31 Weeks - Only 9 more weeks to go

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last post. As you can imagine plenty has progressed.

Earlier this month Sean and I went to Cozumel (see pics below). The story behind this trip began with planning our honeymoon. We never took a honeymoon following out wedding. We had a trip booked to visit Norway in July 2009 but due to work related circumstances for both Sean and me we had to cancel. Our plan at the time was that we would reschedule for summer 2010. Even after we found out that Catherine would be joining us we were committed to making the trip. Although the more we thought about the potential for a July 2010 trip to Norway with Catherine in tow we realized this may be a bit overwhelming for new parents. Ultimately, and much to out dismay, we decided that Norway 2010 wouldn't be a reality. We had a large airline credit for United Airlines as a result. Trouble was that travel had to be scheduled prior to March 27. Needless to say we decided to bump the trip up and take an impromptu trip to Cozumel.

We left on Monday, March 1 and returned Friday, March 5. I wasn't sure what to expect flying while pregnant. I did notice that I was a bit apprehensive when we hit turbulance. I also noticed that Catherine reacted to the changes in pressure (or at least I suspect). On take off and landing Catherine was doing summersaults and climbing up my ribs. I hope it wasn't a traumatic experience...then again I am sure that it wasn't nearly as traumatizing as the entire birth process. We did some snorkeling and sightseeing but most importantly plenty of relaxation on the beach. On March 4 we celebrated Sean's 29th birthday. The weather was amazing with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 60s. I even wore a bikini with a pretty large baby bump. So now I have a nice tan belly.

While Sean and I were gone my parents were house/cat sitting. For those of you who know my mom she is a true "jack of all trades." Unbeknown st to us my parents were busting their tails at our house with odd and end jobs. For example the re grouted our kitchen counter tops. Then with the help of my in-laws they assembled Catherine's crib in her room. Sean and I were so surprised to come home to a nearly completed nursery.

That Saturday, March 6 we had a few people over for burgers as a belated birthday celebration for Sean. By the end of the day I was exhausted...but being in the company of family and friend made it well worth it.

Yesterday Sean and I attended our first baby class. It was a baby care class that was really beneficial. Our facilitator was really funny which made the class pass pretty quickly. We were able to practice bathing and basic newborn care with a doll. Of the two of us, Sean was the one sponge bathing and diapering our doll. He was great! Some of the information was common sense, like don't shake your baby. In large part the material covered was very informative. In April we begin our child birth classes and a breast feeding class--hopefully that will be equally interesting.

27 Weeks and Valentine's Day

Yesterday marked not only my 27th week of pregnancy but also Valentine's Day! It was Sean and my first Valentine's Day as husband and wife. It couldn't have been observed in a more romantic and special way. Our Valentine's Day was more like 4 days. It began on Thursday by Sean giving me the most beautiful potted cymbidium orchid. Then on Friday I made Valentine's day dinner of lobster tail and shrimp and we had a romantic candlelit dinner at home. Then on Saturday we exchanged gifts. I received wonderful interior/exterior handcrafted art from Haiti made from recycled oil drums. It was such a thoughtful gift from Sean not to mention the proceeds of which go to the artisans in Haiti when they need it most. Although my gift to Sean hadn't arrived yet I showed him what was en route. I gave him a quilted hammock and wooden hammock stand. He was elated! Sunday was probably the best part of Valentine's Day for me, when we decided to exchange cards to one another. I spent most of the morning wiping tears away from my eyes. Sean's card was so beautifully written. I will preserve this card FOREVER because it means sooooooooo much to me.
Later that afternoon we went to lunch with grandad Ray for his 77th birthday. It was an eventful weekend without much stress--those are the best!

26 Weeks

Today I begin my 26th week. To recap some neat events: Week 25 marked the first week that I felt Catherine moving several times a day -- on a daily and consistent basis. Her movements have graduated from unidentifiable flutters to obvious kicks and punches. I think my favorite is when I feel simultaneous little punches in the lower left of my abdomen and little kicks in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen(near my ribs). I have yet to experience any painful movement but I am sure that will come.

I have notice that it has become more difficult to get comfortable whether sitting on the couch, in the car, or at my desk at work. It is more irritating that painful. Fortunately it has passes rather quickly.

I have been curious as to whether my belly button was going to pop out. I have read in several books and on many websites that it is a common occurrence. I was skeptical that this would happen to me as I have a really deep belly button. I figure that it may just become flush with the rest of belly. Over the past week I noticed that after eating I get a gnawing sensation in my navel. Today we were taking some belly photos when I looked down and saw that the top of my belly button was sticking out further than it was last week! I am eager to see what happen to my belly button. Well more about the belly button saga some other time.

Sean and I are slowly preparing Catherine's room. We don't have much painting to do. We are just painting trim. The crib is being purchased in the next couple of weeks. I wasn't satisfied with the options for crib bedding on the market so I asked my mom if she would be willing to sew the crib bedding. She agreed. With my mom's help I found some great fabrics with the cutest designs. Not to mention that the cost of supplies is much less than the cost of store purchased bedding. Best of all is the fact that every night my daughter will sleep in bedding that her grandma made specifically for her--that means the world to me.

Yesterday I received a letter from my grandfather (Morfar). He wrote the letter to give a brief family history. It was such wonderfully thoughtful thing he had done. He included photos of my great grandmother and my great great-grandfather, along with silhouettes (what folks did before photos) of my great great great great grandfather and grandmother. I will be sure to share the history he provided with Catherine and any other children we have. Probably the most interesting story was about my great great grandfather. He was 12 pounds at birth and after birth his mother was unable to produce milk to feed him. Fortunately for him he was born on a horse farm and in the absence of mother's milk he was raised on horse's milk--earning him the nickname "Horse-man." In the photo my grandfather sent my great great grandfather was 4 years old and was very tall. I grew a little apprehensive after reading that he was 12 pounds at birth. I was 9 lbs 1 oz at birth and Sean was a little over 8 lbs...needless to say that Catherine may be one BIG girl and that will make for one painful delivery.

Baby Kicks

Sean and I were talking the other day and I asked him if Catherine would begin moving and grooving soon. During my ultrasounds it has been obvious that she is moving around in there but I wasn't feeling anything but flutters and bubble like feelings in my stomach. I wanted something that was an apparent kick or nudge. Sean being the voice of reason that he is, said that it would soon come.

I was home sick on Thursday and Friday of this week. I am getting over what appears to have been a head cold. There are several people I know that recovering from a similar bug. Between extreme congestion and being uncomfortable in pregnancy the act of sleeping soundly through the night has been a feat.

While home on Thursday I was laying on my side on the couch watching some television when I felt it ! A KICK! It didn't send me barreling over in pain but it was a little more apparent than those before. At the time I doubted myself and didn't think it truly was a kick. Then Friday during the day there were several kicks and there wasn't a way of doubting or denying that Catherine was moving!

Sean came home Friday evening and I told him that I felt Catherine kick earlier in the day. Sean placed his hands on my belly and held them there for only about 5 minutes before he felt her kick. He was incredibly moved. Then just to let her daddy know that she was okay and loved him she let out a few more.

20 Weeks 1 Day

Here are the photos from this evening. I was surprised to see just how much my belly has grown! Or maybe it was compounded by the dinner I had just eaten. :-)

Some interesting facts about my 20 week old baby:

• She is no longer measured "Crown to rump"b (6 1/2 inches) but rather "Head to heel" (10 inches)
• She should weigh approximately 10 1/2 ounces
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The Holidays, The BIG Surprise and 20 Weeks

Today marks my half way point in pregnancy -- 20 weeks. I can't believe that much time has passed. Christmas was great! Sean and I spent time with family and had a great time. The best part of Christmas was the surprise Sean and I gave our parents. We wrapped a picture frame for each of them and inside the frame was a sonogram and I added the text, " It's a girl!"


Yup that is right. We caved in and found out that we are having a baby girl! The suspense was just too great. It was different to wait to determine the gender when that wasn't a possibility but when we were in the room with the ultrasound technician and knew that we were only a few centimeters away from finding it out...well it was just too much to muster.

Sean and I decided on the name years ago -- despite not being married or dating for that matter. We will name the baby girl Catherine Elise Attwood. We bought our first gender specific outfit and it felt great!I have yet to share the following picture with you all. I took this on December 18 when I was 18 weeks and 5 days along. I will be posting more tomorrow. I have to have the photos of the half way mark!

17 weeks 1 day

Yesterday, Sean and I went into Christmas decorating mode. We hung lights outside, decorated the mantle and Christmas tree. This was our first Christmas in the house. It was wonderful to begin a tradition together. It had me thinking of December 2010. What a different experience next year we will be. We will be doing all this with our little baby who at that point may be 7 months old. That morning Sean felt the baby move around a bit. I notice my pregnant belly the most in the morning. I think it is because my stomach is empty and I have been laying down for a while. I noticed that the right side of my stomach was dramatically protruding while the left was flat...obviously baby was cuddling up. Sean put his hand on my belly while I applied some pressure to where baby was and sure enough, he/she moved a bit. At least enough for Sean to notice some movement.

I have been keeping up with my pregnancy at babycenter.com. Each week I check in to find out the size and weight of the baby. When I got into work this morning I read the following piece of information, " Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet." My reaction was, "um, ya' think?!" This morning while walking into work I fell not once but TWICE! Other than the experience being horribly embarrassing, I wasn't injured and managed to avoid falling on my belly.

I keep a ruler at my desk and have marked the size of the baby along the way to put it in perspective for me. I am looking back at the ruler when it was marked 5 weeks and 6 weeks and my little one was under an inch in length (about the size of an apple seed or sweet pea). In the 17th week the baby will measure approximately 5 inches from head to bottom (about as long as an onion). INCREDIBLE!

Our doctor's appointment went well. We didn't' have an ultrasound...that will occur next week. Thanksgiving was the day following our doctor's appointment. It was a bittersweet Thanksgiving. My Aunt Rose Mary who has been battling Stage IV non-smokers lung, bone and brain cancer was hospitalized. It appeared that her situation was very grave and the cancer had apparently spread. Our family made the decision that San Antonio Thanksgiving would be cancelled and that we would travel to Houston to visit Aunt Rose Mary. It was wonderful seeing her, and despite her condition she was in good spirits, still cracking jokes and "entertaining" the family. She was even concerned that there wasn't enough food to accomodate the number of guests she was receiving. We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving meal at Aunt Rose Mary's home. Before we returned to San Antonio I had a moment to breifly talk with her. I told her that if she wasn't well enough for Thanksgiving then we had to bring the Thanksgiving love to her. She replied by saying, "I wish that I could have had a baby shower for you and that I could be there for Christmas." I replied by thanking her and emphasized that she had to take care of herself and her health and that we would be okay. The following day, Friday, Aunt Rose Mary passed away. At her rosary I mentioned that for those that knew Aunt Rose Mary she enjoyed celebrating the joyous occasions in our family births, marriages, birthdays, and graduations. She was the first to volunteer to host baby and bridal showers. She even rescheduled her chemotherapy to attend my wedding. She fought the best fight she could until the end and displayed extraordinary faith and courage even in her last days.