MyBabyIsAwesome

We've moved!

2011-11-08T22:53:00.003-05:00

If anyone still reads this, I wanted to share that we've moved to a new home. A new blog home that is.

Feel free to catch up with us over at

Always playing catch up

2011-10-15T06:21:00.004-04:00

Colorado has been fantastic! The area is beautiful, the weather is nice, and we even have some family nearby! It's definitely been nice being able to see Melissa and Joseph a lot more. I like that Amy has at least some family she can grow up being around. The rest of our family (and some friends) have even been able to come visit us more. We've also met some great people here, so we've been having fun getting out and doing things again! For most people, the list of things we've done would be nothing, but for us, it's quite a bit! We've been to Rocky Mountain National Park a few times, the zoo, the aquarium, the botanic gardens, the children' museum and a few other places around the area. We even went pumpkin picking a few weeks ago! I enjoyed it, but Amy did not. The pictures from that are still on my camera, but I hope to sort and upload them soon.

Enjoying some books Grandma Amy got her

Me and Amy at Rocky Mountain National Park

Trying to feed a chipmunk (The chipmunk was not as interested)

Running through the park

Just walking around. It was colder than anticipated and I forgot her jacket, so she borrowed mine

Another big thing that happened a couple of months ago, was that Amy was playing at a neighbors house when she fell and hit her head on a dresser. A few hours and an emergency room visit later, she emerged like a champ with 6 stitches. Once we left the hospital, she pretty much forgot they were there, so they didn't seem to bother her much, until it was time to take them out. That was pretty traumatic.

There is more to post and say, but I will (hopefully) add that soon. Didn't want to overwhelm people all in one post ;)

Just wanted to let you all know that we are still alive and kicking!

A bit behind

2011-03-10T19:11:00.002-05:00

Or maybe way behind, seeing as how I haven't posted here since October. To update, a lot has changed since then. Amy is walking like a pro, has lots of teeth starting to come in, and just gets cuter every day (can I say that?) Oh, and we moved back to the US! That's the most exciting part :)

Brandon got a job in Boulder, Colorado, so we packed up and came down here. And we love it so far! We have an amazing apartment, got a really nice, used Jeep Liberty, and the weather has been wonderful. Amy is even sleeping good! She has never been a good sleeper and it seemed she was getting worse, but starting just a few days after we moved in to this place, she has slept through the night almost every night! The sleep has been fantastic :)

My mom also came up just a few days after we got here and helped us get settled in, so it was very nice having her here to both help us and spend time with Amy, who loved all the extra attention. And in a few weeks, Melissa will be here, which is also very exciting. Several people are planning trips to visit us, now that it is much closer and easier.

Brandon has been enjoying his job so far, getting along with all his co-workers and everything.

In short, everything has been great! So, I leave you with a picture of Amy.

Walking (sort of)

2010-10-25T10:52:00.002-04:00

Amy can't walk on her own yet, but she is getting closer all the time. She has a miniature shopping cart that she loves to push around the living room. She also has a small stroller and another push toy that she likes as well.

Last night, she started standing up without holding onto anything. It was only for a few seconds at a time, but it was more than she was doing before. Normally when we try to get her to do that, her legs just go limp and she sits, but she did it all on her own yesterday. One more step towards walking!

Here is a video I took of her walking with the shopping cart.

Lots of pictures!

2010-10-19T15:57:00.007-04:00

September was a busy month for us. We went to Texas for two weeks to visit family and surprise Brandon's mom for her birthday (she was very surprised). We had a great time and everyone loved seeing Amy.

Since Amy's birthday was at the end of the month, we had a small birthday dinner while we were in SA and found out she loves chocolate.

Then we came back home, along with Melissa and Grandma Amy. They stayed for a week and we saw the sights of Montreal.

Olympic Stadium

Notre Dame Basilica

Part of the old port

It was a lot of fun having them here and Amy enjoyed every bit of attention she got!

On Amy's actual birthday, we made her more cake. This time it had vanilla icing, and she wasn't as big of a fan. But we still got a few good pictures.

And finally, (two days before her birthday), she got some teeth! Two little pearly white nubs appeared on her bottom gums. They really seemed to pop up out of nowhere!

What kind of kid doesn't like the park?

2010-08-20T10:01:00.003-04:00

Amy went on her first trip to the park a few days ago. She was not a big fan of it. Didn't seem to like sitting in the sand. Or even the swing. I forgot the camera, so I didn't get any good pictures, but I'm gonna try again today. And take some toys this time.

The amount of real food Amy eats has been growing, while the amount of formula has been shrinking. For a while, she was having one bottle of formula at night, everything else was just regular food. A few nights ago, I stopped giving her the nightly bottle and she doesn't seem to miss it yet. This weaning thing might be easier than I thought :) (Lets just hope it continues!)

C25K has been going alright. Good and not so good. The first week was a bit tough, but that was expected because I don't run. Ever. Then this was supposed to be week 2, but I kinda got sick earlier this week and missed two days of it. That's the not so good part. But I went again this morning (just doing the week one set), and it was much easier than last week! My knees hurt a bit, but I wasn't very tired at all. So I'm looking forward to the rest of this program more now than I was before. I heard it got easier, but actually feeling that it did is great!

As you can see above, Amy likes to put cords in her mouth. This particular one is an iPod USB cord. At one point, another one of these cords was plugged into the computer, and when we weren't looking, Amy found the other end and put it in her mouth. Then, Brandon's computer popped up with "USB device not recognized". So apparently Amy is not an iPod. Good to know.

Happy Face

Gangsta face

By the way, our apartment smells like chicken fajita tacos right now. I really want some.

Keeping up

2010-08-15T09:47:00.002-04:00

Last weekend, we went to Ian and Jamie's place. We hung out there for a few hours, went for a walk. They have a dog and a cat, and Amy loved playing with them. She just naturally likes animals, which is great. Then Ian and Jamie watched Amy for a little bit, while Brandon and I went to eat dinner. We were going to shop around, but then we realized it was after 5 on a Saturday, so everything was closed. It was a fun trip though, I enjoyed getting out and seeing other people :)

I finished week one of C25k. It went better than I expected it to. It was tough, but doable. I am ready to start week two tomorrow.

Brandon is also doing it as well, he went twice this past week. Hopefully, I can get him to go all three times next week ;)

Amy is doing very well. She's been working on her speed crawl lately. She also still pulls herself up on everything she can, and she walks holding on to the couch. Still no teeth. Also, no real words yet. She makes sounds like mamama, dadada, naynaynay, etc. but doesn't really know what she is saying.

And here she is in her new high chair! (I've been slacking on the picture taking lately, so there's only one this time)

She's recyclable!

2010-08-06T17:04:00.003-04:00

This also doubles as her favorite toy bin

Just a few new pictures and a little selfishness

2010-08-05T19:49:00.004-04:00

I want to keep up with this more. I may not have a lot to say, but I usually take a picture or two every now and then, so there might just be some posts with only pictures.

Peanut Butter Face

Would be cuter if it wasn't blurry

Big smile!

And I know I always post on here about Amy, but I'm gonna go a little off topic now.

Brandon has 2 months left of his parental leave that he never used, and has decided to use it now. His project at work is finishing up, so it's the perfect time (also considering that he only has 2 months left to take it).

I've decided to use this time to try and get in a little better shape. I've been hearing about people doing the c25k program (couch to 5k), and I've decided to do it myself. Basically, it's a 9 week running program that is supposed to get anyone from the couch to be able to run a 5k. Sounds tough, I know. It starts out slow though, just walking and jogging and slowly builds up to running. With Brandon home to watch Amy, it's the perfect time.

I'm both a little excited and a little nervous to do it. I want to get back in shape, but I've never been a runner.

Lately I have just constantly felt tired and worn out, after doing something simple like walking 15 minutes to the grocery store. So it's time for a change. I want to feel better, I want more energy. And I wouldn't mind fitting into my old jeans again :)

Melissa is currently on week 6 of the program and says it's going pretty well for her, so if all goes well for me, maybe we'll be running a Thanksgiving race in New York! That would be something I never imagined myself doing, but I know I would be super proud if I could do it.

So, I start Monday! Pray that I don't die in the next 9 weeks!

Videos!

2010-07-31T15:36:00.003-04:00

The entire electronic world has been against me sharing these videos. I won't go into the long, boring details, but I believe I finally got them to work.

This first one is of her crawling.

And then her standing

And this is kind of an old video, but I love the way she laughs in it, so I wanted to share :)

Dr. Day

2010-07-28T12:34:00.002-04:00

We went to the doctor today. Amy is very healthy :)

She is 31 inches tall and weighs in at 22 lbs, which the doctor said is bigger than the average one year old. That didn't surprise me at all though. Amy was born a big girl and never slowed down.

He also said we could start giving her milk, and if it sits well with her, start phasing out formula. So I guess will try removing the bottle and formula from the picture at the same time and see how it goes. As long as she has something to eat, I don't really think she'll miss the bottle that much. She already uses it about half as much as she used to and doesn't even seem to notice.

Also, I know I promised video and have not followed through. I apologize. Our video camera requires three cords to connect to the computer, and only two of them were in the camera bag. So I've gotta hunt down the other one. Hopefully I will find it soon!

Almost 10 months

2010-07-26T09:55:00.002-04:00

I've gotten really bad at posting on here frequently. I do have a small excuse. Amy and I were in New York and Texas for 5 1/2 weeks visiting family. So we were either always on the go, or didn't have internet. But it was a lot of fun, and it was really great seeing all the people we got to see! Somehow, there's never enough time to see everyone though.

Anyway, about who you really come here to read about ;)

Amy has been doing very well, she's learning so much! Since I last posted, she can now sit up on her own (push herself into the sitting position), clap, crawl, pull herself up to stand and sort of walk while holding on to the couch. I took a video of her crawling this morning, but I laid her down for a nap in the bedroom, and then realized that the camera cord is in the bedroom. So I will have to upload and post it later. Haven't gotten a good video of her standing yet, but I'll keep trying. When she sees me pull out the video camera, she tends to just stare at me and smile.

She also sort of plays games now. One of them she did for a while, was that she would start to hand me or Brandon a toy, but then when we went to grab it, pull it away quickly and laugh. She did it over and over again. I think it's because I used to do that to her a lot. She thinks keep away is funny.

And last night during bath time, I put a big ring toy on her head. It fell off after a few seconds of course, but then she just grabbed it, gave it back to me, and then sat really still like she wanted me to do it again. So I put it back on her head, it fell off, she gave it back to me.

She's learning more and getting more fun as she gets older :)

As for foods, she doesn't want to eat baby food anymore. It can be forced on her if necessary, but she cries, so I just don't bother. So I've been giving her things like bananas, peaches, pears, squash and watermelon. She doesn't seem to like bread at this point, and she's still a little unsure about cheese. But she loves french fries!

Still no teeth though. Not even any sign of teeth coming soon. I'm starting to think she'll never get them. But she is fascinated by other people's teeth.

She has a doctor appointment this week. I'm curious how much bigger she has gotten. She wears some 12 month clothes, but 18 month is starting to fit her better, so her accelerated growth doesn't seem to be slowing down just yet.

And here are some of the pictures I took while on vacation. Videos to soon follow.

Messy eater

She knocked the box over, picked up a can and tried drinking it

Lazy child

Go speed racer!

Pictures!

2010-06-01T09:52:00.005-04:00

Trying to teach Amy to crawl :)

Already likes The Little Mermaid

She loves pulling all of my shirts off their hangers

Plastic, yum!

A few seconds earlier, she was up on her knees. I didn't get the camera in time.

Weirdo

8 months and still no chompers

2010-05-29T22:27:00.002-04:00

I know, I should be happy that she hasn't gone through teething yet, but I just want to get it over with, haha. I'm afraid that the older she gets, the worse it will be for her.

Other than that, there's not a whole lot going on with her. She's getting really big, already wearing 12m clothes. She's sitting well, and even pulled herself up on her knees in her crib the other day. She also grabs everything is reach, and pulls. Her favorite thing to grab is my hair of course. And she's like a ninja. Grabs and pulls and I am halfway to the floor before I even realize it. When we go to stores, she reaches for anything she can get her hands on.

She seems to be constantly happy. Sometimes I think that somewhere along the way, Brandon replaced her with a robot. A smiling, laughing, happy robot. And hey, I'm not complaining at all. I'm just amazed by it. She is always so good. I don't know how we got so lucky!

This coming Thursday, we will be heading to NYC for Melissa's graduation from Brooklyn Law School! So that is pretty exciting. And it will be nice to see them again. And then after NYC, me and Amy are heading to Texas to visit more family and friends. Unfortunately, Brandon has to come back home to go to work :(

We're really looking forward to the trip. Hopefully Amy will do as good on this one as she did on the last one.

I have taken some pictures lately, but as usual, I haven't gotten them off my camera (and my camera is currently in the room with a sleeping baby, so I'd rather not disturb anything). I'll try to add some in the next few days)

Dress Up

2010-05-01T16:38:00.002-04:00

I decided Amy looked like she wanted to play a little dress up today. So I put Brandon's tie and my hat on her. And got what I think is my favorite picture of her yet.

Easter and other fun stuff

2010-04-15T15:45:00.006-04:00

Melissa came to visit us for a week during her spring break, and Joseph came for a weekend. It was quite fun and Amy enjoyed having more people to give her attention. Though I am pretty sure after the week was over, she never wanted to be in her stroller again. She saw lots of the city though! And of course, got new stuff ;)

We went to the Jean Talon market and bought lots of fruit for our Easter picnic at Mont Royal. The weather ended up being a bit chilly, but it was still nice. We also did a lot of walking around the city.

Amy is learning to sit up on her own. She does pretty good for a few seconds, and then usually tries to grab the ground and falls over. She also seems to prefer mine and Brandon's toys over her own. She loves the laptop and ipod and remote, anything she can get her hands on that she is not supposed to. Her toys are no fun anymore now that she has found ours.

She's also been eating real food for a few weeks now. Not a fan of peas (though I'm not giving up!). She does pretty good. She got a bit mad at me after I kept feeding her the peas and didn't want to eat for a few days, but she is better now. I think I just have to mix stuff with cereal for a couple meals so that she can get used to the taste. She seems to take to new foods better that way.

Pea face!

More pictures

Picture Post (Warning-Lots of Pictures!)

2010-04-01T18:51:00.009-04:00

Some new pictures, some older ones (from Christmas), but here are lots of pictures for you to see. If you've seen my facebook, then there is nothing new here.

Doctors day 2

2010-04-01T18:09:00.003-04:00

Amy went to get her vaccine today. Only one shot this time! And it wasn't the painful one, so she didn't cry at all. Didn't even seem to notice the needle. I was so proud of her. Though I am dreading her next round (in 6 more months), because that one is 3 shots, all in the shoulder and 2 of them have the painful medicine. That will not be a fun appointment.

The nurse today (with the actual chart) said Amy is both the height and weight of a 10 month old baby. And that she is above the 97th percentile.

Brandon has been sick lately, and now I think he might have gotten me sick. Stuffy nose, coughing, dry throat, the usual... I just hope Amy doesn't get sick.

We've been a bit busy, so I still haven't gotten the chance to get on the other computer to get the pictures, but they'll be up soon.

Hope everyone is having a great day!!

6 Months

2010-03-31T10:47:00.002-04:00

Amy turned 6 months old on Monday, and everything is going very well. She is growing and growing. We went to her doctor today, they said she is the height of a 9 month old and one pound less than the average one year old.

She's been eating cereal, which she does very well with, and we've also given her some bananas the past couple of nights, which she also has been doing pretty good with. She's still very happy and laughing so much. It's amazing to see how much she can learn already!

Brandon went back to work a few weeks ago, which I think is a love/hate thing for him. And Melissa is visiting us right now, so that's been a lot of fun. Amy loves having someone else here for her to play with.

I finally got my laptop fixed, so I can use that more often now. But all of our pictures are on the computer in the bedroom, so I can't post any at the moment (Amy is asleep in there). I will try and get some up fairly soon.

Long time no blog

2010-01-30T10:34:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've updated, so I figure I'm do for one. Gotta let everyone know we're still alive :)
Amy's been keeping me pretty busy, so I'm trying to get in a quick post while she's napping.
Amy has been doing really well. At her 4 month checkup they said she was the size of a 6 1/2 to 7 month old, so she's definitely growing fast. She's very healthy though, which is always good, and she's taken her shots like a champ.
We went to Texas for the month of December, which was fun. It was nice getting to see a lot of our family and friends, though we still didn't get to see everyone. Who would have thought 5 weeks wouldn't be enough?
I have lots of pictures, but I am currently on my iPod, so I'll have to post them another time.

I've started knitting, but with my small portion of free time, I haven't gotten much done. My first project is a very simple scarf. Maybe I'll have it done by next winter :)
It's a good way to just relax though, and feel like I'm doing something, even if it's just something small.

Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well!!
Now that I have this app to post here, I am gonna try to update more often. We'll see.

6 weeks old

2009-11-10T17:42:00.006-05:00

It's been a while, I know. Not a whole lot has happened. Amy is growing like crazy. We went to the doctor today. She weighs 12 pounds 12 ounces and is 24 inches long. The doctor said she is almost the size of a 4 month old... haha. I thought that might be pushing it a little bit, but I know she is definitely a big 'ole baby.

She has been really good though, very happy in general. Of course, she has an adorable smile that she likes to show off. And now she even smiles in response to things, rather than just when she is sleeping.

Me and Brandon are doing really well too. Fairly well rested, I'd say, for new parents. For a while, Amy wasn't sleeping at night. She would sleep all day and then be up all night. So we would have to take shifts. But earlier this week, I started a nightly routine for her, and we adjusted a few things and she has gradually been getting better. Last night, she slept all night, waking up only to eat. I was quite proud of her. And it was the first time both me and Brandon have been able to sleep in our bed, at the same time in over a month.

We're looking forward to Thanksgiving, when Melissa and Joseph will be come to visit, and then on the 2nd, we make our way down to Texas! We have a busy couple of weeks coming up. It's going to be tiring, but still fun. I can't wait to see everyone I haven't seen in so long.

Btw, this is why swings have straps.

Hello Mr. Sleepy

2009-10-16T03:44:00.002-04:00

On our way to sleepytime town, waltzing down lullaby lane...

Amy's not really in a sleeping mood, so I thought I'd take this time to post a few more pictures.

2 Weeks (and one day)

2009-10-14T16:44:00.005-04:00

Amy had her first doctors appointment on Friday. He said everything was normal. She was back to her birth weight, well one ounce more. That didn't surprise me though, she does not have a small appetite. I like the doctor a lot. He is older, but very nice. And his office is in his house, so it's very small and comfy.

Our little one is also training to be a jedi. Or so it seems. She's currently working on the jedi mind trick. While Brandon was drinking a Dr. Pepper, she kept staring at it. When he put it down, she turned and looked towards the table. So he told her she couldn't have any. That's when she waved her hand in front of his face. He laughed and told her she still couldn't have any. So she did it again. Her powers failed. She never got Dr. Pepper. But we think she's still working on them.

As for in general, she is still doing good. Fussing a little more and sleeping a little less, but she is a baby so it's to be expected. She doesn't seem to like sleeping in her crib yet though. Maybe that will just take her a bit more time.

We also finally got around to uploading more pictures, so here are a few

Some pictures

2009-10-04T18:16:00.002-04:00

Up late update

2009-10-03T03:46:00.004-04:00

Everything has been going pretty well so far. Amy is definitely our child. She loves to eat and she loves to sleep. Probably eating more so ;)

She was having a little trouble going to sleep at night (the first time) for a couple days, but she did amazing tonight. So hopefully that will continue to get better.

I started pumping today and gave her a couple bottles (I am soo sore, I needed a little break), and she seems to actually do better with them. When I breastfeed, she always just falls asleep and then if I try to put her down, she just wakes up fussy a few minutes later. But with the bottles today, she seemed to eat just as much as she wanted, but was then stayed awake, calm and satisfied. Except at night, when she fell asleep right away. It was great! She's been waking up every 3 hours at night pretty consistently for the past few nights, so that's been good as well.

We gave her a bath the night we got home because the hospital never did, and she did awesome for that as well. Didn't cry at all. Well, not until we took her out and she was cold, but I can't blame her for that.

So I don't think I could be happier with the way things are going so far. We're still getting enough sleep. Naps during the day. She seems to be eating well. And we even found a doctor today! Which is a big accomplishment here. It's very hard to find a doctor who is taking new patients. The one we finally found though, his nurse said he never turns down patients, which I really like.

Brandon is also doing very well. He has never been around babies, so this is all new for him, but I think he is a natural. He helps out so much, and can now feed her too. And I love watching him with her. I always knew he would be a great dad, and now he is proving me right :)

We took some more pictures (of course) and will be uploading and posting them soon!

She's here! Amy Lorile Morris. Full Story.

2009-10-01T08:04:00.005-04:00

So Monday afternoon around 3, I stood up and my water broke. Not what I was expecting to happen. Especially since it was actually my due date :)

We got to the hospital around 5 and got all checked in. Everything went really well. They gave me some medicine to lengthen the contractions (I was apparently not in enough pain as is.) I tried to be brave and hold out on the epidural so I didn't look like a wimp. I didn't ask for it until I didn't think I could handle it anymore. But then by the time I got it... wow. I will never understand how women can do that without any drugs. I couldn't even sit on the toilet to pee. So I finally got the epidural. And once the nurse on the next shift showed me that I could have more anytime I wanted just with the press of a button, I couldn't have been happier. I laughed at those monitors telling me when it was supposed to hurt ;)

So from there on out, it was just a waiting game. At about 5:30 the next morning, the nurse decided it was time for me to push. So I started. Slowly. Her and her big head came out at 6:22. After she pooped all over me, the nurse weighed her at 9 pounds, 10 ounces. But said she would have been about 2-3 ounces more with all that meconium. She'd been storing up! Once she got to the nursery, they measured her at 20 1/2 inches.

While at the hospital, we were all doing well. Me and Brandon mostly just wanted sleep, and she was very gracious about that :)

She passed all her tests with flying colors. And she even slept through the entire first night, even though I found out the next morning that I was supposed to wake her up a few times to eat. Oops. I think she knew how tired Mommy and Daddy were. She probably was as well, it was a pretty busy day for her.We left the hospital yesterday afternoon and are now at home. We're still learning the ins and outs of eating and sleeping and all that, but we'll get the hang of it soon. She's been very good so far though. Keep it up Amy!

Here are the pictures we've taken so far. I'm sure there will be many more to come!

I personally don't think she looks like either one of us. Where did that dark skin and hair come from?? Haha. I'm sure her appearance will change, it's just funny seeing her now. I, of course, think she's beautiful, just not what I was expecting her to look like :)

http://brandonmorris.info/baby.html

Coming soon

2009-09-21T12:14:00.002-04:00

If you would like to receive an e-birth announcement when the time comes, please send me your e-mail address to KristenNicole85@gmail.com

I am putting together a list in the next couple of days so we will have it ready.

Also, if there is someone you think would want one who does not read this, please feel free to send me their e-mail address as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

38 Weeks

2009-09-14T13:46:00.002-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

38 weeks and nothing new to report. Still playing the waiting game for a few more weeks. Here's some pictures of what she looks like at this point.

37 Weeks

2009-09-07T21:10:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Late post tonight because my computer does not work so well anymore. So I have to make this a short one before it shuts down again.

37 weeks. Full term. I wish that meant she would be coming soon. But I'm pretty sure I'm in this for a few more weeks. I feel more pregnant every day, from the stomach pressure to the aches and pains. I walk slower. I get out of bed slower (all 5 times a night). And I just generally feel uncomfortable.

The light at the end of the tunnel? It's gotta end sometime. And at least I'll have something to show for it :)

We're almost completely prepared (stuff-wise). I have to go back to the store to get a couple of small things tomorrow, and then we'll have everything we think we'll need. I have all her clothes put away, furniture set up, and even have the toys in a basket. Our apartment looks more cramped than ever, (we currently have the stroller in the bathroom because that's the only place we have room for it), but it works. Everything has it's own spot. And even though it probably won't stay like this for long, it makes me feel organized for now.

36 Weeks

2009-08-31T22:59:00.002-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Feeling better than this morning. Tired + cranky = not good for blog posting. I'm hoping tonight will be a better night :)

As for everything else, I probably feel as any pregnant woman would at this stage, like it's never gonna end. I know I only have (approximately) 4 weeks left, but it feels like it's gonna be the longest 4 weeks of my life. It's true what people say, as the due date draws nearer, time slows down quite a bit. I'm almost convinced someone added a few extra days to the week at this point. And maybe even a few hours to each day. Those sneaky time alterers...

I have a doctors appointment Wednesday with a not-my-normal doctor, and then I'll start seeing the regular one every week from here on out. Maybe one of these appointments will be interesting. Or maybe not. We'll see.

Brandon and I are going shopping this weekend, so I'm looking forward to that. My lack of metro pass for the month of August leads to me not getting out as much, so even a trip to Walmart is exciting. We just have little things left to get and then we'll be all ready! Well, as ready as we're gonna be.

And then, it's just the waiting game...

Rockabye Kristen...

2009-08-31T08:28:00.003-04:00

I feel like I had the worst night's sleep last night. I couldn't shut my brain down. Everytime I closed my eyes, it started going. I think it was a mixture of daydreams and regular dreams. But it was hard to tell the difference. All I know is I woke up constantly feeling as if I hadn't slept at all. Not to mention having to pee every hour. Ugh. If this is my body's way of preparing, eff you body. Shouldn't you be letting me take it all in now, while I still can? That's what a nice body would do...

I've also been having stomach pains and problems lately. Just another side effect of pregnancy apparently. I know I only have a month to go, but I think this is gonna be the longest month of my life.

Regular weekly update to come later. Hopefully I'll be feeling better by then, and be in a better mood.

Baby shower gifts

2009-08-28T12:23:00.007-04:00

So here are a few of the bigger gifts from the shower, the ones we have set up so far (or that didn't need setting up). There are more that I will add later, once I get them in order. But I thought some of you might like to see these, rather than waiting for the rest. More to come later.

Crib all set up with the mattress, bedding and mobile (I didn't take a picture of the mattress itself, but you can see it in there)

Crib bedding

Mobile

Jim. He is our pelican laundry hamper. Super adorable.

Glider rocking chair. So great and comfortable!

Homemade, personalized and super-soft blanket

Closeup of the picture on the blanket

Stroller and carseat. It even tells the time and temperature!

Really soft swing

Bouncer (even comes with a teething ring)

Bathtub

Bumbo seat

Nursing pillow

Where did they go?

2009-08-27T09:48:00.002-04:00

I've lost my ankles. I went to look for them a few days ago, and they were gone. Nowhere to be found. I miss them. Hopefully they will come back to me one day.

35 Weeks

2009-08-24T16:47:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Baby shower was a success! At least, it seems so from this end, haha. We had fun, and I believe everyone else did as well. We got so many awesome gifts and I can't wait to use them all! :)

Yesterday I set up the glider rocking chair and stroller/car seat. Tonight, Brandon is gonna help me with the crib. There's no way I can do it by myself. Then we have to get a changing table/dresser, and then just organize everything (I have no idea where it's all gonna go, haha).

Once we do get it all set up and stuff, I'll take pictures of everything to post on here. Right now, most of the stuff is just in a huge box.

I forgot to take a picture last night, so here is one from the shower. It's a little different than the normal ones, but you get the idea, there's a basketball under my shirt. More to come later.

34 Weeks

2009-08-17T10:59:00.004-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

I have been so scatterbrained lately. My mind just refuses to focus on one thing at a time. I can hardly even read books anymore. I can't concentrate on what I am doing, so I have to read sentences or paragraphs several times. In the end, it's just easier not to read. I have to find more simple entertainment, haha. Been watching lots of movies and tv shows lately.

Brandon got home Saturday night. It's definitely nice to have him back. And he even brought me all kinds of goodies. Very fattening goodies. My doctor won't like these, but I sure do :)

One of these being a butterfinger, which I ate last night. I forgot how good they were! I can't seem to find any place that sells them here, sadly. But it's probably for the best, haha.

Melissa is coming up in two days. And then Joseph and Jessica will be here Friday. And then the baby shower is Saturday. Should be a fun week! I'm pretty excited :)

Confidence, Overconfidence or Arrogance?

2009-08-13T15:06:00.003-04:00

A lot of people have been asking me if I'm nervous about having a baby. And honestly, I'm really not. If I had to say something, I would say I'm more anxious. I am ready to get the pregnancy and birth over with. With so many people asking me, I feel like I should be nervous, but I'm just not. I know it won't be easy; it's gonna be hard and stressful and exhausting, but it's just something I know is gonna happen. I've worked in several daycares, babysat plenty of times, and helped take care of my niece from the time she was born. So I've been around children and babies of all ages. I know it's not the same as having one yourself and taking care of it 24/7, but I know that I have enough experience that I'll generally know what to do, even if it's not easy. And I also have an amazing husband who will be here with me every step of the way. He may not realize it yet, but I know he is gonna be a wonderful father.

Maybe there is something I'm missing. Maybe my brain is blocking something out. But I feel like I have no reason to be scared. I know we can do it. And I think we're gonna do great :)

Brandon is still in New York. I must say, I'm a little jealous, but it's probably best I didn't go this time. I wouldn't have the energy to do everything they have been doing and I don't wanna be the party pooper. It was bad enough having morning (and day and night) sickness last time I was there. I'll be seeing Melissa and Joseph soon anyway :)

Two more days until Brandon comes home though. I've definitely missed him and it will be nice to have him here again. No longer will I have to hug a pillow at night ;)

Today, I woke up really wanting some bean, cheese and bacon tacos. We didn't have any tortillas, and even if we did, the store bought kind just weren't the ones I wanted. So I decided to try my luck at homemade tortillas. First try, not so good. No flavor at all. Tried again, not changing anything except adding a little more salt to boost the flavor. Still not so good. Then I found a whole new recipe. It was easier and tasted just like the kind restaurants make back home in Texas. Success! They were definitely what I was wanting.

Though due to my uncontrollable snacking while I was cooking, I'm not hungry anymore. Tacos will have to wait. But I'm super proud of myself for finally knowing how to make good tortillas!

33 Weeks

2009-08-10T13:42:00.008-04:00

How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

I feel like a parrot sometimes, always repeating the same things. But when nothing changes, I guess there's not much else to say. Everything is still going well. I feel good, other than getting tired so quickly.

Our little gremlin is moving more and more in there. Sometimes I think she has dance parties. And what better time to have one than at night? This makes getting comfortable and falling asleep a little more difficult. But pretty soon she'll be able to wiggle and dance all she wants. In her crib :)

Since both my husband and my camera are in New York this week, there will not be a picture. Don't worry, you're not missing anything ;)

Regular picture posting is expected to resume this time next week. Have a nice day!

Busy morning

2009-08-07T10:32:00.002-04:00

Brandon left this morning to go to New York to visit his sister, Melissa, and their dad (he's visiting at the same time). I packed most of Brandon's suitcase for him last night, so I thought it would be an easy going morning. Wake up, finish packing, head to the station. All that went pretty well and we were on our way. Two metro stops away from Amtrak, we realized that we forgot his passport at home. Yea, I don't know what we were thinking. So I got off the metro to head back home while he went and waited for me at Amtrak.

As much as I love Montreal's public transportation, it's times like this that I hate depending on it. If I had cash, I would have taken a cab, but I knew of no atm nearby, so metro and bus it is! I ran every time I could, caught buses and metros as soon as possible and barely made it back to Amtrak in time for him to board the train. It was close! I was actually afraid he was gonna miss it.

So I said goodbye and made my way home. And now I am completely exhausted. My legs feel like jello, and it's really hot in the living room, but I don't even want to get up to move the fan in here. Not to mention we have a ton of boxes (yay presents!) surrounding this desk, so it doesn't reach well anyway.

I am amazed at all the stuff we've gotten so far for the shower. Toys R Us prints some of the item names/pictures on the outside of their boxes, so I know what a couple of things are. But even the ones I don't know came in big boxes! I didn't expect this and I'm so thankful that we have families that are willing to help us out so much. I was worried before about not being able to afford everything we were gonna need, but I don't think we are gonna have any problems at all thanks to everyone. It really is amazing. (But very hard not to open them for two more weeks!)

So now Brandon is gone until next Saturday. The apartment will definitely be lonely, but I'm sure I can find things to keep me busy. I have a few projects I want to get done anyway. Maybe this will be the motivation I need to do them.

32 Weeks

2009-08-03T21:14:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Why does time seem to pass slower as the due date gets closer? I was really hoping it would go by faster. On one hand, I'm like "Yea! Only 8 more weeks" (give or take a couple of course), and then on the other, I think "Ugh, 8 entire more weeks..."

I'm starting to run out of things to say in here, haha. Everything is still good. Just starting to get more impatient. I'm also starting to get really excited for the baby shower and to see everyone (even if half of them are on webcam). I think it will be fun.

31 Weeks

2009-07-27T21:47:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

All better after last week's sickness. For the most part at least. I've been getting nauseaous in the morning, but it goes away pretty quickly.

I can see my stomach move now. It's like something out of a sci-fi movie. So weird. I keep expecting a little gremlin to break through the skin and run away laughing.

Other than that, nothing new really. I start going to the doctor every two weeks instead of once a month. I'm hoping that somehow makes time go by quicker. I am counting down the days!

And finally, this week's picture. And can I just say that each week, taking these pictures gets more and more depressing. I almost want to make Brandon start doing these posts so I don't have to look at them, haha. He is the one who made the blog after all.

30 Weeks

2009-07-20T14:29:00.004-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

This is gonna be a short post. I haven't been feeling well the past couple days. I think it's just a stomach bug, but it's still no fun. Haven't been able to eat a whole lot, but drinking lots of water and diluted orange juice (yum! okay, not so yum). I guess it's a good way to shed a few pounds before my doctors appointment Thursday though :P

Anyway, I haven't been up to taking a picture, so just pretend this is me.

29 Weeks pt 2

2009-07-14T12:31:00.005-04:00

Thank you to everyone who replied to my last post, it's good to know that the pictures are working for at least most people. Maybe they just weren't loading properly on those two people's computers. Hopefully this one works.

Also, thank you for the the nice compliments :)

It's good to know that people read this, even when it's in secret :P

By the way, wanna hear a funny story? When we first got this apartment last month and had to buy new furniture, we got a futon from Ikea. It was pretty much the cheapest one they had (the only one they had in stock). Well they delivered it and I put it together while Brandon was at work. I was kind of proud of myself. Then every time we sat on it, the boards on the bottom that hold the mattress kept falling out of the frame. It felt like the cheapest, flimsiest couch we'd ever sat on. I didn't like Ikea at that point. So I did stuff like got ribbon and rope to reinforce the boards, and when some of those started breaking, I used duct tape. As you can imagine, the frame of our futon looks a little strange. So the other day we went back to Ikea to look at computer desks and we took a look at our futon on display in the show room. Turns out I put it together wrong and the boards are supposed to go on top of the frame, not on the bottom. We came home and fixed it and now our futon is so much better. It's sturdy, higher up and just all around more comfortable. I really couldn't stop laughing when we saw the one at the store. Moral of the story, don't let me put together furniture alone :)

PS. I did read the instructions. But there were only pictures, no words. And in the picture, you couldn't tell which way it was supposed to go. Or at least, I couldn't. I thought I was doing it right.

29 Weeks

2009-07-13T19:52:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Baby big head seems to be growing pretty quick. I'm definitely getting fatter by the day. And since she squirms more than she kicks now, I'm pretty sure she is starting to run out of room in there.

Every time I feel her move when Brandon is home, I try to get him to feel it, but when he puts his hand on my stomach, she stops. It's kinda funny. If Daddy is gonna have this kind of calming effect on her, I know who's gonna be waking up at night! :)

I can't believe how swollen my hands and feet get. I didn't think that was supposed to come until later. I had to buy new shoes last week because my tennis shoes are just too tight now. I always thought the croc-style shoes were really ugly, but they were the only thing I could find that was wide enough (that wasn't flip-flops), so I had to get them. And even those are sometimes tight on me.

I don't have a picture today because I forgot to get Brandon to take one last night, but I will try to get it up soon.

Speaking of pictures though, two people so far have told me I haven't been posting pictures (though I have), so I am wondering if they are just not showing up. Do they not show up for anyone else?

28 Weeks

2009-07-06T20:17:00.004-04:00

How your baby's growing:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

I'm now officially in the third trimester. Two thirds over and 3 months left to go! Though I guess now I am getting to the hard part again. First part sucked. Second part was easy. Now it's gonna be a whole new adventure.

My hands and feet are starting to get swollen every night. I can hardly wear my rings sometimes. And if I do put them on, I have to take them off with dish soap.

And now I gotta start counting movements. Doctor says I have to feel her move at least 10 times a day. I don't thing that will be a problem with as much as she wiggles around. I was reading last night with the book resting on my stomach and she kicked and the entire book moved. She's

getting strong in there.

Lately I've also started to wonder what she's gonna look like. So far I'm thinking blonde, wavy hair and green eyes. What do you all think? Any guesses?

27.5

2009-07-02T23:11:00.002-04:00

Better late than never?

27 Weeks

2009-06-29T21:16:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Ever since last Wednesday, she has been moving like crazy. Pretty late at night too. I think she is gonna be a night owl like her daddy. She's definitely not active in the morning. But does she even know when morning and night are? I don't know, either way, she likes to be up late.

The other day it was the strangest thing. I felt her moving, so I had my hand on my stomach, cause I like feeling it from the outside too. Then it was like she pushed her foot outward and just moved it along the inside of my stomach. It's a little hard to describe, but it was probably the most distinct movement I've felt from her. It was like giant worms were crawling under my skin or something.

In one way, it was awesome. But in another way, it was sort of creepy.

Brandon and I bought a dehumidifier today and it makes our apartment feel so much better. Don't get wrong, we love this place, but every time we get dressed, our clothes feel wet. Or when we get in bed, the sheets feel wet. There's been mold on the trash can lid and occasionally it's been hard to breathe. There is just so much humidity in here. So we sprung for a dehumidifer. I've had it on for less than 9 hours and already had to empty the 25 pint bucket. It was completely full of water. When I turned it on, it said our apartment had 80% humidity. I'm pretty sure that's a lot, especially for being inside.

But now it's down to 50% and feels so much better.

I don't have a picture of me tonight. I forgot to take one last night, and Brandon is still at work as of now, so I will try to get him to take one either when he gets home or in the morning and edit this later. So as a substitute, you get to see approximately what Amy looks like now (even in 3D!)

She's back

2009-06-24T20:21:00.000-04:00

And moving a lot today. It's nice to feel that again.

A-

2009-06-23T16:35:00.003-04:00

Doctor's appointment went pretty well. I passed my glucose test. Woo, gimme sugar! ;)

Heartbeat was good, so doctor said everything is fine. And my weight is improving, but I still gotta work on it a little.

So all is well.

And, our vacation plans are looking bright! We looked more into how much time Brandon gets to take off. We previously thought it was 5 weeks, because that's what Quebec gives for paternity benefits, but since I won't be taking any time off work, he gets to use the 'parental' benefits as well. So basically, Quebec is gonna pay him most of his current salary to take off 28 weeks.

I guess if we're gonna have a baby, Quebec is the place to do it. :)

26 Weeks + Apartment Pictures

2009-06-22T19:50:00.005-04:00

How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

I wanted to say thank you to those of you who reassured me after my last post, and apologize to those of you I made worry. I think everything is fine. She has started moving a little more again. Still as much as she used to, but a little more. And I've been feeling good as well, so I am sure everything is fine :)

I'll still talk to the doctor when I see her tomorrow. I'm also gonna talk to her about how soon the baby can travel after she is born. Airlines say 7 days, but I want to make sure with the dr anyway. We are in the early stages of planning a trip to San Antonio in October, 1-3 weeks after she is born. We want to go back to visit family, but I want to make sure Brandon can go, so we are hoping to make it while he will be off for paternity leave.

And, I get my results back from the glucose test tomorrow, so I hope I pass!

Here is another picture I got in my e-mail.

And my 26 week picture

And now, the virtual tour of our new apartment. We still have a few things to fix up, a couple more changes will be made, but it's already better than when we moved in :)

We didn't paint the walls, but it's growing on me

The living room

Bedroom

Hallway

Kitchen

Bathroom

The end. It's not very big, but it's good for us.

Worrying, what I happens when I have nothing better to do

2009-06-18T18:19:00.004-04:00

Earlier this week I was cleaning the kitchen floor. When I tried to step over the wet part of the floor, I didn't step far enough and I slipped and fell. First I landed on my butt, but then the slippery bleach made me fall to my back. I hurt myself a little, but I thought that since I landed on my back and not my stomach, the baby would be fine. But now, she hardly moves and I can't help but worry I did something to her.

Last week she was moving quite a bit, then she started to slow down, only moving a few times a day, and gradually every day getting slower. And that started before I fell. So the lack of movement isn't necessarily related, but I still can't help but be afraid. She hasn't moved at all today. I don't feel like anything is deathly wrong. I am sure she's alive in there, I think I'm more afraid I caused her brain damage or something like that.

I know I am probably worried over nothing. I go to the doctor Tuesday, so I will talk to her about it then.

On a happier note, Brandon and I are dog-sitting for the next week, starting last night, so that's been fun. Her name is Scout and she is a beagle. Very cute, but I think she uses the restroom almost as much as I do. And has an endless supply of energy.

Also, the apartment is almost together, so I think I might start taking a few pictures so everyone can see it :)

Those to come soon.

25 Weeks

2009-06-15T22:20:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Amy's been moving a lot lately. Some days more than others. Brandon felt her move a few days ago and just thought it was strange :)

I've also been doing a lot better on my weight, so hopefully my doctor won't get mad at me this time. We got Wii Fit, so I've been exercising a bit. It calculates BMI, but of course doesn't account for the baby in my belly, so it just says I'm quite a bit overweight :P

I have to go get my glucose screen this week though, so wish me luck on that!

Everything has been great lately though. Me and Brandon went and got ice cream at Ben & Jerry's yesterday, and that was delicious. We're very happy with this apartment and the surrounding area. I've been sleeping a lot better. Everything has just been really good.

We're gonna be dog sitting this week, and we can't wait! We haven't had a dog since Lexi before we moved, and we've missed her like crazy, so it will be nice to have another dog in the apartment.

24 Weeks

2009-06-08T21:04:00.002-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help herair sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Sorry for the lack of a post last week, we've been pretty busy moving and getting the new apartment set up. It's really nice though, we like it a lot. An all around better place to live. We finally got all our furniture put together and set up, only 2-3 more small boxes to unpack (once I figure out somewhere to put it all), and a few things to fix up (changing light bulbs, doorknobs, etc.) Once we get it all done, I'll post some pictures.

As for baby, I think I can finally feel her move. I say I think because it's a strange feeling, doesn't quite feel like I thought it would, but I don't know what else it could be. She tends to be most active after I eat. I think she's gonna like food as much as her mom, poor girl :)

Speaking of food, I've been doing much better since we moved. Basically just started eating less fattening food (no junk food), and I've been walking a lot going to stores and stuff. I've lost about 3 pounds in the last week, so it's nice. I generally feel a lot better lately. And now my doctor might not get mad at me at my next appointment, haha.

Other than growing out of all of my clothes, things have been going really well lately. Here is my latest picture, in our new bedroom next to our awesome bed! I love our bed. I don't think I've ever had as comfortable a mattress as this one. And we splurged on nice sheets and a down comforter, I love it!!

Guess I look pregnant now

2009-05-29T12:47:00.003-04:00

Someone offered me her seat on the metro this morning. It was a nice gesture, and not something I expected for at least a couple more months, haha.

Also, I might have felt movement today. Not really sure though. I mean, something in my stomach area definitely twitched a couple times, but I don't know if it was too high for it to have been her. Someday I'll know for sure what it feels like :)

And here is me and Brandon at Gameloft's Casino Night last night. It was a lot of fun, and I am a better gambler than I thought I would be :P

Week 22 Pt 2

2009-05-26T22:19:00.003-04:00

So, I was browsing some sites and I came across this one. It's basically the same as the one I usually post from, but with a little more information. And a little more entertaining.

Your Baby
Your Mini's hands have grown bigger and stronger and the nerve endings in her fingers have developed her sense of touch. She's in there testing out her newfound abilities by touching her face and grabbing the umbilical cord. Other cool developments:

You're already raising a little Einstein. Your baby's brain is developing at a clip this week and will continue to do so until she's five years old (so load up on the Omega 3)!

Baby's hair is now a short, bright white crop (Billy Idol, eat your heart out!). No matter what color it will end up—red, blonde, black—all babies' hair lacks pigment at this point.

Your baby has started growing taste buds and may be able to detect strong flavors in the amniotic fluid. If you could see inside, you might catch her sticking out her tongue for a taste and then grimacing, a sign that perhaps you should chill on the chili powder.

Your baby now weighs almost a pound and measures almost 11 inches from her head to her heel, which is how the Stretch Armstrong in your uterus will be measured from here on out. Up 'til now your baby's legs were curled tight up against her torso, so she was measured from her head to her bottom (or crown to rump) and not head to toe. This week your mini is about as long as a package of Oreos and as heavy as a large bag of tortilla chips. Who's hungry?

22 Weeks

2009-05-26T10:12:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

It's like this website I get the e-mails and pictures from knows me so well. The 'baby brain' is real. Haha. It sounds like a myth, or a copout, but this baby is really stealing all my brain cells. I forget so much, it's unbelievable. And I am definitely more clumsy than before. I drop stuff or trip all the time. I don't know what's wrong with me other than I am losing brain cells by the millions...

And just one example of this is that I had Brandon take some pictures of me so I could post one here for all to see, only to realize just now that there was not a memory card in the camera. So of course, none of the pictures were saved.

Doctors appointment last week went pretty well, excpet for her telling me I've gained too much weight :X

I really gotta learn to eat healthy. And not buy junk food. It's so hard though. Especially since I have never eaten healthy my entire life, at least not that I can remember. We still have junk food here, so after we move, I'm just gonna try hard not to buy any bad stuff. Cross your fingers for me!

21 Weeks

2009-05-18T22:03:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long —the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Sorry for the late post today. It's is a holiday in Canada, Victoria Day, and Brandon was off work, so we went shopping at Ikea. Well, window shopping. We didn't buy anything, just looked around and picked stuff out that we are gonna get when we move. Brandon has been really busy at work lately, and since moving day is on a Monday (two weeks from today!), I might have to go alone to buy stuff. So I wanted to make sure to pick out stuff he liked as well. We found some nice things for good prices, so it was worth the long trip. I am gonna go to a couple other places this week to look at more though.

As for baby, she is still doing good, as far as I can tell. Still not feeling her move, but I'm not gonna worry about that for another couple of weeks.

Other than the almost constant feeling of pressure in my stomach, I've been feeling good. So that's definitely been nice :)

Allergies seem to be worsening a little, but that won't last much longer.

Picture to come soon.

It's a girl

2009-05-13T13:17:00.004-04:00

Meet Amy Lorile Morris

That last one is her face. It looks kinda creepy, but it's not as creepy as the other pictures that were on the screen. It looked like the terminator.

It was awesome seeing her on the screen. I haven't felt her move yet, so I admit I was a little worried that something was wrong in there, but we saw the heart beating and we saw her moving, so it reassured me. I just wish I could feel the movements in my stomach already.

20 Weeks

2009-05-11T16:49:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Halfway there! I hope the second half goes by faster than the first half.

2 more days until the ultrasound. I am pretty excited. I took an old wives tale quiz and got 8 out of 10 that it would be a girl. What do you guys think??

On an unrelated note, French class is going pretty well. I can now tell everyone that I meet that I am an American, you know, just in case they ask. I can also tell them what day of the week it is (though I am not sure I would understand if they asked).

We also get to move into our new apartment in 3 weeks, which I am super excited for.

And as much as I hate taking pictures (or even going out in public lately), here is the latest. Please ignore the leftover dinner containers on the table.

19 weeks picture

2009-05-05T20:59:00.003-04:00

The one that was supposed to be included yesterday, sorry for the delay

19 Weeks

2009-05-04T19:21:00.003-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Brandon is working late tonight, and I don't seem to be very good at setting up a makeshift stand/tripod for the camera, so picture will just have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry guys.

Tomorrow we start our French class. I hope it goes well. Baby's gonna come out not knowing what language to speak :P

Again, nothing really new to report. Baby is still growing. I am doing pretty good too. Can't really complain.

I went shopping yesterday and finally got some jeans that fit (tighter waist band), and it's nice to breathe in jeans again :)

And, in a little over a week, I'll be able to call Baby something other than Baby! ;)

Morning sickness might not be so bad after all

2009-04-28T16:04:00.001-04:00

This makes me feel better about the miserable first couple of months :)

Week 18

2009-04-27T19:48:00.005-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

So, the new pants are still comfortable, but I feel like I need suspenders to hold them up. They are still a little big. Luckily, my belt seems to still fit (on the last hole), so it's working for now. I think this picture sums it up pretty well, haha.

Nothing really new on the baby front. It was a gorgeous day outside, 84 degrees I believe it was, so I went to the park to read. And then to the grocery store. It was definitely nice getting out in the warm weather, but my feet were so tired by the time I got home. I'm pretty sure my converse aren't gonna work for me much longer.

Also having nothing to do with the baby, Brandon and I are starting French classes next week. Wish us luck! We really need to learn French, so I hope these go well.

And last but not least. A new picture. It's not quite as clear as the other ones, but I like the 'effect' it has on it. I think it looks pretty neat :)

New clothes

2009-04-25T17:12:00.003-04:00

It's amazing how much more comfortable maternity pants are. For a while, I didn't really want to buy any, cause I wanted to stay in my regular clothes (ha!), but these new ones are great. They don't squeeze any more and I have room to breathe now! I love it :)

And the weather outside is so nice right now. It's about 80 and sunny with a nice breeze. I love it. I just want to stand outside all day. Brandon said it's too hot though :/

The weather is one reason I loved Texas. I'm not a big fan of the cold. And I am so glad I am mostly gonna be pregnant in the summer. The clothes will be much more comfortable. And I won't dread going for a walk or things like that.

Warning: This is a post about boobs (at least, the first half of it)

2009-04-24T15:02:00.005-04:00

They won't stop getting bigger! I bought two new bras a few weeks ago, cause my old ones didn't fit anymore. And now the new ones don't fit anymore, either! I am afraid to buy any others. I knew they were gonna grow and whatnot, but this is getting ridiculous. I got a sports bra, so that one fits for now, it's just not as comfortable as regular ones.

I went to the doctor today. When she was feeling around my stomach, she said the baby is pretty big and I might be farther along than we previously thought. Guess we'll find out at the ultrasound.

I also heard the heartbeat again. It was much louder this time, a lot more prominent. Last time it was quiet and hard to hear, and the baby kept moving around so it wasn't continuous.

So, baby is still there, seemingly doing well so far.

Oh, and my new favorite food is Chef Boyardee ABC's and meatballs. It's just so delicious. I love it. I wish they sold it in big cans.

17 Weeks

2009-04-20T20:26:00.004-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

I need to buy new jeans already. My clothes are starting to feel a little too tight. I really don't want to buy more, but I gotta do something, right? I also need to find somewhere that sells maternity clothes. I'd order online, but I have no idea what size I wear.

Baby is cooperating with me lately. And it's nice. Headaches are pretty much gone. Haven't thrown up in at least a week, probably more like two. Little pains come and go, but it's nothing yet.

So I guess I finally know what everyone was saying with the second trimester being the most comfortable and enjoyable. I'm not sure I'd go as far as enjoyable, but I've definitely been more comfortable.

I go to the doctor on Friday. I'm afraid to step on the scale. Last time, she told me I gained too much weight. And I haven't exactly been watching what I've eaten lately...

A little over 3 weeks until my ultrasound!

And here is a picture I took last week. I still don't look pregnant, I just look like I'm getting fat. But no matter how much I try to suck in my stomach, it doesn't go anywhere!

By the way

2009-04-15T12:48:00.004-04:00

I totally want this :)

And one of these:

It unwraps to make a pillow, and then it unfolds to make a blanket. How awesome is that? Plus, it's way adorable.

16 weeks

2009-04-15T08:23:00.002-04:00

Sorry this a couple days late, but better late than never, right?

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocad o: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erec t than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

4 months down, only 5 to go. Though I guess the first month doesn't really count considering I had no idea I was pregnant, haha.

Feeling pretty good lately. Headaches have lessened, a lot, which is great. Nausea still comes and goes occasionally, but it's not too bad. And now I start to feel more cramp-type pains in my stomach, which I assume is just everything growing and shifting down there. The tiny bump is getting a little bigger and more defined, so it's cool to be able to feel now exactly where the baby is. I'm also starting to get more of my energy back. I still feel lazy often, but I'm not as tired as I was before. Laying down and staring at wall is usually boring now, rather than awesome :)

It's about time, huh?

2009-04-11T08:11:00.003-04:00

Ok, so for all the clammering masses, here goes. The first picture.

Tiny Bump

2009-04-08T08:16:00.000-04:00

I know, I know. I need to start taking pictures. I'll try to do it today. No promises though ;)

If you were to look at me, you could tell I've gained a little weight, but it really looks like I've just been eating too much. The other night, I was messing with my stomach though, and feeling around the lower area, where the baby would be, and I can actually feel a tiny bump there! It made me feel a little more pregnant and a little less like I've had too many corn dogs (which I'm trying to cut back on, but they're just so good).

We got an awesome package in the mail yesterday from Brandon's parents with a ton of good food in it and a few goodies, including some adorable Peeps salt & pepper shakers.

So we had chili dogs for dinner last night and now I think I'm gonna make some blueberry cheesecake muffins for breakfast.

Also, notice the new layout? It was made by the amazing Amy. She is also working on another one for me, so it might change again, but we'll see which one looks better. For now, I like this one a lot. We were told the blog layout was a bit boring, so with Amy's talents, we gave it a facelift. Hope it's better now ;)

PS. It's snowing outside. I thought this was April? Ugh. I was so happy warm weather was coming...

15 Weeks

2009-04-06T18:56:00.000-04:00

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shu t, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

As for me, the headaches are becoming a lot more frequent. I have a friend who is 2 1/2 weeks farther along than I am, and she says hers have calmed down, so hopefully mine won't last two much longer either.

Yesterday was Brandon's and my one year anniversary. He made me dinner and it was delicious. Other than that, we didn't really do much, had a nice relaxing day at home.

We did find a new apartment recently, I don't think I've mentioned that yet. It's nicer than the one we live in now, and much cheaper! We don't movie until June 1st, but I am excited for it already. I can't wait! I'll take pictures once we get there.

Starting now, weekly updates

2009-03-30T17:21:00.000-04:00

Every week, I get e-mails telling me what's going on with the baby, how he/she is growing, etc. Brandon had a pretty good idea of posting those updates in here for all of you to read. So, every Monday when I get the e-mail, I'll be posting it here for your reading pleasure. These updates are from babycenter.

Week 14:

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Last week, I had a doctors appt and was able to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time. Since I don't really feel pregnant at the moment, it was kind of exciting to hear that. To know that something is alive down there. Typing it out now sounds almost creepy though :P

The doctor said the baby kept running (swimming?) away from her, and at one point even kicked the machine. So we've got a feisty one.

As for me, I'm slowly feeling better. Less nausea, which is nice, but frequent headaches. And tylenol just doesn't work like you would hope. Still don't sleep too well, but I am starting to get used to it, so it bothers me less.

On a side note, I didn't realize how much pregnancy effects certain things in your body. Like teeth. I had my teeth cleaned over the weekend and it was so painful! It felt like she was stabbing me repeatedly. She said it's because my gums are super sensitive due to the pregnancy. I guess I just never thought about the little things it effected like that.

Hungry again. Off to make food! I think this time I want some cinnamon toast. Mmmm.

In two months...

2009-03-09T10:59:00.000-04:00

My first ultrasound will be Wednesday, May 13th. So if all goes well, that's when we should find out the sex of the baby.

September 29th

2009-02-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

That is the estimation of when our little dinosaur will be here. I went to the doctor today. 9 weeks. She said there is definitely something growing in there, and that's about all the said. Oh, and the tylenol cold I took was a no no. Then I had to go to the hospital and get poked by a needle. I won't have an ultrasound until late April though. So I guess everything seems fine for now, for the baby that is. For me, that's another story. May I just say that being pregnant is no fun at all. 'Morning' sickness is terrible. I do like being spoiled by my amazing husband though. Tonight we are ordering pizza and watching movies. Can't get much better.

A few people have asked me about cravings, but no, nothing weird. Yet. I mean, I occasionally want certain things, but I don't think it has anything to do with the pregnancy. You know, if I see someone on tv eating chocolate pudding, I suddenly really want some chocolate pudding. Or if I smell onion rings, I want some onion rings. On the way home from New York yesterday, the train smelled like chicken fajita tacos. For hours. It was almost torturous.

I got home last night from a two and a half week vacation. Went back home to Texas to visit my family and tell them all the good news. Dad wasn't surprised, Mom screamed, many others were surprised, and lots said congratulations. You know, the usual. I got really sick while I was there, so I didn't get to do near as much as I wanted, or see all the people I wanted to, but hopefully it won't be too long before I get to go back. Also spent close to a week in Brooklyn with Melissa. That was fun too. I was a less sick there than I was in Pleasanton, but still not too good. We went to the Bronx zoo, which was nice, but I am sure it would be much nicer in the summertime.

It was good to see everyone I saw while I was there, but I was very happy to come back home to Brandon. Who has also been sick since not long after I left. For a while, I thought sympathy sickness was a myth, but now I am starting to wonder...

It's a....

2009-02-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

Dinosaur! That's right, we are having a dinosaur, at least that's what it looks like right about now. I am told it will start to look more human eventually though.....what a shame.

Sadly there isn't much to update anyone on at the moment. We just found out last Tuesday. Using websites we are guessing that Kristen is about 6-7 weeks pregnant. We won't be able to find out for sure until Kristen gets back from her San Antonio and New York trip. Her doctor appointment is on the 24th, so we can fill you all in on all the juicy details then, when we find out.

So until then, we hope you enjoy this picture of what we think Mr. Snuffle McGruff the 3rd (Dino) will look like upon birth with our super advanced photo imaging software.