Updates

Here are a whole bunch of updates and pictures! I am going to try to start doing much better keeping the blog updated after this! :)

• Doctors' Updates: Our most recent appointment was on March 22nd. We met with our high risk doctor first and then my ob. We had met with them 2 weeks before that as well. The earlier appointment was a follow up from my cerclage. When my ob's office did my ultrasound and cervical length check for the follow up, the baby looked great, but my cervix did not. For whatever reason, my cervix was measuring very short and was showing that it was beginning to funnel (NOT GOOD!). We were then rushed down the hall to my high risk doctor's office. They have very advanced equipment there. Fortunately, their ultrasound measured my cervix a good bit bigger than the other one did and it did not show funneling. They both told us to come back for appointments two weeks later. Let me just say, that turned into a very long two weeks for me! Even though things looked much better during the 2nd ultrasound, I was a nervous wreck! At our more recent appointment, my cervix had shortened just a little bit, but it was still measuring well enough to please my high risk doctor. (Remember he's brutally honest, which I'm happy to know now. I feel like if there was a concern, he would have no problem telling me!). The high risk doctor did tell us that he has no reason to believe that this pregnancy will spiral downward. That's good to hear from him! Since he was happy was things, my ob was too. Naturally, I was still worried though. Why is it shortening this soon? What can I do to stop it? How will this effect this pregnancy? Will the baby be in any stress or trouble because of this? Our baby and this pregnancy are in God's hands, and I have to have faith here that everything will be perfectly okay. We go back to my ob on April 5th and the high risk doctor on April 12th.
• Baby Boy: At our 14 week appointment, we could see that the baby is definitely a boy! I didn't feel right posting the ultrasound pictures to prove it though. :)
• Pregnancy Stuff: Morning sickness and I never crossed paths! My gag reflex is stronger than normal sometimes, which makes brushing my teeth a little difficult some days. My energy is starting to come back, which is really nice. I was told to start sleeping on my sides. This is not going well because I've always slept on my stomach or back. Also, I have to get up at least once a night to go to the bathroom, and then I have the hardest time falling back asleep. It sometimes takes hours. Karl hasn't been sleeping well either (he gets my pregnancy symptoms sometimes too), and I am convinced that God is preparing us for a child that won't sleep! The main difference I have felt is hunger. I am always hungry, actually make that starving! Also, when we walk into restaurants, I get so excited about eating that my mouth fills up with saliva and I have to concentrate on not drooling. Now I know how Sadie feels when I give her her dinner! I have craved the unhealthiest things: chocolate cake with chocolate icing, cheeseburgers, chips, soft-serve ice cream with sprinkles, and lately it's been Mexican food. I could truly eat chips and salsa all day long. I'm a little concerned when this baby comes out we'll have to call him Juan because of all the Mexican food I've eaten! :)

17 week belly picture

• Registering: Karl and I registered last week and had a great time! I was a little scared to go because I thought I would get completely overwhelmed and then feel like a terrible mom for not knowing what we need! I looked at friends' registries before we went and talked to friends who had children, and I made a list based on what they said. That helped a lot!
• Cooper's Stuff: Here are pictures of some of the things Cooper has already gotten. I just get so excited thinking about him playing with and wearing these things!!!

Here's his bedding! I thought I would have a hard time picking out bedding I liked, but this was love at first sight. I also got the elephant mural/sticker from PBK to go above his changing table. I think we're going to do two large frames side-by-side above his crib and put two of his newborn pictures in them. We haven't gotten furniture yet, but I know we want dark brown.

I bought this diaper bag the week after we switched to Dr. H. last year. I was trying to have a better attitude and think positive, so I bought this as a little treat to help me get excited!

I love all this baby stuff! The blanket and toy are from Karl's cousin's family. The precious elephant bib and washcloths (seersucker, blue striped, and elephant) are from my friend Jesse, the pacifier clip (seersucker with putting greens) is from our friends Kathryn and Shane, and the booties are from my mom.

This is a the first outfit I bought him. :)

This is Karl's stuffed animal, La Mutt, from when he was little and a poem called "Why God Made Little Boys" from his nursery. I think it will be so special for Cooper to have these things in his nursery! 

Is this bear not the cutest thing you've ever seen?!?! Karl's Aunt Ellen sent it to us earlier this week. He is the perfect size and is so soft! I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I carry it from room to room with me so I can stare it. It really is that cute!

Here are Cooper's stuffed animals: the little dog blanket is from a little girl in my class (it is very, very soft), the sheep is from Karl's parents (I love it because it makes soothing sounds and has a timer to turn itself off after so many minutes), the frog rattle is from Maleah, and then there's the cutest bear in the world and La Mutt.

Roll Tide! Jennifer got him a little hat, booties, and elephant to get him ready for football season!