week 19... I can feel the baby!!

The feeling: amazing. My emotions: indescribable. Our baby: incredible.

I have FINALLY felt Baby R move. More than move - small little jabs and pokes! I have been awaiting this feeling for so long. The feelings that I felt at the end of week 17 were definitely that of our growing babe. But I was misinterpreting them for gas, indigestion, my imagination. Jamie and I would compare notes... but we were both so unsure that we just kept on patiently waiting.

This past Saturday night, Halloween, we ended the night at Zenos (it's our favorite, can't you tell?!). Obviously, I don't and can't dance like I used to but I definitely enjoy shaking my toosh every now and then. The music was loud and I think that Baby R was really enjoying the sounds. That night as I lay in bed I felt all sorts of flutters - it felt like popcorn popping in my belly and twiching, like when your eye gets a twitch. Then on Sunday evening, Jamie and I went to see the Michael Jackson documentary, "This Is It", and I kid you not as soon as the music started to play, Baby R started a'groovin!! For those of you that know me, know that I adore Michael Jackson. I have since I was little and I always will. I told Eddie weeks ago that since I don't know any lullaby's, I will just sing MJ songs to our sweet little babe. I get the feeling that Baby R has, too, become a fan of MJ's music. Like mother like child.

On Tuesday night I was laying in bed - tv was off, Eddie was snoozin', and I was resting my hand on my baby belly thinking of all sorts of things. What the baby will look like? Will he/she have my naturally curly hair? Will the baby have Eddie's beautiful eyes and lips? And then I felt it. I felt a faint poke. I laid there, frozen. Was it gas... or was it truly the baby saying "hey mama!". But it kept on happening. The poking and jabbing. It was our baby! Since then I have felt it on and off, but at least every day. I felt it again last night and again this morning when I first got to work. It's faint and not a big baby kick by any means. But, nonetheless, it's our sweet baby. It's the most amazing sensation ever.

Other business: I can't believe that Thanksgiving is in 3 weeks... then it's Christmas. Eddie and I are playing host and hostess - for BOTH holidays this year. We must be crazy! We plan to have my mom, our cousin Joan from Atlanta, and Eddie's parents over for Thanksgiving. It will be small and simple. Christmas will be a bit different. Every year Eddie's moms side of the family (the Smith's) all get together and celebrate Christmas. I volunteered our home for this years celebration. I am super excited to have everyone over and entertain. Eddie loves to cook and is mighty good at it, so I'm sure he'll take over the kitchen. I don't mind that at all.

We plan on registering for the baby sometime at the beginning of December. You're probably thinking "they must be crazy to try and register during the holiday season". And you're right. But I would like to get it done before the new year. I keep telling Eddie that registering will be fun - just like it was for the wedding (hint... he was just there in my shadow while we, err I, registered for our wedding!). I don't think that he's buying it. Honestly, I don't even think that he has a clue what he's in for. I'm going to go crazy with that gun!! Family and friends are already discussing plans for the baby showers so I better get a move on.

Gestation week: 19
Total weight gain: About 1 lb or so since my last entry (a total of 9 lbs since July)
Baby size: 6 in (from head to bottom) so from head to toe, about 9 in/8.5 oz
Major baby developments: hair on scalp is sprouting, sensory development (taste, smell, hearing, vision and touch)
Current issue: Tossing and turning at night.
Current craving: Nada.
Exercise this week: Walking Grayson :)
Hormonal moment of the week: Cried my eyes out when I saw the Michael Jackson documentary
Stretch marks: Nope. Thank you, cocoa butter!!
Maternity clothes: Oh yes, Beth bought 4 great tops for me and I LOVE them!
Most recent baby purchase: I bought Baby R the cutest outfit from Target the other day. I couldn't resist.
Fluttering/kicking: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fluttering,  poking, jabbing!
Most memorable moment of the week: Laying in bed last night with my hand on my stomach feeling the baby's movement.

As always, here is my baby bump...

More to report from the baby belly at week 20...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie  

week 18... getting bigger!!

Week 18... and I think I'm starting to "pop". On Monday evening Eddie said "Babe, that wasn't there 2 days ago" meaning, that baby bump!! And he was so right. It was an amazing thing that happened overnight, it seemed. I love it. Eddie loves it. He can't keep his hands off of my belly. That makes me smile.

I am feeling pretty good this week. My back is still giving me issues (especially at the end of the day) but I manage to keep a heating pad on it while I am sitting at work and sometimes in the evenings at home. The back pain is damn uncomfortable, I know this much is true. And I am also starting to experience what a pain sleeping can be. I toss and turn and have started to sleep with a pillow between my legs. Already!! Isn't it too soon for that!? And it doesn't help that our furry children completely hog the bed. Olivia on one side of me and Grayson smack dab in the middle of me and Eddie. It's become a pain and I find myself waking up all to often to either kick Olivia off or try to move Grayson over (there is no kicking him off - he weighs like a million pounds when he is sleeping). Obviously, we need a bigger bed!

As I've mentioned in my previous blog, we have our next ultrasound on 11/10 and will be joined by our mothers. I positively cannot wait :) Even though Eddie and I WILL NOT be finding out the sex of the baby, we already have our names picked. Most of you already know what they are... but I am declining to further tell anyone else. People have way too many opinions of what the names should be, blah blah blah... and quite frankly, we don't want to hear it - nor do we care! We love the names that we have chosen and are very excited to share them with everyone once Baby R arrives. I think that in my delicate stage right now, you might make me cry if you turn your nose up at our names.

So in the meantime, we have come up with these fabulous names to make you really scared: if we have a boy, his name will be Barnabus. And if we have a girl, her name will be: Wizdom (wiz-dom, must be said exactly like that!!). So there!!

Eddie, myself, Jamie, and Ivan headed up to Port Clinton this past weekend for Scott and Kelly's Halloween bash! Eddie and I got super creative this year. Can you guess what we are!?

A bun in the oven and the bun maker!! Perfect for the occasion.

Eddie, myself, Jamie and Ivan (as Popeye and Olive Oil)

We plan to partake in some Halloween festivities again this weekend! I can't believe that October has come to an end... it seriously boggles my mind that Thanksgiving is in less than a month. As much as I want March to be here, I also don't want to wish my time away.


Gestation week: 18
Total weight gain: 2 lbs since 10/12 (a total of 8 lbs since July)
Baby size: 5.5 inches/7 oz
Major baby developments: Busy flexing arms and legs. Sex organs are completely formed and functioning.
Current issue: Still my lower back. Add sleeping to the list.
Current craving: French toast. Yum.
Exercise this week: Walking Grayson :)
Hormonal moment of the week: I'm doing pretty good, actually.
Stretch marks: No, thank you!!
Maternity clothes: I purchased my first maternity cami from target. LOVE IT!
Most recent baby purchase: Grandma Beth bought the baby some fun outfits in SF
Fluttering/kicking: Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Yes, maybe, I don't know... I have never paid so much attention to my tummy in all of my life!!
Most memorable moment of the week: Eddie noticing my baby belly and rubbing it at every chance he gets. Dressing up for Halloween.

Here are a few pictures of the family (aka: Eddie, Grayson and Olivia). We often talk to Grayson (because we think that he understands everything that we say) about the baby. As silly as it sounds, I don't want him to feel left out. I'm sure Olivia will attempt to run away when Baby R first comes home - like she did when Grayson first arrived. But she'll get over it :)

Grayson Sprinkle Reynolds

Olivia Bean Sprinkle Reynolds

Eddie and his beautiful birthday cake I made for him!!

And of course, here is my baby bump.

More to report from the baby belly at week 19 (almost halfway there!!)...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 17... H1N1 flu shot time!!

Week 17 has approached us - all too soon, as always - and I am officially in my fourth month of pregnancy. And I am happy to say that I am finally starting to look pregnant... and not like I have been stuffing my face with cupcakes!! Eddie and I went shopping at Nordy's (Nordstroms, for those of you that don't recognize the lingo) and I bought the cutest sweater to accentuate my baby belly. I like the form fitting tops over the big and baggy tops. Wearing those potato-bag-looking things just makes me feel like a) I am hiding something from people and b) I just look plain ol' frumpy. And for those that know me, know that I do not do frump. Never have. Never will.

We celebrated Edwardo's 30th birthday this past Saturday with good friends at our house. I can still be quite the little party planner even when I am 'with child' :) Everyone seemed to have a good time, and more importantly, Eddie had a wonderful time! After hanging out at our house for a few hours, we headed down to our favorite local Victorian Village bar, Zenos, for some much needed dancing! We always own the dance floor. Here are a few pictures of the evening.

The birthday boy and I after surprising him with the smallest cake ever!

My dear friend, Christy, giving Baby R a little lovin'.

And, of course, everyone having a good time at Zenos!

It was a wonderful party spent with wonderful friends!! xoxo to you all!

So, onto baby business... my pants are officially tight. Like can't-button-them-for-fear-I-may-break-in-half feeling. Not good for me. Not good for Baby R. So I went to Target (weeks ago) and purchased the amazing BellaBand. Hello lifesaver! Why wasn't I wearing this prior to getting pregnant. This is fabulous. So, it works like a charm with all of my jeans... and I will soon start wearing it with my work dress pants. I am holding off on buying maternity pants/slacks for as long as I can. Not quite ready to spend that money yet. Because it's no lie that maternity clothes are NOT cheap!

I've come up with doing things a little differently on my blogs from here on out. So here goes:

Gestation week: 17

Total weight gain: 6 lbs (although I haven't weighed myself this week)

Baby size: 5 inches/5 oz (although Baby R weighed 6 oz last week!)

Major baby developments: skeleton changing from soft cartilage to bone!

Current issue: My lower back. Oy vey... 

Current craving: Nothing at the moment. I stay hungry, but am totally indecisive about what I want.

Exercise this week: Does dancing count?! I sure think so...

Hormonal moment of the week: watched Bolt and cried. I cried at an animated movie!! WTF?!

Stretch marks: No, thank you!

Maternity clothes: Haven't reached that point yet... coming soon, I'm sure!!

Most recent baby purchase: Clara bought the baby some OSU gear! Thanks Aunt Clara :)

Fluttering/kicking: I still don't know about this one. I think I feel flutters, but am unsure.

Most memorable moment of the week: Celebrating Eddie's 30th birthday

The Columbus Health Department has officially started giving H1N1 vaccination shots to those that are high risk. On Thursday, 10/22, they will have a clinic open to pregnant women only! Yay for us. So, Jamie and I are heading over to get ourselves, and our precious little babes, protected.

And as always, here is a picture of my belly bump...

More to report from the baby belly at week 18...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 16... our first ultrasound!!

I am nearing the 4th month of my pregnancy. I can't believe that in 5 months our sweet little miracle will be here in our loving arms. The thought excites me more than you can imagine. I met with my OB on 10/12 for my monthly check up and Baby R's heartbeat was at a fast, strong and steady 160. I was very happy to hear the heartbeat again. No tears this time... only one huge fat grin from ear to ear on my face!

During this appointment Dr. Summers (my OB) had given me the option of having a Quad Screen Test performed. The quad screening is a simple blood draw of my blood that tests for substances that the baby creates. This, in turn, screens for Spina Bifida, Trisomy 21 (better know as Down's Syndrome) and Trisomy 18 (which is normally fatal to the fetus). Unfortunately, Eddie wasn't able to make the appoinment with me so I didn't have him to turn to and say "should we do this? Does whatever the outcome even matter?". But for peace of mind, I decided to do it and hope for the best. My OB did inform me of the extremely high rate of "false positives" with this test and basically told me that I had a 50/50 chance of it potentially coming back abnormal. Even though she reassured me that an "abnormal" screening DOES NOT mean a positive diagnosis. It just means "okay, time to run a few more tests".

So, long story short, all of my levels looked great... except... my levels for Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). They were slightly elevated! Ahhhhh... did my perfect little pregnancy just flip upside down? I sure felt like it had. I did what any woman in this situation would do. I cried. A lot. Until I came home and googled my little heart out. I'm glad that I did because I truly learned a lot about the screening test and all of the other "false positives" that are out there. Eddie and I talked about all of the "what ifs" and it all of a sudden hit me. Our card was dealt to us a long time ago... way before this little baby entered our lives. What is meant to be will be. The love that I already feel for this baby is amazing and indescrible. No one or nothing could take that away from me. It was instant serenity.

My OB scheduled me for an ultrasound today (10/14). Eddie and I met with the genetic counselor first, who talked about all of the "worst case senarios" and described exactly what would happen during and after our ultrasound. The subject of an amniocentesis was definitely talked about - but I didn't even want to go there. After she showed us my numbers (levels), Eddie did the quick math and we soon realized that our chances of having a baby with downs syndrome was a 0.8%!! Seriously?! I all of a sudden felt a huge sigh of relief.

The ultrasound was amazing. Simply put. Tears streamed down my face as I watched my sweet baby move all around, yawn, wave, kick, stretch. He/she was quite the little ham... even the ultrasound tech got a kick out of how active Baby R was. The baby stole my heart at that very moment. All that I could think was that I was looking at perfection. Nothing could change that. Nothing. And the best news... everything looked great! The doctor had no reason for concern and put our minds and hearts at ease.

I will definitely scan more pictures - they printed out 7 different photos. But here is Baby R's perfect little profile.

So our next appt will be in 4 weeks, when I am 20 weeks pregnant (which was my original scheduled ultrasound). The baby will be a lot bigger and they will be able to see things a lot more clearly. I can't wait to see my baby again! Of course Eddie will be there, but we have invited our mothers as well. My mom, along with Beth, were eager to join and see their first grandchild on the big screen. I can only imagine their excitement and anticipation throughout this journey. What it must be like for them... I hope that being a grandparent will be everything and more that they could have ever imagined!! 

Whew! That was a lot of blogging... so here are Baby R's stats at 16 weeks: Size comparison is an avocado, 4.5 inches long and 3.5 oz (although today they weighed Baby R at 6 oz!!). But not for long, in the next few weeks Baby R will double in weight and add inches to the already long legs. 

And, as always, here is my baby bump :)

More to report from the baby belly at week 17...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 15... 172 days to go!

So here we are in week 15... 3 1/2 months pregnant. I am still in shock at how quickly time is passing me by. I am anxiously awaiting the day that I feel the much anticipated "flutter" of Baby R. People say that it can start as early as 15 weeks, but most people say give it until about 17 or 18 weeks.

I constantly wonder what it's going to feel like. Gas? Indigestion? Butterflies? I hope it feels like butterflies. There is nothing better than that butterfly feeling you have when you start dating someone and they say your name... butterflies. Or when you marry the man of your dreams and as you walk down the aisle towards him... butterflies. And when you feel the movement of your first unborn child... blissfully butterflies. I absolutely cannot wait.

So far so good this week. Still the heartburn, headaches, peeing, clothes are gettin' mighty tight, and eating every two hours. I guess that I would say this week I have been craving sweets. Anything from blueberry cobbler to ice cream to rootbeer floats. If it has lots of sugar in it, I'm craving it. On Sunday I really, really, really wanted homemade blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. But I settled for warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. It hit the spot... but only for that night. On Monday, I wanted nothing to do with it. I would have much rather had sweet potato pie or a frosty from Wendy's. Neither of which I got! I gave into my sweet tooth temptation on Sunday. I'm hoping that holds me over until the next craving kicks in and I have to absolutely have to have whatever I am craving. At that very moment.

So Eddie and I have finally come to a conclusion on how we're going decorate Baby R's room. I say it like we've gone back and forth and fought for months over this. It was actually quite the opposite. At first I was thinking owls, vintage owls. With colors of creams, browns, oranges, yellows, greens, and vibrant purples. But then I found this fabulous bedding set and it was love at first sight. Simple and classic. So we've decided on black, white, and lime green with silver accents. Very gender neutral. Very chic.

We only plan on getting the 4 piece bedding set. Sometimes these designs go overboard with all of the matchy matchy stuff in the rooms. I get it, but I don't want it. So there it is. I hope that you like it :)

The plan is to paint only one wall in the bedroom lime green and leave the rest the current color that they are... which is a very netural tan-ish color. We will be pulling up the carpet and laying down hardwood floors. We just think that it will give the room a bigger feel. Of course, I plan to find a nice and soft accent rug.

I hope that Baby R likes his or her room :)

We will probably start the transitioning of it from being a computer room/second bedroom for our guests to a baby room in December... maybe sooner. I can invision it already.

So, updates for week 15. Size comparison this week: an apple, measures about 4 inches long and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces. Baby R is busy moving amniotic fluid through the nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in the lungs begin to develop. Baby R's legs are growing longer than the arms now (we're hoping that Baby R has long legs like me!!), and can move all joints and limbs. Although its eyelids are still fused shut, Baby R can sense light. If we were to shine a flashlight at my tummy, for instance, the baby is likely to move away from the beam. Eddie totally wants to test this out. Like we would even know if Baby R "moved away from the light". Silly guy!

And, as always, here is my belly at 15 weeks... getting bigger week by week!

More to report from the baby belly at week 16...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie

week 14... hello heartburn!!

So the dreaded heartburn is upon me. Enough said. I am dealing with it through the help of my trusty tums... but it only helps so much. Luckily it's not been an all day symptom, but it hits me in the evenings and it pretty much ruins my dinner.

My headaches are also on the comeback this week (I swear that this blog isn't going to be a 'woe is me' sorta thing... I have just never experienced heartburn and headaches quite like this before... so I feel the need to bitch!! haha). My very good girlfriend Jamie, who is 13 weeks pregnant, is STILL experiencing her morning, afternoon, and evening sickness. I feel so bad for her! I only had a few bad days/nights of nausea so I definitely couldn't imagine constantly feeling that way. Poor thing :( 

But other than the H&H (it pains me too much to say it out loud for fear that I might suddenly start to feel the sudden onset of one, if not both), I am feeling just dandy! People everywhere I go are sneezing, coughing, blowing their nose... ugh. I have become quite obsessed/intrigued with this whole flu/H1N1 thing that's going around. I received my flu shot nearly 3 weeks ago - so I hope that little guy keeps me nice and safe from the regular seasonal flu. And as soon as the H1N1 vaccine is available to me (either at work or at my doctor's office, whichever comes first) I will be getting that as well. I have done my research and have spoken with my OB about the vaccine and am feeling pretty confident about it. The virus is 10 times more deadly than the vaccine... so the decision is pretty easy. I'm gettin' the shot!

Pregnant women are at a top priority for the vaccine (and are STRONGLY encouraged to get the flu shot, every year) and it frightens me to hear these stories of pregnant women on respirators, giving birth to their premature baby, and then not surviving. Unfortunately for myself and for Eddie, I am a full blown hypochondriac so with every little sniffle, sneeze or cough I am running to the internet and googling my "symptoms". Call me crazy... I have hand sanitizer coming out the wazoo - in my purse, on my desk at work (along with clorox wipes), in our kitchen, in our bathroom - everywhere I am, a bottle of hand sanitizer and/or wipes are nearby!!

Even Eddie has improved his hand washing skills, ten fold! Besides, I tell him that it's excellent preparation for infection control once the baby is born!! He will be getting his flu shot this weekend and once the H1N1 is available to the general public then he will get one as well. 

It's easy to be afraid of the unknown, but I trust my doctor and believe that she has my (and our unborn child's) best interest at heart.

So as of week 14, Baby R is growing, growing, growing. Size comparison this week: a lemon, is measuring about 3 1/2 inches long, and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. Baby R can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck its thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, the facial muscles are getting a workout as the tiny features form one expression after another. Baby R's kidneys are producing urine, which are released into the amniotic fluid all around - a process it will keep up until birth.

It was 10 weeks ago that Eddie and I found out we were going to be parents! Can you believe that!? Baby R will be here before we know it! By the way... we've finally decided on the nursery colors - which I will tell you all about in my next blog. I can't wait to get started on making a place for Baby R in our home. It's going to be absolutely fabulous!!

More to report from the baby belly at week 15... 

Peace, love, and baby, 

Meredith & Eddie

week 13... officially in the 2nd trimester!!

So the nail biting first trimester is finally over! We made it! I'm telling you, that was a tough few weeks to get through. But here we are in week 13 (almost week 14 at this point... sorry that my blog was a little late in getting out!) and I am feeling great!

Like I said in week 12, my extreme exhaustion has pretty much subsided. So now instead of my head hitting the pillow at 9p I am able to make it to 1030p or 11p most nights. I am slowly but surely feeling that normalcy once again. I am walking Grayson every day anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. My doctor has highly recommended that I exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 3 to 5 times a week. It has really helped with my energy level and it just feels good - plus Grayson absolutely loves going on walks and up to the park for some play time. So it benefits the both of us!! 

I am now starting to eat a lot more!! My stomach growls for food at least every 2 hours. I am drinking lots (and lots and lots and lots) of organic milk and water, eating lots of organic fresh fruits and vegetables, and eating three healthy and filling meals a day. I've gotten lots of "advice" (if that's what you really want to call it) to eat whatever I like... and eat lots of it! So many people have said "this is the time to eat anything you want, so take advantage of it!" NO THANK YOU. I will still have the weight to lose after the baby is born. So just because it is inevitable that, yes, I am going to be gaining weight doesn't mean that I am going to stuff my face full of Big Macs and french fries (although, for those of you that know me know that I have a sick obsession with french fries. They are my weakness.) Of course I'm sure that I will have my cravings - and I'm sure that I will give into temptation a time or two - but at least I am being smart about this. I say this now... check back with me in three months and lets see if I am still being "good". 

So, as of this week, Baby R (the baby's current name) has lots of little changes going on. Size comparison this week: a medium shrimp, nearly 3 inches long and weighs about an ounce. Fingerprints have formed on Baby R's tiny fingertips, the veins and organs are clearly visible through the still-thin skin, and the body is starting to catch up with it's head - which makes up just a third of the body size now. If we're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. As I start my second trimester, most of Baby R's critical development has been completed. Good news!!

As many of you know, Baby R will be the first grandchild on BOTH SIDES... so you can already imagine the excitement from our families. My mom and mother-in-law have already bought the baby lots of clothes and other nursery gadgets! They just can't help themselves :)

Even I couldn't resist the urge to buy the cutest little blue and brown owl onesie at Target the other day. It was just too adorable to pass up. So, here is a picture of a *few* (because believe me, we have a whole stack of baby clothes already) of Baby R's outfits. He or she will definitely be rockin' it out in style!

And, of course, here is my baby belly at 13 weeks... And I swear, I am not pushing out :)

More to report from the baby belly at week 14...

Peace, love, and baby,

Meredith & Eddie