going to be interesting!

20 weeks!

2007-08-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today I am at the halfway mark of my pregnancy!!! 20 weeks down, 20 weeks to go...

My belly is definitely rounding out & the waddling has begun. :)

Last night I had some Big Red with dinner (love Big Red during the summer, it's a camp thing) and Amelia loved it too. She started kicking up a storm and Roger was finally able to feel her kick for the first time. It was AMAZING! I got tears in my eyes knowing that soon he'll be able to feel her kick and squirm the way I do.

For me the strangest sensation right now is that she does not sleep when I sleep (hopefully not a bad omen for things to come). I'll be completely asleep, but I am still aware of feeling her kicks, she seems to really be practicing her Rockette tryout routine during the middle of the night!

Double Post Monday

2007-08-06T09:03:00.001-07:00

We had SUCH a busy weekend that there are 2 posts below from the weekend. Make sure to read both. :)

Amelia's Nursery

2007-08-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

Roger & I got a TON of work done on Amelia's Nursery yesterday. We bought her crib (thanks mom & dad!) & got her dresser on order (thanks again mom & dad!), we bought her bedding, her mobile, & some cute clothes that were on clearance.

We were then SO motivated that we got everything set up & her closet cleaned out (the part we were dreading). It is AMAZING to now be able to go sit in the recliner in that room and dream about her being here. There are still lots of arts & crafts & handiwork projects to be done on the room, but at least it has been started. :)

I also got extreemly lucky yesterday and my neighbor brought me over 50 pieces of little girls clothes sizes premie to 9 months! Her sister has a 9 month old that has grown out of it all, so they gave them to me for free! Most of the stuff is in great shape and is Carters and Children's Place.

Here are some pictures of our adventure yesterday...

The crib

Her chest

Her clean closet :)

Some new baby clothes I bought her yesterday...

Her coming home outfit

The clothes the neighbor sent over

White Trash 2007

2007-08-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday was our Annual White Trash Party (otherwise known as Roger's birthday party).

This is my third White Trash Party and I have to admit I was pretty excited to get to go as "barefoot and pregnant"... a total classic!

We had pork 3 ways with hot dogs, pigs in a blanket and little smokies, lots of chips and dips, a homemade General Lee birthday cake and just about everyone ended up lounging in the pool.

Here are some pics (please do not be offended by any rebel flag decor... it is a white trash party)

The cake I made Roger

My Dixie Rebel Mama shirt (homemade)

I made Maggie a matching collar

The Dixie Rebel Couple

Maggie Swimming in the pool

So what are yall going to call her?

2007-08-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

I wonder what Amelia Earhart's mother called her? One of the great things about the name Amelia is there are SO many different nickname potentials...

1) Amy
2) Millie
3) Milly
4) Mimi
5) Lia
6) Mel
7) Mia

For us, her nickname will be Mia. For monogramming purposes I will be monograming anything frilly and pink with Amelia and anything leopard print, funky and fun with Mia.

Did you know that in 2006 Amelia was the 82nd most popular name in the US for new baby girls? Mia was 13!

Our Baby Girl

2007-08-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday was the most fun day of my pregnancy yet! We went in for our gender ultrasound/diagnostic ultrasound and our little girl is PERFECT! We had to wait almost 30 minutes and I was getting SUPER nervous... not about the gender part, but about the diagnostic part, this is a very important ultrasound where they look to make sure the heart, brain, kidneys, spine and everything else are developing correctly.

Our ultrasound tech Susie was incredibly nice and we were quickly looking at our little one on the screen. Our future acrobat was doing a HEADSTAND in there! Feet up by my belly button (cute feet) and head all the way down... we got to see her heart, femur bones, brain, and everything was PERFECT! She does look like she's going to take after her mom and grandpa and have a long torso and short legs, but we'll see...

Finally Susie had me lay on my side and we started pushing on my stomach to make the baby move positions, it took a few minutes but she finally went onto her side so we could get a shot spine and some wonderful profile shots. Susie said she was 100% sure that the baby is a girl and my doctor says Susie is NEVER wrong, so PINK it is!

Amelia is currently 6.5 inches long, measuring right on time for her delivery date and we got to see her making the cutest sucking motion with her mouth, it was almost like she was blowing us kisses.

Here are some pics of our little girl, let the shopping spree begin!

18 weeks!!!

2007-07-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well I officially look pregnant to the common man... people are finally brave enough to ask "so when are you due"& I'm thrilled to tell them. I get lots of comments about Christmas babies and how they are robbed of presents and parties, but it's not like there is anything I can do about it at this point... babies are born when they are born and she/he will be the BEST Christmas present I've ever received.

Speaking of he/she... we find out whether it is a "he" or a "she" next Tuesday... just 6 days away! I can't wait to find out and start calling the little one by their name.

I've been feeling much better, my energy level is finally back to normal and I am definitely getting the "nesting" instincts going. Last Saturday I had the worst case of heartburn known to man after some cajun food on Friday night... it was SO bad it was actually making my upper back hurt! I have new sympathy for anyone who experiences that on a regular basis. I also broke out into hives that night (I'm a fun Saturday night date aren't I?) and I was thrilled to wake up Sunday and have both gone.

I've started to feel kicks, usually in the afternoon after I've had lunch... the are like little taps sometimes a few in a row... it's the most AMAZING feeling in the world! I can't wait until they get stronger and Roger can feel them, I feel like he is missing it on it at this point.

Roger and I are gearing up for the 2007 White Trash Party and I'm very excited to be able to come as the first "actual" pregnant lady to the party... I've been working on the perfect outfit this past week and it's turned out really cute. Pics to be shared soon... they are always pretty entertaining!!

How Mommy & Daddy Met...

2007-07-17T13:47:00.001-07:00

Roger and I met on match.com in the Spring of 2005. We actually had our first date the 17th of February, but started talking via email on Valentines Day...

Here is his first email after I winked at him...

Hi,I liked your profile...it sure is nice to see someone on Match who knows what they want. That's where I'm at...I know what I want and I found it refreshing to see someone else who does too. Anyway, let me know if you would be interested in getting to know eachother a little better.Roger

Here was my incredibly eloquent reply...

I just composed this beautifully eloquent email back to you and it ate it!
Don't you hate that! Let's see if I can get my rhythm back... I'm glad you
appreciate that I know what I want and it's also nice to know there are a
few men out there that aren't initimated by that. Obviously you must have
scored at least above average on my requirements... care to share?

Happy Monday... oh and Valentine's Day.

Our conversations continued that week and eventually Roger asked for my phone number. I explained to him that I was in sales and spent the day on the phone and would rather just meet in person (I had been doing this match.com thing a while). We agreed to meet at the Mockingbird Station Starbucks at 11am on Saturday. Unfortunately, the night before I had one too many martinis out with the girls and showed up to our first date needing REAL food, not coffee. He was easy going about it and willing to head over to have some mexican food with me and ended up buying me lunch instead of coffee.

We were engaged that Christmas and got married one year and one day after we met. The rest is history...

16 Week Pictures & Dr Update

2007-07-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

I am SO enjoying the 2nd trimester more than the first!!!

Nausea is gone, swimming every night keeps me cool and my muscles moving (Maggie the dog is finally swimming with us... she's SO cute), and I'm starting to feel my energy coming back. :)

I went to the doctor on Monday and had a great appointment. No weight gain, found the heartbeat immediately and scheduled our gender ultrasound for July 31st!!! I'm SO excited to find out the sex of the baby... it's all I think about now!

Today I am 16 weeks, the bump has oficially taken over! I tried on a non-maternity shirt this morning and it wouldn't cover my stomach and my rear at the same time. :)

Here is the pic...

Our Babymoon

2007-07-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Roger and I went on our babymoon last week (last vacation before the baby arrives). We flew into Denver, Colorado and spent 2 nights at The Stanley (the movie that inspired The Shining) in Estes Park and 3 nights at The Charter in Beaver Creek.

The highlights of the week were...

Getting a sweet mustang to drive for the week!
Driving through Rocky Mountain National Park (even though it took twice as long as we thought)
The aerial tramway in Estes Park
Dinner at The Stanley
The BEST prenatal massage EVER!!!
We went to a very fun cook your own steak restaurant... it was a totally new experience!
2 awesome 4th of July fireworks shows... Avon on July 3rd and Beaver Creek on July 4th.
We got on an earlier flight home! We were SO missing the furbabies!!!

Dissapointments:

Our room at The Stanley was tiny!
Being without air conditioning SUCKS! It was REALLY hot!!!
I got sick twice...
I was constantly tired, but couldn't take a nap because the room was so hot!

Here are some pics... to see all the pics go to http://flickr.com/photos/ashleerodman/sets/72157600732567793/

14 Week Pictures

2007-06-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well I don't think the bump has gotten that much bigger since my 12 week picture... but I'm definitely "FEELING" more pregnant... My center of gravity is starting to shift and my body definitely has a mind of it's own... My understanding is that the next few weeks are the major weight gain of the pregnancy... good thing we are going on vacation... I plan to EAT my way through Colorado. :)

Here's my 12 week pic for comparison...

The Rain...

2007-06-26T13:21:00.001-07:00

So I know most of us in North Texas are sick of the rain... but each time it rains, I smile just a little bit... See I'm spending my 2nd trimester in the hot Texas summer... that's right the ENTIRE 2nd trimester...

I figure we have 11 more weeks of heat... last week of June, 4 weeks of July, 4 weeks of August, and probably the first 2 weeks of September... which is 11 MORE WEEKS!!! Exactly what I have left of the second trimester... funny huh?

So the next time you are getting down by the rain, just remember that it's one less hot day for me to endure during this pregnancy... I know it's selfish... but...

Animals... Animals... Everywhere!!!

2007-06-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Roger and I have decided we'll do a zoo themed nursery. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of my favorite places on earth, so it is only fitting that we would bring this joy into our house.

We plan to build a shelf high on the wall around the nursery full of cute stuffed animals... so if you see anything unusual out there that you think might work, please let me know.

Here are the two cribsets we've picked out...

For a boy...

For a girl...

1st Trimester is Over!!!

2007-06-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Today marks my first day of my 2nd trimester... this is the trimester that pregnant women look forward to the most... it's when the risk of miscarriage goes down drastically, when you get to find out the sex of the baby (about 1/2 way through) and you get MORE energy and MORE hunger...

Bring it on!

Gender Predictions...

2007-06-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

I think it's pretty normal that the weeks between the end of the first trimester and when you finally go to your gender ultrasound appointment (between 18 and 22 weeks) are spent obsessing about whether the bun in the oven is a boy or a girl... I hope it's normal... because I will admit I'm obsessing a little...

During my obsession I have turned to old wives tales, a Chinese Lunar Calendar & the most expensive - Intelligender... here's what the results have been...

Old Wives Tale The tale goes that if the baby's heartbeat is over 140 a minute then you are having a girl... Well bumble bean's heartbeat has consistently been 162 - 166 so the verdict is: GIRL

Chinese Lunar Calendar http://www.thelaboroflove.com/chart/cal.html There are several versions of this chart out there, but this one seems to be the most accurate among my friends... It is based on the mother's age and month of conception... verdict is: GIRL

Intelligender http://www.intelligender.com/ This pee test evaluates the level of testosterone in your body and determines whether or not you are having a boy or a girl... you are suppose to read the results between 5 and 10 minutes... at 5 minutes, the verdict was GIRL, but at 10 minutes the verdict was BOY... I emailed the company and asked which result I should go with and they said BOY... so the final verdict is BOY

I guess we'll have to wait until early August to know for sure... I can't WAIT to find out!!!

Other old wives tales about the sex of the baby...
You're more likely to be carrying a boy if...
• Your baby's heartbeat is lower than 140 beats per minute NO
• you're carrying all out front YES
• you're carrying low NO
• you didn't suffer from morning sickness in your first trimester NO
• you crave salty food or protein, such as cheese and meat YES
• your feet become cold more quickly than before you were pregnant NO
• your skin becomes dry NO
• you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is even YES
• your hair has become more full-bodied and shiny during pregnancy YES
• the hair on your legs has been growing faster during pregnancy YES
• you are more prone to headaches YES

NO's - 5
YES's - 5

You're more likely to be having a girl if...
• Your baby's heartbeat is faster than 140 beats per minute YES
• you're carrying all round NO
• you're carrying high YES
• you suffered morning sickness during your first twelve weeks YES
• you crave sweet things, such as juice, fruit and sweets NO
• your skin is soft YES
• you are more moody than usual YES
• you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd NO
• your hair has become thinner and dull during pregnancy NO
• you lie on your right side when sleeping YES

NO's - 4
YES's - 6

So those sure aren't conculsive are they????

12 week pictures...

2007-06-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

Alright the baby bump is REALLY starting to take form... I haven't gained any weight, so my only guess is that my fingers and toes are getting skinnier. :)

Here's the progression...

My Celebrity baby Buddies

2007-06-13T08:08:00.001-07:00

Ok I'll admit it... I have a small obsession with all the celebs that are pregnant right now... especially the ones due this fall... I read http://www.celebrity-babies.com/ everyday to see who has announced their pregnancy and to see who's showing and who's not... So far it looks like I will be experiencing motherhood with the following lovely ladies...

I'm sure there will be more announcements in the upcoming weeks with all of us completing our first trimester...

Due in the Fall:
Charlotte Church - September
Lisa Bonet
Milla Jovovich
Sara Gilbert (Rosanne)
Isla Fisher (married to Sacha Baron Cohen & she was the funny red head in Wedding Crashers)
Barrett McIntyre (Joey McIntyre's wife) (November)
Elizabeth Hasselbeck (November)
Poppy Montgomery (Without a Trace) (December)

Rumored to be:
Shar Jackson (K Fed's ex-wife, the rumor is it's his!)
Christina Aguilera (would be due in January)

Father To Be Present

2007-06-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

I was so excited about how Roger's Father's Day Present turned out that he got it a week early. It's a "Daddy Diaper Duty Tool Belt" full of everything he will need for his Diaper Duties. :)

It has a copy of "The Expectant Father", diapers (which are AMAZINGLY small), wipes, baby powder, hand sanitizer, goggles, a face mask, diaper rash ointment, a "I love my daddy" bib, some scented bags to dispose of diapers in, a cute interactive toy to distract the kiddo and of course Orbitz gum. :)

He seemed to like his gift and I was really impressed with how far iron ons have come. :)

2nd Doctor's Appointment

2007-06-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Today was my 2nd doctor's appointment. I really do have the most reassuring, calm doctor EVER! For a good 5 minutes she just stood there and answered my questions in this sweet quiet voice that made me feel MUCH less insane.

Now to the fun part... I was not suppose to have another ultrasound until August, but after search for Bumble Bean's heartbeat with the doppler, she finally decided it was time to bust out the portable ultrasound machine. I got to see the Bumble Bean and he/she is PERFECT! 2 arms, 2 legs, 2 eyelids... dancing all over the place (I'm sure to that darn Broadway music) & he/she measured exactly on schedule. I got to hear the heartbeat and watch it thump away.

I have never felt more confident in this pregnancy then I do today... We are going to have a stocking stuffer!!!

Bumble Bean's Debut

2007-06-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

So here is our first video of Bumble Bean Fort... we rented a fetal doppler radar from www.babyfm.com. I cannot tell you how reassuring it is to sit down, relax and listen to the baby's heartbeat. For 11 weeks, the heartbeat should be anywhere between 130 and 200, so when you see the doppler hit those numbers... that's the baby! It's hard to hear for now (my understanding is it'll get easier), but if you look at the bar at the bottom you see it pulsate pretty fast.

Hope you enjoy, please forgive the stomach and of course the unflattering face shot at the end... I'm TOO tired to try to edit it and Roger was having fun after watching "On The Lot".

My Singing Bumble Bee...

2007-06-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Ok so this baby is either going to be a singer or a Broadway star!!! He/She is torturing me with songs stuck in my head... morning, noon and night I find myself singing... and it's starting to drive me a little crazy!

Last night I dreamed that I was in a dance competition and had to choose a song to perform to from CATS the musical (when I was in highschool I did a routine to Macavity: The Mystery Cat & competed with it). So in my dream I was trying to decide if I could still pull off the Macavity routine (which by the way... there is NO WAY I could) or if I should choose another piece of music. The rest of the night my brain sang Macavity, Mr. Mistoffelees and Jellicle Cats... GRRRR... It is SO frustrating when your brain won't shut up long enough for you to sleep!!!

Other songs the baby seems to like to sing are:
La Vie Boheme - RENT
Tango Maureen - RENT
God is A DJ - Pink

And just about ANYTHING else he/she hears...

Anyone have a way to stop yourself from singing in your sleep?

Names

2007-05-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

I think we have our names!

10 Week Pictures... Morning Sickness & More

2007-05-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Here are my 10 week pictures... definitely a little baby bump starting to show... Weirdly enough, I've lost 5 pounds since becoming pregnant... you would NEVER know that by the bump.

Morning Sickness
Last night after laying down for bed, after weeks of nausea, but little else... my body finally decided it wanted to remind me what it is like to have a really bad hangover... Hopefully this will not be a reoccuring thing... at least with hangovers you can somewhat remember the good time you had the night before... not the case with morning/night sickness. YUCK!

The Perfect Wedding...

2007-05-29T06:56:00.001-07:00

Saturday night we were lucky enough to be involved with the most beautiful wedding for our friends Jim and Leia. After weeks of rain, the backyard wedding had the perfect breeze, no rain and was full of love & hope. I was full of pregnancy hormone induced emotions and sobbed through the entire ceremony!!!

An added bonus was that Leia allowed me to add to the joy by announcing my pregnancy. It was SO much fun to finally let our friends know that I'm expecting and see how excited they all are to be adding a little tyke to our all adult Tribe Tribe.

Here are some pics from the event...

We'll Be Parents Then...

2007-05-24T06:58:00.001-07:00

Roger and I were lamenting last night that LOST would not be back on until February 2008. Then I had the revelation that by the time LOST comes back on, we'll have a BABY! I promised Roger that we'll make sure they baby is tired out and ready to go to bed on Wednesday nights, I just CAN'T believe we'll have a baby then!

Can You Show at 8 Weeks?

2007-05-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday night Roger and I went to one of our favorite restaurants, Uncle Julios. We had a LONG wait and after lots of talking Roger asked very sweetly, "Do you think you are showing"... I said, "Yes, I think I kind of am"... and so the first belly pics were taken. I figure we'll take them every two weeks and chronicle my growth... it is SO strange to watch my body morph on a daily basis!

Bumble Bean Fort... Kind of an Odd Name for a 1st Grader

2007-05-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's funny how nicknames evolve... one of my girlfriends started calling her baby "monkey bean" and I really liked it and so I started thinking about what I would call our baby between the time that I found out I was pregnant and we find out the sex... somehow "bumble bean" stuck. The first time you see a baby on an ultrasound (about 6 weeks) they are just about the shape and size of a kidney bean with a tiny little heartbeat. So the bean makes sense, but what about the "bumble"

When we were trying to concieve, I would often joke during the two week wait that I was trying to stay "As busy as a bee"...

When I announced I was pregnant I used this ecard (BFP stands for Big Fat Positive), here's a list of all the pregnancy acronyms... http://www.twoweekwait.com/ (third one down)

But where it really comes from is my last ballet performance. I had this wacky director who didn't believe in doing The Nutcracker (which is crazy) and so she created her own holiday show. I was cast as The Bumble Bee and danced to "Flight of the Bumble Bee"... it was the hardest dance I've ever done, but also the one I'm the most proud of. I had a black tutu and a little stinger and I was a fierce bumble bee!

Now I promise we are not going to name the baby "Bumble Bean", but I'm afraid I've started something that I cannot stop. I've already received recommendations of doing the nursery bumble bee themed

and recieved our first onesie, which says "Bee Happy" with a cute little bee.

I just pray this doesn't turn into the pig fiasco of college. By the time I graduated college, I think I had 50 stuffed, porcelin, or otherwise pigs! All because I thought it would be cute to decorate my dorm room with the Miss Piggy Victoria Secret poster and a string of pig christmas lights!

But until August, our baby is named Bumble Bean.