Meet Little Man!

Here he is in 4-D, and I hate to start bragging but...how FrEaKiNg cute is he!? I love him already!  Nate sure can't deny him, because he already looks like him!  He also looks a little like my brother from some angles and has my facial expressions.  Crazy we can see that already, huh!?  When we were having the ultrasound it was more like a live video instead of pictures, and the way he moves his mouth looks just like me.  He looked really mad a few times and well, that's when he looked like his Mama! 

It's hard to fully comprehend that this little thing is growing inside of me.  It is so wonderful to feel him move and kick - at 2.5 pounds he can't hurt me...yet! 

I had two family showers this weekend (Nate's famililes on both sides are HUGE so we split them up) and seeing all of the little outfits, receiving blankets and bibs has me itchin' to hold my little man. 

I'm feeling better - still having Braxton Hicks, but not nearly as frequent.  Looks like I'm just gonna have these until he gets here!  I guess it's good practice! 

Can't wait to kiss these little feet!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I'm not entirely sure there is a whimsical way to introduce this story, so I'm  just gonna tell it like it is since basically no one knows...

Saturday night I started having some right-sided abdominal pain (think where your appendix is) and chalked it up to a pulled muscle.  I mean after all, I had been super nice and sat in the back of a two-door car - super stupid.  Anyway, that pain continued constantly and became unbearable to a mental breaking point for me after going to bed Monday night - so Nate and I called the doctor  around 12:30a and they told me to come in immediately.

Once hooked up to all the monitors (which was pretty immediate,) it was very clear that I was having contractions every 3.5/4 minutes.  These contractions only hurt because of the right sided pain, but were otherwise painless.  The nurses eyes grew wide when they saw how often and consistently they were coming, so my cervix was checked and hallelujah - it was still closed.  Everyone breathed a sigh of releif and it was on to the side pain. 

Basically, I spent the night in Labor & Delivery and heard two little ones cry their first little cry in this world while being taken to the nursery.  It was beautiful. 

I was given pain meds for the side and in hopes of easing the contractions.  They didn't slow - so I was given a shot which stopped them altogether. I was released about 10 hours after we got there after being re-hydrated and having the pain under control.  The side pain is the infamous "round ligament pain."  Fine.  I suspected that all along, but it was the contractions that were causing it to be unbearable for so long and what were cause for concern.

I can't wait to see my peanut...but not yet!  I need him to cook a little longer.  I have a new perspective on having him now.  I honestly don't see myself making it all the way until February 13, but I will pray every day that he is a healthly strong little boy and stays in as long as he wants!

When the nurse said the words, "we need to see if you are going to be having him within the next few weeks" Nate and I were floored and in shock.  We've realized now how much we have to do: birthing plan (wtf is that, really?) we don't have a carseat, not one single bottle, no crib - we're totally unprepared!  But, we're not really supposed to be yet!  This is not to say that we are planning on him coming early, but all of the sudden the, "oh my gosh we're having a real baby" has hit us and we both would like to be more prepared - at least mentally.

As of today, the right-sided muscle pain is better, but I am still having some Braxton Hicks contractions pretty consistently.  Thankfully, I have a doctor's appointment today anyway so I have a list of things to ask the doctor.  After my gestational diabetes test...I get to see my peanut!!! Today is the 4-D Ultrasound and I am PUMPED.  I haven't "seen" him since September 4th - and I can't wait.  I'll try to post some pictures after we get them.

Right now, I just ask for your prayers for little man. He's fine and in NO WAY in distress (he's actually very healthy and active,) I just want to be sure he bakes a little longer :)  I also have a lot on my plate coming up as far as cakes.  I'm booked until Dec. 19th (the wedding cake!!!!) and am so excited about all of these opportunities - I'm just going to need a couple of prayers a long the way.  And no, I wasn't given any restrictions or written out of work, they told me to continue life as normal.

I'll keep you guys posted and will hopefull get some pics up of that ultrasound soon!

Cast Your Vote.

Alright guys - my ultrasound is at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning and I have no idea what to expect. Boy? Girl? Boy and Girl?

You know how there are always people who can just "call" whether a baby is a boy or a girl really quickly and be right every single time? Well, I know 2 of those in particular and both of them aren't getting a vibe or the vibe waivers back and forth - so either I'm actually having a puppy or I'm having a boy and a girl.

I want to take a poll - just because I think it's a lot of fun to guess! What are your thoughts!?! Boy or girl!?

Things I've Learned

..since finding out I was pregnant.

1. Always eat every 3 hours - even if you don't want to. This, believe it or not, has kept me from full days of nausea. Took me about 2 weeks to figure this out.

2. Everyone is a pregnancy/child expert - though I have not had anyone be rude (yet!) everyone likes to tell me (especially MEN!!) what I can and can't do while I'm pregnant. I laugh at it now, but I'm sure it will get old.

3. Throwing up isn't fun sober either - the first few times I got sick I would sit in the floor and cry for like 15 minutes. Nate can testify. While I don't enjoy it now, I have learned to cope and maybe only feel like crying.

4. Always ask what's in the lemonade - at week 4 I went to a child's birthday party where no one knew I was pregnant. After skimming through all the beer and wine (my friends really like to drink, okay) I settled for a nice refreshing glass of lemonade. After consuming about an 6oz glass someone said, "boy that vodka lemonade was delicious!" Shoot me now. I know, I know I'm fine - and I didn't even worry because clearly there wasn't that much in it if I didn't taste it - it just taught me a lesson. Always know what you're sippin' on!

5. If you choose to wait and tell everyone, tell a friend at work if possible- I told my cubemate at work at 6 weeks and it was the best decision ever. (Most trustworthy person ever, lucky me!) This was my best decision because she was able to cover for me while I died in the other room.

6. Don't worry what others will say - the anticipation of waiting until week 12 got my mind wandering, "oh how will she react" "what will he say" "will they talk about me being only 24" etc. When I broke the news to everyone I got nothing but congratulations and happiness and love - and those that told me previously "to WAIT to have kids" were the most encouraging about how great parenthood really is. (Pretty sure I predicted that one in a previous blog, too).

7. Babymoons are a pretty cool story - though we didn't plan it this way, Baby Edwards has about 98% possibility of having been conceived in London. We hope to get peanut a "Made in London" onesie!

8. Dogs are smarter than we are - Looking back, there is absolutely no question that Bailey knew I was pregnant before I did. From the second we got back from our trip she treated me differently. Bailey LOVES Nate - he is her best friend, but since June she sits in front of me at night, waits patiently for me to get out of the shower and even waits outside the bathroom door when I'm dealing with nausea. Nevermind that she sniffs my belly, too. She is going to be the best big sister ever.

Well look at all I've learned in my first trimester! I'm sure that I will learn more than one thing new everyday, and now I'm just excited for our little one to get here!