Recap - 15 weeks today!

Ok, so I have slacked quite a bit on blogging and updating what all is going on. So here it all goes...
First, Anna and I went out to celebrate her 26th birthday (we're getting soo old)! I hadn't seen her since I had found out I was pregnant (in Nov), so it was nice to catch up and hang out for a few hours at Cheesecake Factory!


Two weekends ago, Kevin & Jennifer Compton came to visit and brought their 7 month old pup Winston. Palmer thought she was queen of the roost of course, and didn't care how big Winston was, compared to her mere 15lbs!

While they were here, we went to St Augustine for the day - walked down St George St, and went to the Lighthouse. It was a lot of fun. Neither Michael or I had ever done it before, so it was nice to check it out. Apparently, it is haunted (per Ghost Hunters, and the women who work in the gift shop), so Jennifer and I listened to a couple of the ghost stories for a while too...very fascinating!! AND 219 steps UP...we made it to the top! Very cool...I highly suggest it if you haven't done it!



Afterwards, we went over to the Perez's for dinner at their NEW HOUSE! We all had such a great time just hanging out, we ended up taking it to Dave & Busters afterwards and played around for a few more hours. It was a great (long) day!! Sunday, Michael & Kevin played golf at the beach, and it happened to be one of the most windy days in Florida history, so needless to say, they didn't play very well, but they still had a good time. Jennifer and I went shopping, had lunch, and then got a pedicure (LOVE IT!). We ended up making dinner and staying up at the River House and they left Monday after lunch. Its nice that Kevin & I are able to maintain our friendship...we've known each other for 23 years!!

Anyways, this past weekend, we met up with the Dempseys!! Mike had been gone away with the Navy, so we hadn't seen him in a while. We ended up meeting at Sonny's for lunch and then went to the zoo. We all had a really great time, despite it started to sprinkle towards the end. I think Sophia had had enough anyways!! Here are a few pictures from the zoo...


I fed a giraffe too!


Anyways...thats the update!
I don't have any appointments until Feb 15th - so stay tuned!!

14 weeks!

Yesterday, I had a routine OB visit and met with Dr Rodriguez. This was the first time I had met her. She was nice - very straight forward. I was weighed, gave a urine sample, and then met with her. She said all my blood work and urine looked great. I have already gained 7 lbs (yikes), so I'm going to start going to our community gym (since Michael won't let me workout at Baileys with all the germs...boo!). Next, she had me lay down - she measured my belly (still little), and used a doppler to listen to the heartbeat. It took a long time, and she still couldn't find out. I was really nervous, as I was by myself and just didn't know what to think. She had to go get a sonogram machine to find the baby. After a few minutes, she brought one in, turned the monitor away, and after a few seconds (felt like minutes), I asked if she saw the heartbeat. THANKFULLY, she said "yes", and turned the monitor so I could see it too. PHEWWWW...I can't even begin to tell you how nervous I was. My first thought was...how was I going to tell Michael that something has happened?? Then I kept telling myself...everything happens for a reason, what is meant to be will be...

I think I was just mentally exhausted the rest of the day. I really freaked out. The doctor even said she could tell I was nervous, but she wasn't nervous - as the baby is still very small, and is swimming all over the place, so it is hard to find. Not to mention, my bladder was already full, so that hindered the doppler as well. Hopefully next time, there won't be so much of a scare!!

So far, I'm feeling great and still taking it day by day. I set another appointment for February 15th with Dr. Wrennick, which is just another routine OB visit. And THEN...within 2-4 weeks after that, I'll be able to come in to find out the sex of the baby!!! YEAAAAA...still thinking its a boy, but we'll see. My sister is still convinced that I am carrying "Stephanie Jr" inside me...haha. Can't wait to find out! Then I can go SHOPPING!!!!

Out of my first Trimester...phew!! AWESOME Sonogram Video!!!

First Trimester...CHECK!!

We had a really great appointment yesterday. They tested for Downs Syndrome, and the nurse said that the back of the neck looked great so far. They took some of my blood too to do the rest of the testing to make sure I don't carry the gene. I have an OB visit on the 19th with Dr Rodriguez (another doc in the practice) and I'm sure they'll let me know if there were any problems then.

When we went in for the sonogram, I had a VERY full bladder thinking that I was going to have to give a urine sample, like all other times. When they brought us back, she said I didn't have to give a sample, so I asked if I could use the restroom really fast, she was all excited that I had a full bladder because apparently it pushes the baby up higher and its easier to see on the video. But she didn't understand...I had an EXTREMELY full bladder. She wanted to see what she could get and give it a try. After about a minute or two, I let her know that if she pushed on my stomach anymore, she was going to have a mess all over her table. I REALLY had to go!!! haha. So after I used the restroom, I was back in business. Once we got it back on, the baby started waking up and was moving a little more...it ended up getting hiccups and was bouncing all over the place. It was SOO neat!! I couldn't believe it! We were in utter awe...such a priceless moment.

So make sure you have a good 4 minutes, and watch the video...its well worth the time!!
We should find out the sex of the baby in about a month...I should get that appointment date on the 19th...can't wait!!!!

Catch up!

Tomorrow I will be 12 weeks...crazy! Almost out of my first trimester! We have another doctors appointment on Friday for a nuchal sonogram, which measures the back of the baby's neck testing for downs syndrome. I believe they will do a blood test from me as well...we'll see.

Christmas came and went very quickly! It was nice to have a long 4 days off from work to just take it easy. We spent Christmas day with my parents and Stephanie; opening presents first thing in the morning, Michael made his infamous french toast, we went to St Johns to feed the elderly, and then came back home for a nice Christmas dinner. Michael's family came in town the next day. We did "Christmas" on Sunday with them. They were a really big help cleaning out the back room and moving the furniture. We installed new carpeting in our master bedroom and in the nursery - it looks SOO nice!!

Stephanie officially made her way to Italy for 12 months. She will be able to come back for 2 weeks in July, which works out perfectly for the baby! It was really hard for me to say goodbye - since she really won't be here to see any of my pregnancy. She will be able to Skype and email, of course. Its just hard to believe how much different our lives will be when she returns...because I'll be a mom and she'll be an aunt. I'm just hardly showing, and I'll have a BABY in 6 months...insane! Can you tell this is still very hard to believe?? Steph went over with my mom, grandma, Patty, and Christine. My aunt Patty has free text messenging over there, so I got a text from her today saying they were sitting down for lunch and will be heading to the Trevi fountain afterwards to get a tie for Michael (per his request). I'm soo happy for her...I just wish I was able to go with her or at least visit while she is experiencing this!!

Anyways...no real updates as far as the baby goes. Still taking it day by day. My belly gets MUCH bigger as the day progresses and is much smaller when I wake up in the morning. I think my muscles relax and loosen as the day goes?? I don't know...just a thought. See below what I looked like at 11wks, 2 days (which was last week) - just a little bit of a baby bump. Its not enough to tell that I'm pregnant..just enough to think I got carried away with the big meals over the holidays!! haha
More updates to come soon...