Aug 10
Today marks the start of my 19th week! Our little girl is 6″ long and weighs 1/2 a pound (think Nicole Richie, only shorter). Baby’s working hard at growing, and I’m working hard at pumping blood to make it all happen–right now my heart is pumping 50% more blood than usual. And let me tell you, I’ve got the dizziness (and forgetfulness!) to prove it. I have really low blood pressure normally, so all this extra blood pumping has really been making me feel faint lately–but the good news is it only happens if I stand up too quickly. If I take my time I’m usually pretty good.
G and I have been looking into daycares over the past few weeks and today we met our winner! We’re going with a woman who does in-home daycare near us. She came highly recommended by our good friends Andy and Deb–two of the best parents we know. We’re so excited to have this big “to-do” checked off our list!
Aug 11
I accidentally starved my poor child this morning and she made it clear she wasn’t happy! I was in a rush because I had an early meeting, so I only had time for a really quick (and really small) breakfast. Well my meeting went AN HOUR over schedule and I didn’t have any snacks on me, so I had to wait OVER THREE HOURS before I could eat again! I was starving! I hadn’t felt the baby all morning, but once my first bite of oatmeal was swallowed she just started kicking the hell out of me–HARD! This is the hardest she’s ever kicked! I just looked down apologetically and said, “I know, I know! I’m sorry! I promise this won’t happen again!!” and scarfed down my food as fast as humanly possible. She’s a sassy little thing!
Aug 12
I can’t believe how strong our little girl’s kicks are already! She was kicking away again this afternoon while I was sitting at my desk, so I put my hand on my belly to see if I could feel her kicks from the outside, and I totally could! Hopefully she’s kicking strong again tonight so G can finally feel her too!
Aug 13
I’ve noticed that my belly is beginning to get a little dry and flaky (and itchy), but just at the very top. I’ve been using some “belly butter” to hopefully prevent stretch marks, but apparently I need to do a better job of moisturizing. I also haven’t been sleeping very well this week. I’m not physically uncomfortable, so that doesn’t explain it. I just want a good night’s rest!
Aug 14
Had a scare at work today. I found out that one of my co-workers (who is also pregnant–she’s due a day after me) may have the H1N1 virus (the swine flu). She wasn’t feeling well yesterday and went to the doctor this morning. We have a very small office with a staff of only about 20 people and a lot of shared spaces–bathroom, kitchen, water cooler, etc. She told her doctor there are three other pregnant women at her office right now (myself and two others) so we were notified immediately since pregnant women are at such a high risk. I called my doctor’s office to see if there was anything I needed to know or do. They are prescribing me Tamiflu as a precautionary measure and if I feel even the slightest symptom I need to go in ASAP. I just hope my co-worker will be okay and that no one else gets sick!
Aug 15
Our volleyball league had an end-of-season party today–free food, free drinks, and a tournament. It was a pretty warm day so I took it easy and sat out a few matches. I have to say, however, that it was much harder to sit on the sidelines and watch than it was to actually play. We won the tournament (woohoo!) and I had my first stranger request to rub my belly (weird!).
Additional Pregnancy Week 19 Posts:
Perfume Flower Ring
Bargain Shopping
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Try this for the itchy belly:
http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/body/massage-bars/therapy
I know everyone says there’s nothing you can do to prevent stretch marks, and maybe I wouldn’t have gotten them anyway, but I used this every day of my pregnancy and didn’t get a single stretch mark, even though I went 2 weeks overdue!
swinies! Scares!!
oh no on the swine flu! i actually had it back in june and it was miserable. all in all – it’s just a flu that lasts a really long time, so i hope you don’t get it!
Cute pic. Congrats!
Love your blog~
http://kellyannstudio.blogspot.com/
Hey! Congrats on already finding the day care you want, that must be a huge relief:) Woah, holy scare with the swine flu. Hope your friend is ok and good luck! I looove volleyball!! Hmm, maybe I should try to find a fun league around me?
You look adorable D, as always! Still raging will jealously that you feel your little girl so much! It must be such a blessing to see her little personality developing.
Karen
sorry to break it to you…but sleep doesn’t get better!. I hear it’s even worse once the little ones arrive..
ohh, the horror!
I miss sleeping!
The stranger thing is very weird! I was pregnant 2 months behind my sister in law. While at a family reunion picnic, an older lady (I think our husbands distant cousin, aunt or something)noticed my sister in law first and as we were talking with our MIL, she started questioning my SIL and feeling all over her stomach. It was freaky, but then when she found out she was only a month and half away from the due date, she immediately dropped her hand TOO low to see if the baby’s head was down yet. I IMMEDIATELY closed my opened sweatshirt to hide my bump and stepped away QUICKLY! After seeing she freaked my SIL out, she said not to worry, she is a retired labor nurse. Didn’t make it any better. But makes for a very entertaining memory!
you look so good! i found out after my babe was born that *pregnancy brain* and *mommy brain* are very real and are caused by low omegas [can’t remember if it was 3 or 6] so i started taking an omega supplement and mabe it’s all in my head, but i swear i can remember more now!
as for the itchy belly, i used warm almond oil…made my hubby apply it every night. heaven, i tell ya!
I used cocoa butter for the itchy tummy. It worked for me! You look so cute btw!
http://www.productbody.com
Have some great moisturizers especially for Mom’s to be.
Congrats on another week! Glad things are still going well. Hope you and your coworkers all stay healthy!
Thanks for all the belly product recommendations–I’ll definitely be checking them out!
@Meg–I’m so impressed you didn’t get any stretch marks, especially considering you were 2 weeks overdue! Good for you!!
@Jenn–Oh no, I’m sorry to hear it hit you! I hope you’re fully recovered and feeling better now!
@Sarah–You should definitely try to find a volleyball league! We try to play all year round (although I’ll have to sit out for our winter women’s league this year with the baby on the way) and it’s always such a great time. I’m sure you’d love it!
Thanks Karen! I’m sure you will feel your beautiful little baby soon! You’ll have to let me know when you do. I’ll be so excited for you!!
@Anonymous–OMG, that is HORRIFYING! Thank goodness my stranger belly rub wasn’t THAT weird–EEK!! I love how you hid your bump and high-tailed it out of there, lol!
@bklyn–thanks for the tip on the omega supplement. Did you take that while pregnant, or not until after the baby arrived?
Oh my… truly, you are the most adorable pregnant person ever!! So fun reading about your tiny little one! And the reference to Nichole Richie, only shorter made me laugh!! Keep pumping that blood!
You’re looking fabulous!
You may be lucky and not get stretch marks. I’ve had two children and (please, no pies in the face, girls) didn’t get any!!!
I’m a sucker for moisturizing from head to toe after every shower so that might have helped. I use the Olay Quench Body Lotion on a regular basis. It was my recent Fave Rave…
http://keeponsmyelin.blogspot.com/2009/08/fave-rave-olay.html
And I’m noticing how you only have 47 more miles to go to your running goal…way to go!!!!
Beautiful picture D! <3 I hope you dont mind if I rubba your bella in a few short weeks!
Thanks so much everyone–you’re all so sweet!
@K*OS–Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve been thinking about trying that lotion b/c I have such dry skin–especially in the winter. Good to know you think it’s a hit! And I’m just about to hit the pavement for another 3 miles this morning–almost to my goal–WOOHOO!!
@Allison–All whores have a free pass for unlimited belly rubbing! 😀 Can’t wait to see you!!
Dusty: I took DHA supplements while pregnant for at least the 1st trimester, but those were samples from my OB so when they ran out i didn’t get more. i started an omega supplement about 2 months ago, so when my babe was 6 months old.
i don’t know if it’s the fact that i’m sleeping more b/c the babe is sleeping through the night or if it’s the supplement, but i definitely have a clearer, less forgetful head!
I am so glad you found a daycare that you love. Quality daycare is hard to find. All licensed daycare providers undergo state inspection and violation reports so it’s always good to spot check from time to time to see if your provider has experienced any issues. Links to your state licensing division are available @www.MyChildCareGuide.com. While your visiting, we would love if you could leave a review on your provider or any other providers you have experience with. Your review will help other parents find quality daycare solutions in your area. Best of luck with your pregnancy. You look great!
i love your blog, decorating ideas, outfits, and just about everything you post. so happy for you and your hubby on the new edition to the clan….however, i am sad to hear about you putting your baby in daycare. i know some people have to but its much nicer if you can arrange life so you can enjoy and raise your little one yourself. i too went to school for 4+ years and have a profession but thought i can always do that but i can only be a mom once. i am sad that soooo many people have trouble conceiving or wait to have kids and then when they have them they pass them off for someone else to raise them. i planned on going back to work after my maternity leave but after seeing that precious face…we decided to budget and have me be a SAHM. i hope you will reconsider your choice. you will never regret it!!!!!!!!!! you’ll have to sacrifice a few shoes, purses, and purchasing new clothes every week. whatever, i’m still a big fan of your blog. i don’t want you to think i’m a pyscho mom who if you don’t agree with me i will send other pyscho folks to ban your blog. take care and best wishes.
@bklyn–Thanks for the info!
@Marie–Thanks for the website info–I’ll be sure to check it out!
@Sonia–Thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your point of view and am happy to hear you’re enjoying your decision to be a SAHM. While that is not the choice we’re making for our family right now, I will certainly say that anything is possible and we’re keeping an open mind when it comes to raising our daughter. Who knows what the future will bring! Thanks for taking the time to read and respond!
Sonia – you have an extremely skewed perception of reality here. Not everyone has the luxury or the ability to be a SAHM, and some people, like myself, wouldn’t choose to be one even if I did have the ability. Does that make me a bad mother because I still enjoy my independence?
If you want to be a SAHM, that’s fine, but don’t pass guilt on those of us who 1) can’t be SAHMs because of financial reasons or 2) don’t want to be SAHMs because we still value our independence and enjoy being in the workforce.
You can still be a good mother AND have a job.
to pork chop….
you can’t be a good mom, wife, and employee. something has to suffer because we would like to think we can do it all but think about it..you can justify it anyway you want but either your house suffers, you suffer, work suffers, or your child suffers. i think guilt is why your message seemed so hostile. don’t be mad at me for stating my opinion to g&d. you do want you think is best for you and your family. i know not everyone has the option to stay home or want to make the sacrifice.
Wow Sonia – you have so much wisdom to offer on what it’s like to be a working mom when you haven’t worked a day in your child’s life. There are millions of moms who work and raise healthy, happy kids while having a happy husband and successful career. Just because YOU can’t do it all, doesn’t mean everyone else is just as incapable as you are.
Love this picture girl! You are just shining as a pregant women! Hope that your having a good week!
to peach..i have worked opposite my husband’s schedule so i do know what it is like to work and raise a baby but i think the dialog is worthless so i will stop posting only because everyone is entitled to do what they think is best for their family. it seems like you and pork chop are hostile and maybe a little guilty/selfish so you have to convince me and others. convince yourself and your children.
Sonia – lol @ “hostile.”
You’re a nutcase. You’re probably the only one who needs convincing. I’m sure 99.9% of the population would disagree with your skewed logic.
My question is – why do you care what another mother chooses to do with her child? Why does it make you “sad”? Please enlighten me as to how it’s any of your business what someone else chooses to do with his/her child. Your high horse judgment is quite disturbing. One day you will probably be knocked off that high horse, just sayin’.
Sonia — should all doctors, policeman, government officials, social workers, teachers, etc be childless? Are they all assholes for working and having a career? If there weren’t people working in this world, who would run it? Awesome logic.
I can’t speak for D personally but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t work just so she can buy handbags. It’s likely because she makes a huge difference in this world. Not only will she continue to make a difference in hundreds of people’s lives but she will be an amazing mother because of that.
As a working mom I just want to add my support to you D…and it IS possible to be a great employee AND a great mom. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I do a pretty good job with both. {hugs}
I usually don’t post or respond to my wife’s comments, but feel the need to weigh in here. Day care was not a decision we took lightly and although I respect those SAHMs, it was not for us at this time. I think women / mothers today CAN balance it all w/o something suffering. D works hard at a non-profit org dedicated to helping children and our community (something I am often jealous of). Furthermore D has worked hard and paid her dues to move up within that organization. Her hard work and dedication should be applauded instead of questioned. I like to think that our baby girl will have the ultimate role model –and I fully support her decision to stay in the work force. Finally, although D enjoys blogging about purses (err…handbags), cloths, decorating, etc. – she is quite fiscally responsible. Anyway, before I get off my soap box, cheers to all the hard working moms – whether they work away from home or stay home! We can’t wait to join you as parents.
G
G: I’m glad you commented even though I don’t think Dusty [or you] have to validate any of your decisions. From the little I’ve read of Dusty’s blog, sounds like your baby girl is going to have a fantastic role model, both in how she leads her life and what she wears! 😉
Just thought I would let you know that I think Bio-Oil works great. I used belly butter and still got stretch marks, once I switched over to Bio-Oil, I didn’t get any more stretch marks and the ones that I do have are starting to diminish, even my husband commented that my stretch marks were getting better.
Sonya, FYI I do not have any children yet. I am just level headed enough to understand that being a SAHM isn’t the only way. I have plenty of amazing friends who work because they love what the do, or because they have no choice not to work, and they have raised beautiful healthy children. Get off your high horse.
Dusty, sorry i didn’t reply to your follow-up q: i only took the DHA supplement samples that my OB gave me, so maybe for just the first 4 months or so? i started taking an omega supplement again just recently b/c apparently breastfeeding depletes your stores quite a bit and I don’t know if it’s all psychological or if it’s real, but I definitely feel my mommy-brain is less forgetful now!