Braxton Hicks

So today at work my coworker...who is 26 weeks pregnant, said she was having braxton hicks contractions. I asked her what they felt like and she explained. As she is telling me, I am thinking, I think I am having those. Starting on Saturday, when I relax on the couch, the lower part of my stomach will get real hard. It stays like this for up to a minute and then goes away. It has done this 2-3 times each night for the past couple of days. Me being the first time pregnant woman thought it was the baby...but nope...its braxton hicks. As I tell my friend that I am having the same feelings, I also ask her if she thought it was normal for me to be having them this early. She was not sure, so I decided to call the doctor and ask to be on the safe side. (Now mind you, the last time I called the doc to ask about cold medicine I could take because I wasn't feeling well, the nurse kinda snapped at me and told me to read the paper they provided me with from my first visit.) So I wasn't very excited about calling because I didn't want to get yelled at again. So the nurse gets on the phone and I explained my symptoms to herand she said it definitely sounded like braxton hicks and that I shouldn't be concerned unless they become consist. She also told me to mention this to my doctor at our next visit, which is in 2 weeks! Who would have guessed that at 18 weeks I would be having some sort of contrations??? Hopefully it doesn't get any worse than this for about 20 more weeks!

18 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: 7 lbs!

Stretch marks: none

Sleep: still waking up a lot but for the most part I get enough sleep!

Clothes: a little bit of both but I am starting to move over to all maternity. I went shopping again this weeken and bought a few more things!

Best moment of the week: Getting the stroller/carseat! And. . .for the first time in my entire life, I bought a size B bra! Being pregnant is amazing!!!

Movement: I am starting to feel little movements in my lower stomach! It has to be the baby!

Food Cravings: nothing special this week

Belly button: it is getting shorter and shorter

What I miss: going up and down the stairs quickly. It seems like I am already getting out of breath easily.

What I am looking forward to: Thanksgiving and having 4 days off!

Car seat/stroller

Kevin and I spent about 2 hours at Babies R Us today looking at the strollers, car seats, cribs, etc, etc! After trying many, I think we found a car seat/stroller that we both like that is not gender specific. It is by Graco. Its the stylus travel system-ben. I think we also found a crib and changing table we like, we just have to make sure it matches the dresser we already have. We are hoping to use the existing dresser, that way we don't have to move it to storage.

In other news, I really think I am feeling the baby. Several times a day I have the same "bubble popping" feeling on my lower right side. I also went to Old Navy yesterday and bought a few more maternity shirts. They are long sleeve and some of them were only $5.99....you can't beat that. I am thinking that within the next week or so I will have to start wearing them to work because my Goddard shirts are getting a little tight and they keep riding up in the back. Hopefully once I start wearing these inside of my typical logo shirts, people will know that I am pregnant!

We are preparing for Thanksgiving around here. We went shopping today and started buying all the necessary food. We also got the card tables from the storage unit and some other important items. I am excited to cook my first thanksgiving dinner!

As promised

17 weeks

The bump is starting!

17 weeks minus 1 day

Today we went to the doctor...Kevin got to come too since he was off work. The heartbeat was 150, which is right on track. We go back December 9th and at that time we will hopefully find out if it is a girl or a boy. What a great early Christmas present!!! My blood pressure was a little high 135/82...which is normal for me but high when you are expecting. It has been about that everytime I have gone. The doctor isn't concerned right now, but she wants me to start taking it at home everyday and keeping track. She said if it ever gets to 150/90 to call immediately. She also said that if it stays high into the 3rd trimester, she might put me on something cause that may not be good. So I will begin monitoring it and keeping a close eye on it!

And now an updated survey. . .

Total weight gain: 5 pounds

Stretch marks: none

Sleep: for the most part I sleep, but I wake up about 4 times a night. No midnight bathroom trips yet!

Best moment of the week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat. Its always good to hear that and now that things are ok!

Movement: I think I might have felt a "flutter" or two but I am not positive. Hopefully I will feel more soon!

Food craving: Milk...weird...very weird

Belly button: it is definately not an innie like it used to be...but its not out completely

What I miss: Having energy. I feel like I get tired so easily!

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex and beginning to register!

Is it weird

So I haven't drank a glass of milk in like 15 years. I hate milk. I don't even like the smell of milk, however, on my way home from work tonight, I had a sudden craving for milk. . .chocolate milk. So I came home, fixed a large glass of chocolate milk and drank the whole thing and it was delicious. So I think that might be the start of my many cravings as a pregnant person. Its amazing how your tastes can change. That is not the only thing that is changing. My skin is as well. My face is breaking out like crazy. I feel and look like I am 13. I thought I was over that stage in my life.

My sister was here this weekend. We had a great time. We didn't do much, it was just nice to be together. Kassie thinks I have a little baby bump, so within the next couple of days I will take a picture and post it so everyone can see. We also went and got maternity clothes. I bought 4 pairs of paints and 4 shirts. I don't really need them, but they are much more comfortable. So for the next couple of weeks, I will go back and forth with the pants, depending on my mood.

We go to the doctor again Wednesday morning. I am excited to go and hear the heartbeat again. Its always good to hear that everything is ok. Kevin has the day off so he will be able to go as well.

I did it!!!!

Well I left work today at 11:30 with Mandy and we went to the Vets Memorial downtown. We got there at 12. We were probably 1 of the first 100 people in line. We had to sit outside until 1 and then they allowed us to move inside. I felt like we were in prison. There were police everywhere. One single file line, lots of yellow tape . . .it was very weird. We then sat in this huge gym like place for the next 4 hours. At 3:50 the line started moving. We had to fill out a paper stating why we were getting the shot. Then we had to have a consult with a nurse making sure it was ok for us to get it. Then we got it!!!!!!!! It was very organized and under control once the line started moving. It was just the whole sitting in line that took forever and was long. But, its over and I am glad I did it and in 7-10 days I have no chance of getting the dreaded swine flu! So thanks to everyone who crossed their fingers today....it worked!

On a side note...I have decided that whenever our children need shots, Kevin will have to take them because watching all these kids today get them was terrible. They were kicking and screaming. Their parents had to hold them down. It was crazy. I don't know if I can do that!

Cross your fingers

Tomorrow I am going to try one more time to get the H1N1 vaccine. I am going to leave work at 12 and the clinic starts at 4. Mandy and I are going to try it together. I have decided that if I don't get in this time, I am giving up. I am not spending any more of my time trying to get it. I will just wait until either my doctor has it or it is easier to get. So keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully we will get in and then I won't have to worry about it any more.