Tying Up Loose Ends

Well Ms. Kate,

We are getting closer and closer to the end! Only 5 or 6 more weeks! Mommy and Daddy are SO very excited to meet you!

This past weekend we picked out the outfit that you will come home in. This was the first thing that Mommy has let Daddy do all on his own- and he did a pretty good job too :) Daddy was so excited to pick out the sweet little dress and is so proud of what he found for you to wear! It is amazing to realize how much I love him, by seeing how much he loves you!

We still need to pick out a cute bow and some tiny little shoes for you! You will be absolutely stunning!

Mommy has been in a list-making, house-cleaning mood and is so excited to have everything ready for when you get here!
This weekend we have a Baby Shower for you in VA, then in a few weekends we will have our Shower here is PA. After the Showers are all done with Mommy and Daddy can go out and complete our lists to make sure we have everything we need for you, then comes the unpacking and setting everything up.

You are moving more and more and seem to get the hiccups every day... usually at least twice. I am really going to miss feeling you wiggle around, but cannot wait to see you outside! Mommy has been getting a lot of heartburn throughout the past couple weeks, according to all the wives' tales, you now have a chance at having some hair :P I must say, aside from a few aches and pains you have made this pregnancy pretty easy on me (much appreciated)! It's getting harder to sleep through the nights, my back has been bothering me a lot- but otherwise, not bad :)

We have a Dr's appointment later this week! We can't wait to hear your heartbeat and see how much you've grown!

Love you Sweet Girl!

Love,
Mommy

Growing Pains

Hello Sweet Girl!

Well according to the Dr, you are continuing to grow at a perfect rate! Mommy's belly is measuring just the way it should and my weight gain looks great! (Thanks for making me one of those "all belly" mommies and not fattening me up too much :P ) The nurse was amazed at how much you move around and laughed at how hard you were kicking the heart rate monitor when she was searching for your heart beat!

Your kicks and punches are absolutely amazing and you have such strong force that Daddy literally screams when he feels you! I joked that there must be two of you because sometimes when you really get going I feel you in all different parts of my belly and it doesn't even make sense that you could be all those places at once!!

I bought your crib and your changing table- a combo pack- and we finally set them up in your room! Daddy tells me we need to wait for your baby shower (a special day where everyone gathers to celebrate you!!) before we buy anything else, but I'm having a hard time!! I just love setting things up in your room and am so excited to have everything we need/want for you! I haven't made any big purchases since then... hopefully I can hold off :)

Since I last wrote I had to take the Glucose Test- which seems to be many mommies' least favorite part of pregnancy- it consists of drinking a horribly nasty drink, then one hour later having a blood test. I picked the Fruit Punch drink as that is what the ladies at the Dr.s' office suggested... it wasn't as bad as people have made it out to be, but it wasn't too bad. Unfortunately I failed the test by 6 points and now get to take the Fasting 3 Hour (Apparently Much Yuckier) Test next Friday :P ... hopefully everything goes well with that and we have nothing to worry about!

Also, since we are so far along into the pregnancy (either 30 or 31 weeks based on the different estimated due dates) we are now at our every 2 week Dr. visits, so we get to check up on you and listen to your heart beat every 2 weeks now! :) <3

Keep Growing Strong Baby Kate! Mommy loves feeling you!

<3 Can't wait to hear you tomorrow!

Love,
Mommy

Growing and Growing!

Hello Sweet Kate!

You are getting bigger and bigger, and as you can see, so is mommy! Dependent upon which due date we go by we are either at 24 or 25 weeks; a little more than half way there!

The trip to VA went great! Everyone was excited to see how much you are growing! My dad and I even took pictures comparing our "baby bellies" :) . We won the biggest cutest! :)
It was so great to see my family! I miss them a lot when we are up here in PA.

You are beyond spoiled already! I should've taken pictures of all the clothes/ blankets/ and gear you have waiting for you there! You will definitely not be running out of clothes.. ever!

The past few days you have been moving around like CRAZY!! The movements have gone from being in one general area to all over my belly! I can even feel you pushing against my belly at times and I'm pretty sure I feel you sliding your little hands around! I can't wait to see you sweet little girl and put a face to this personality!!

Our next Dr appt is Friday! I can't wait to hear your heart beat and hear about how you are growing!

Love you!

Love,
Mommy

Travelling Home

Hello Sweet Girl,

It's been a while since I posted an update and you are growing like a weed! (well at least my belly is!) I have been studying all of the changes that you are going through and it is so exciting to know how much you are growing and thriving!

We have gotten a couple different due dates- but I've been sticking with the original one of February 20th- we know you'll come when you feel like you are ready, but sometime during the last week of February seems to be the general consensus.

24 weeks- that's where we are now. :) You are about a foot long and weighing in at a little over a pound. Your teeny little body is starting to pack on the weight and you are finally filling out! You brain is growing quickly and your taste buds are developing. Your lungs are developing quickly, preparing to take their first breath out here! We can't wait to see you!

Here is a little bit of info on Mommy:

Maternity clothes? 1 pair of maternity jeans and 2 shirts- but I did have to buy some more shirts in larger, yet still normal sizes
Stretch marks? No- hopefully it stays that way!
Sleep: Yes please! It's getting harder to get comfortable but with 3 pillows and a body pillow I just about have it figured out!
Best moment this week:  Reading you Guess How Much I Love You - then watching you kick!
Have you told family and friends: Yes! We finally announced to everyone that you are there this week! Most family already knew, but now everyone does!
Miss Anything?  Laying on my belly
Movement: Yes! You wiggle and kick and punch away! Your movements are so big that Daddy can not only feel them, but he can see them too! It is amazing watching my belly move and knowing you are in there! I hope you are cozy and happy!
Food cravings: Milk, Carnation Instant Breakfast, cravings occur very randomly... oh, Chocolate Cupcakes! (which sadly I have yet to have :( )
Anything making you queasy or sick: Certain smells... and occasionally brushing my teeth (don't worry, I still do!)
Have you started to show yet: Yep :) we have a mini soccer ball now! Belly pics will be coming soon as we have been severely slacking!
Labor Signs: No, and they should stay away for a long, long time! I do notice a few Braxton Hicks contractions and my belly feels really tight.
Belly Button in or out? 50/50 almost flat up top but still mostly in at the bottom- it changes throughout the day
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time :D (though Daddy might disagree)
Looking forward to: Our trip to VA this weekend! Seeing family and letting them experience your wiggles!

Like I mentioned before- you are a wiggly little girl now, mostly active at night- hopefully we can get that swapped around before February! Daddy and I love to sit back and watch you moving around and feel your kicks! I love when I am doing something during the day and you give me a little reminder that you are right here with me!

We decided on your name too! *Katelyn Marie* aka- Kate :) My sweet baby Kate! If you rearrange the letters in your name you can spell Kyle- that's your Uncle who loves you soooo much! Also, Mommy had a great-great Aunt Kate and everyone talks about how awesome of a person she was! Marie is your Daddy's Nonna's name- we thought it sounded nice with Katelyn, and she is pretty excited to share that with you! Everyone already loves you so much! You are one special little girl!!

Also, Daddy's younger sister is expecting a baby as well! Just a few months after you are born! We are so excited for them and so excited for you to have a cousin that will be just about your age! :)

The 3 of us (You, me. and Daddy) are flying to VA tonight to spend some time with my family! I know your Mimi is sooooo excited to see how much you've grown and feel you moving around! Hopefully you aren't too stubborn! :)

Love you!

Love,
Mommy

Sugar, and Spice, and Everything Nice :)

That is what little GIRLS are made of :)

Yes that's right, today Daddy and I found out that we are expecting a sweet baby girl! That means bows, dresses, tights, and shoes, pink, purple, and yellow too- and again- bows!!

It was so exciting to watch you wiggling around in a room full of people we love! Your Mommy, Daddy, Mimi (Mommy's Mommy!), your Uncle Ky, and Daddy's Parents all squished into the tiny ultrasound room! Mommy's Daddy wasn't able to make it because he got called out on a business trip- but even he was there with us on the phone (unfortunately we couldn't get the video chat working in time)! It meant so much to Mommy and Daddy to have them here with us! Mommy's family drove all the way up form VA just to see you!

We got to watch your heart beat and all 4 chambers looked great- your blood flow appeared perfect! You waved to us and showed us that you are already sucking your thumb! (I think you are a lefty like Mommy!) You are absolutely perfect from your sweet little head and button nose, to your 10 teeny fingers and 10 tiny toes! Looking at these pictures makes us even more excited to meet you! Everyone in the room was so excited to watch you moving around- you showed us a little bit of everything from kicking your feet to wiggling your tiny bum! The doctor pointed out that you are positioned to where you are standing on my bladder, thanks! :P

After the appointment Daddy and I went shopping to get you some outfits since we finally knew what colors to buy! I am confident that you will be born into a well stocked closet!

It is amazing how much I love you already! I can't wait until you are here and we can look into your pretty eyes! I can only hope that you and I have the same relationship that my Mommy and I have!

Love you Sweet GIRL!

Love, 
Mommy 

Getting Antsy!

To My Little One:

Just a quick little note this time:

We had a Dr. appt on Friday and got to listen to your beautiful little heartbeat <3 the last time we heard it it was at 156 bpm- this time it was 153 :) You've slowed down considerably since the ultrasound!

Tomrrow is the big day- if you will so allow- where we will get to find out if you are a BOY or GIRL! I'm so excited to finally know what you are, to start picking out your clothes, and to give you a name!

We are getting a special ultrasound called a Level 2 ultrasound which means that we are going to be getting lots and lots of measurements of your little head, and your BIG brain (hopefully you take after your Mommy :P ), and your precious heart! We can't wait to see all the changes that you have gone through these past few weeks!

Love you!

See you tomorrow!

Love, 
Mommy

Peeking at Our Present :)

To My Precious Little One :)

Today we got to go to our first ultrasound and it was amazing! I wasn't quite sure what to expect- all of the books say you have teeny fingers and toes and that you are just about an inch long! Your tiny little features are beginning to form and I had no idea what all we would actually be able to see.


I had quite the experience getting to the appointment- you see, this early on in the pregnancy they want me to arrive at the appointment with a full bladder (that makes it easier to find where you are). I followed the directions on how much water to drink which wasn't easy considering water is one of the things that makes me a little nauseous right now (I guess you don't like it very much). Apparently I managed to over-do it on the water and ended up pulling a muscle in my back; it hurt to sit, stand, lay down, and walking seemed like it might make me pass out. I thought my kidney was exploding from drinking so much! I was actually in so much pain that I considered cancelling my appointment to see see you to go to the Emergency Room. (that obviously didn't happen- I couldn't pass up the opportunity!)


We got to the office and I squirmed in my seat trying to nurse my backache until they finally called us back. I don't think I've ever been so excited! The nurse pulled out her tools put the cold gel on my tummy and began searching for you. Within seconds your little profile was on the screen. We saw the little flicker of your heart beating and my eyes instantly started to water! You had a high (but normal) heart rate of 183 bpm. The doctor let me use the bathroom- which helped take a lot of the muscle pain away - then tried another ultrasound. There you were again, but so much more clear! You kicked around and moved your little arms all around. We got a couple pictures where it looked like you were crying because you kept pulling your tiny arms to your face.


Before we left, the doctor gave us a few pictures for us to take home and show off- we think you looked a little bit like a gummy bear :)


Love you so much already!


Love,
Mommy