3D Ultrasound - 12 Weeks

Today Gemma and I went to a special ultrasound technician/doctor to test for all sorts of "not fun" things, but it was SO worth it when we were able to see our baby in 3D.  First of all, it was amazing to see how much the little one has grown in a month since our last ultrasound.  Gemma had eaten some sugar just before we walked into the doctor's office and the kid was bouncing off the walls, so active:)  We were able to see the baby in full view, watch it suck it's tiny thumb, and listen to the heartbeat.  I swore that I saw the baby's face and it looked like Gemma but she thinks I'm crazy.  Anyway, at the end of the appointment, the technician handed us a DVD, which I thought was a CD Rom of all of the still pictures but it turns out that they had been recording the entire ultrasound and we were able to watch the whole thing when we got home.  

Although 24 is one of my favorite shows and definitely gets my heart racing, 15 minutes of watching this video was so much more exciting than all 6 seasons of 24 combined.  I can't really describe the feeling of seeing our little one jump around and show off for the camera...definitely not camera shy:)  The next 3D ultrasound is scheduled for 20 weeks, which seems like an eternity right now, because that's where they'll be able to tell us the sex of the baby:)  So start placing your bets on a little Cox or Coxette.  

Ciao - Matt

Belly Shots

My 11th week has been a little rough - so I'll just post pictures of my belly and spare all the details.

The Woes of the 1st Trimester: 8-10 Weeks

Many new mothers claim that the first trimester is the hardest, and I am the first to hands down and praise "Amen".  I miss wine dearly.  A nice bottle of Wild Horse Pinot Noir is something I dream about.  Happy hours are just not the same, and I feel that my social skills are not up to par, and just don't feel fun any more. Plus, the idea of being the DD for the next year does not thrill me either.

I have been some what fortunate (knock on wood) so far with my pregnancy symptoms.  I experience the typical boob swelling, bloating, bitching, and excessive sleeping.  I haven't experienced morning sickness, but every now and then I am stricken with evening sickness. On these days, at around 4-5 pm, I start to feel really nauseous and just iick.  Even after a long work day, the commute home makes me car sick.  But this only occurs in the evening which I am at least thankful for and not feeling sick through out the day.  This feeling can be best described as a really bad hangover - and the best solution I have to offer: sleep it off.

I crave salt all day long.  Pre-pregnancy, I was more of a sweet tooth kinda gal. Nowadays,  I yearn for potato chips, McDonald french fries, and high sodium Ramen soup. 

To date, I have gained about 3 pounds. The pregnancy books I have been reading "Your Pregnancy" and "What to Expect when you are Expecting" claim that most women don't typically gain a whole lot of weight, and in fact lose weight due to morning sickness. These authors start to make me feel really bad about myself, so I stop reading and just look at the pictures.   No sign of any bump, but my jeans are starting to feel a little snug - everything fits with the exception for the waistband. But nothing like a nice flowy tunic top to mask that unbuttoned jean.   Also, leggings with dresses or bohemian tops give added comfort, particularly towards the end of a bloaty day.

The First Ultrasound - 7 weeks

This is the first official doctor appointment to confirm the pregnancy.  Dr. Walden has been my OB GYN for the past two years and her compassion combined with being up front and detailed made her a great candidate to deliver our future baby. Not to mention she was a young doctor who was a part of a very reputable medical group, within a very reputable hospital, Cedars Sinai.  

As she starts the ultrasound, she discloses a fun fact that sets my heart racing "1 out of 5 women who test positive with a pregnancy test do not necessarily have a heartbeat" or in lay man's term "you ain't always pregnant even though you have a positive pregnancy test". We don't say a peep or share eye contact, but I know instantly, Matt and I are thinking the same thing "oh shit".

Luckily, we see a strong heartbeat - emphasis on one strong heartbeat (twins run in both of our families).  Words can't even begin to describe what the experience is like seeing your baby's first ultrasound. It is unreal to see that there is some human life form that was created and is living inside of me! I hate to sound like a stereotype, but it truly is a miracle.

The Big 3-0

The Big 3-0 was a milestone birthday that I always envisioned going out with a bang...however, when I found out that I was pregnant two days prior to my birthday dinner with my closest friends - that certainly made a change to the game plan.  My excuse for not heavily drinking (a typical occurrence while present in a social setting) was because "I have been so sick for weeks, that I started taking some Z-pack antibiotics to get rid of my cold"... I later find out no one bought into my virgin cosmopolitan prop.

Two Pink Lines

POSITIVE is what the two pink lines indicated on the home pregnancy test.  Parker was the first to witness my excitement as I started freaking out with joy and astonishment.  Matt soon came home an hour later when I announced the news to him...we were in agreement - "am I really pregnant?"