We Heart Robeez

Check out these cute dragon Robeez I found online. Braeden needs a pair! I am a huge fan of Robeez....despite them being a smidge expensive for baby shoes.

http://www.robeez.com/EN-US/default.htm?PriceCat=2&Lang=EN-US&RefID=GOUS_robeez

TMI

This is probably TMI....but I like to stay updated on my pregnancy progress. I am lactating again! I probably stopped making milk around 10 weeks into my pregnancy (I continued to breastfeed Braeden for the first 2 months or so). Well after almost 5 months relief....We have liquid gold...AKA colostrum (pre-milk)! I did not lactate during my pregnancy with Braeden at all so I was surprised to start this early. I am all for the benefits of breastfeeding and am actually excited to see that I am ready to breastfeed when need be.

My Latest Cute Discovery

Since Braeden has moved on from his infant car seat, I have decided to hand it down to Ashlyn. But whenever I see a pretty pink infant seat, I am tempted to get it....How can I let Ashlyn sit in a boy's carseat when there are such beautiful ones out in the world? Well, I think I found a solution online....infant car seat covers! They are very cute and stylish! The only problem is that they are a tad pricey considering you can get a brand new seat for just over a $100 or so.

http://www.bellababycompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2

Meme and Papa

Braeden loves his MeMe and PaPa!

Cord Blood Banking

I am on a mission....to find out as much as I can about cord blood banking. While researching aqueductal stenosis, I found a few sites that indicate the possibility of cord blood transfusions being beneficial. There is a doctor through Duke University that has been performing transfusions on babies born with hydrocephalus (a likely complication my little Ashlyn might develop due to the ventriculomegaly). On Monday, I plan on contacting her for further information. I am so excited that there is something we can prepare for that might be helpful. No more watching and waiting....I am finally able to be proactive!

24 Weeks!

Today I had my 24 week appointment with Midwife Becky. Weight, BP, fundal height, doppler check. Everything was great....uterus measures 25 cm and heart beat was loud and clear. Although today the doppler made Braeden cry!

Becky looked up the results of my CMV screen....negative (which is a good thing!). She also reviewed the results of the last ultrasound we had. Dr. M (the perinatologist) is apparently recommending getting a Fetal MRI. At our first visit, he told us that the Fetal MRIs rarely offer more information than the high tech ultrasounds can. However in his note, he did write that about 10% do in fact reveal new findings. So it looks like we will be scheduling a Fetal MRI between 30-34 weeks.

We discussed the possible need for a c-section depending on what subsequent ultrasounds show. If we do go with a c-section, they will aim for June 1st (39 weeks) as long as there is no reason to deliver any earlier. Ugh....I do NOT want a c-section! But obviously if it is the best interest of my little one, I am all for it. June 1st sounds like a wonderful delivery date to me....I plan on taking the full 12 weeks FMLA entitles me to so that would put my day to return to work at Sept. 1st. Almost the entire summer off!

Also of note: Today is 24 weeks, which is considered the point of "viability" in which a fetus is thought to be able to survive if delivered today...albiet with lots of intensive care and complications. Only 16 weeks to go....4 months seems like a long way away and yet so soon too.

Other non-baby news.....We are getting a new roof in the next couple of weeks. We met with Quality Homes of Rochester, and it looks like we will be having them do the job. Ahhhh, the perks of being a grown-up homeowner....We now look forward to getting new doors and roofs and insulation. Yuck.....I would much rather spend the money on a vacation or boat or something really fun and exciting.

Little Gym

Happy Valentine's Day!

At 8:30 this morning, Chris and I took Braeden to The Little Gym together. We had a blast so for our Valentine's Day present, Chris bought Braeden a 20 week membership. Every Saturday morning, we will get to have fun at The Little Gym! Braeden loves the uneven bars (mainly because they are tasty....) and doing somersaults down "the cheese" mat. He definitely needs to be more social since we have no other babies we see routinely. Braeden can be a bit of a bully so I am hoping these classes will teach him proper behavior before Ashlyn is born.

Braeden's New Favorite Snack

Braeden has a new favorite food....goldfish crackers! And I learned today that it is never a good idea to leave your child with the opened package of his new favorite food! See picture!

23 Weeks Ultrasound

We had another ultrasound today. Too bad nobody told me that Dr. M would be in a meeting the time they scheduled my appointment. The ultrasound tech said that the ventricles just measured a little bigger than last time...really nothing new to report. I jsut wish the perinatologist was there to kind of give us a quick update of where we stand. More waiting I suppose.....

Daddy's Little Girl

So I am super excited to be having a girl. Chris said all along that he really wanted another boy (3-4 boys actually!)....but I think he is secretly pleased that he will have daddy's little girl to spoil. After finding out we are expecting a little princess, he downloaded a song on iTunes, "Gracie" by Ben Folds. It is the sweetest song...Ben Folds is singing to his daughter. It is even more special because Ashlyn's middle name will be Grace, and I think I will be calling her Gracie as a nickname.

Here are the lyrics complements of www.songmeanings.net:

you can't fool me
i saw you when you came out
you got your momma's taste
but you got my mouth
you will always have a part of me
and nobody else is ever gonna see
gracie girl

with your cards to your chest
walking on your toes
what you got in the box
only gracie knows
and i would never try to make you be
anything you didn't really want to be
gracie girl

life flies by in seconds
you're not a baby
gracie, you're my friend
you'll be a lady soon
but until then
you got to do what i say

you nodded off in my arms watching tv
i won't move you an inch
even though my arm's asleep
one day you're gonna want to go
i hope we taught you everything
you need to know
gracie girl

they will always be apart of me
nobody else is ever going to see
but you and me
my little girl
my gracie girl

Pregnant Bellies Are Tasty....?

After working all night, I came home to cuddle with my boys. My belly was poking out of my already too small maternity top, and Braeden was cuddling on my chest. All of a sudden he lunges for my bump and proceeds to lick and kiss my tummy! So cute...he was giving his baby sister sloppy kisses!

Where's the love?

Apparently, little Ashlyn does not like Big Brother Braeden at all. Braeden was in a grumpy mood....the top teeth are on the cusp of FINALLY coming in at 11 months....so we were cuddling, and I put him on my tummy to nap. As soon as he closed his eyes, Ashlyn started kicking like crazy. It wasn't until I moved Braeden that she stopped attacking! Sibling rivalry in the womb....figures after how bad my brother and I tortured our parents as kids.

Moving On Up!

Here is a picture of my baby bump at 22 weeks! Looks like Ashlyn is moving on up in my belly....My bump is so big compared to when I was pregnant with Braeden. It is starting to get in the way at work. Whenever I lift and turn a patient, my belly presses on the bed controls!

My Son...The Nudist?

Today, Braeden escaped as I was preparing for bathtime. Before putting him in the bathtub, I thought it was a good idea to leave him in the buff while I went around the corner to the guest room to grab a towel. In 15 seconds flat, he managed to toddle his way to the living room to play with his toy house...not before he peed all over my rug and his winter coat. Lesson learned...never leave your child unattended and unpotty-trained without a diaper on. Although, you think I would already known this after 10 months!