The countdown begins!

The countdown begins for baby Henderson's arrival! It's only a week and a half until my due date- April 29. However, I have a hunch that our little boy will be arriving sometime after that. Maybe it's because I was two weeks late as a baby and so was Joe. Maybe it's because everyone is telling me that I haven't dropped yet and it's going to be awhile. (Thank you, lay obstetricians of the world.) Anyway, I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility of him being as late as May 13. It's a little weird to be buying food with expiration dates past my due date. Baby continues to keep us entertained, especially me as in the past few weeks I have noticed him hiccuping!


Overall I am feeling pretty good, with the exception of having a 6 or 7 pound weight around my belly making movement a little awkward, which is to be expected. I've been really grateful to have some time at home to get things ready for the baby and just relax. 38 week pictures coming soon, I hope.

34 Week Photos

Taken in our backyard, it has finally warmed up to 50 degrees!!

I think this shirt is cute! A friend gave it to me recently.

Me laughing at Joe being silly.

One of Joe's favorite photos.

34 weeks, the Baby Stuff Invasion, and LOTS of diapers

Wow- so here we are at the 34 week mark of the pregnancy. (Updated photo coming soon...) At the most we have 6-8 weeks left before Baby Henderson arrives. We are so excited to meet him.

A quick update on me & the pregnancy- I continue to do well and be healthy, thankfully. Mostly I'm just continuing to get larger (and I still have a big appetite)! I have had a bit of upper rib pain as baby continues to take over more and more space. "Little Legs" has been kicking and moving around quite a bit in the last couple weeks, with movements sometimes visible on the outside of my tummy. Fun! Sometimes I will find an hand or foot (not sure which) and push into it a little bit with my hand. Little Legs will sometimes kick back as if to say "Hey! My spot! Let me be, Mom!" I'm now going to the doctor every two weeks instead of every week.

As Little Legs (or Baby Beluga as Joe sometimes calls him) continues to make his presence known, our home is being invaded by baby stuff! In addition to the gifts we received at the shower and the things we bought so far, we had two friends from Joe's submarine with boys give us a ton of clothes and other useful things. We bought a dresser/changing table from Babies R Us last week and I am borrowing a rocking chair from a friend.

Finally, as most of you know I've become a more frugal shopper this year, and I got a big kick out of of stocking up on diapers with coupons and great deals. (I was excited to find this post and all the great comments about stockpiling them on Money Saving Mom.) Would you believe that I have over 700 diapers and over 700 baby wipes? Now let's just hope that Baby H doesn't have an allergic reaction to Huggies or I will cry!

A wonderful baby shower

On Saturday February 28, my friends at Children of the Nations hosted a wonderful baby shower for me. I feel blessed to work beside and know these ladies personally during the past almost year of volunteering there. My friend Karen hosted the shower at her lovely home and my friend and supervisor Pam was her right-hand woman helping with the details. I have worked with both of these ladies every week in the Communications Department at COTN.
We enjoyed visiting and played some shower games, including "guess the size of Aimee's belly by estimating it with this piece of string." Though I didn't compete for a prize, my guess was almost exactly how big around I am. Some people apparently thought I was pregnant with octuplets by the length of their string! We also had a fun peanut butter and jelly cake... since after all, I will soon be transitioning to meals consisting of those ingredients. :)
I received many wonderful and thoughtful gifts and enjoyed hearing all the wisdom shared by the moms at the shower.

30 weeks & Living Larger...

So, this was supposed to be a video update. I tried!! We recorded a 29 week update with our new camcorder last week. But due to some technical problems I gave up trying to upload it!! Hopefully we (or more specifically Joe) will figure that out before the baby is born so we can share some video.


I've now reached the 3rd trimester and the 30 week mark of the pregnancy. That little boy on my baby countdown ticker is quickly approaching the end of the line. Crazy. I know our little boy will be here before we know it.


Last week I had my most recent doctor checkup and everything is progressing well with the pregnancy. I have been very healthy and the midwife is happy with my progress. She says I am very "normal."


Baby Henderson is doing well and becoming more active. He still hasn't kicked me really hard yet, but I have felt him moving around more in the past few weeks. Joe got to feel some of his kicks too right after coming home from being underway. My belly has grown larger and my belly button is almost gone!


As a part of our pregnancy centering class we took a tour of the Naval Hospital Labor & Delivery wing. The rooms are very nice and they showed us all the monitors and tools that they use during labor.


Joe has requested paternity leave from the end of April (or whenever the baby is actually born)through mid-May. Even if this leave is approved, it's not a guarantee that he will be home for the birth of the baby. However, it is the best way for us to let his command know when the baby is due and hopefully they will approve leave and allow him to stay home from going out to sea if that situation comes up. Please keep this in your prayers for us. Thank you!

Creeping up on the third trimester...

This photo was taken on Tuesday, Jan. 20 when I was 25 weeks. It's hard to believe, but I am creeping up on the third trimester! This is my favorite maternity shirt and shows off the belly well. Everyone seems to like "belly pictures."

I had a pretty quiet week, but I did do some reading- especially On Becoming Babywise which focuses on a specific approach on infant routines. I also finished... pretty much... our baby registry at Target.

I've also been wanting to start a baby memory book (one of those pre-made ones from Hallmark, I have given up on scrapbooking... too many decisions and I'm not creative enough!) But I decided before I would let myself buy one I need to finish the one I bought for our wedding! So I've been working on that, ordering photos and enjoying looking back over all the details of our wedding.

I feel blessed-I am continuing to enjoy good health! And, there are a few ladies at my church who are planning a baby shower for me. Having just moved here a year ago, it means a lot to have my church family showing their care for us in this way.

Pregnancy update, 25 weeks

I love free baby stuff! We got this "Baby's First Seabag" for attending a short Budget for Baby class put on by the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Most of the info covered was common sense but I did pick up a few good tips. There were so many goodies in this bag: onesies, sleep-n-play outfits, booties, two crib sheets, burp cloths, bibs, a receiving blanket, AND a hand knitted blanket and bootie set. Awww...

This Wednesday I reached the 25-week mark of the pregnancy. Baby H is making himself comfortable and I am getting rounder and finding it harder to bend over. In the past few weeks I have definitely noticed him moving around, although the movement is very gentle. I know he is moving though because at my doctor's appointment this week the midwife had to chase him all over to get his heart rate!

On another random note, I have had many people asked me what I am "craving" so far during the pregnancy. I haven't noticed anything specifically, just a continuation of my major food loves/temptations: mainly chocolate and soda! And (maybe this counts) recently I have been eating a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for lunch almost every single day.

I feel that now with only a few months to go I am finally starting to get in gear as far as preparing. Here are a few of the things on my to-do list for the next few months:

Clear storage space, set up registry, do some reading about newborns, attend La Leche meetings (breastfeeding support group), childbirth class, research and purchase major items (car seat, stroller, bassinet, possibly video camera), car maintenance, income taxes, stocking up on baby & household supplies, prepare baby announcement mailing, make and freeze some meals. Anything else I should add to this list?

Pregnancy photos, 22 weeks

Here are some updated pregnancy photos of me at 22 weeks. One at my parents' house in Oklahoma, one at my brother's wedding. I have to say, I was initially all enthusiastic about taking photos of myself while going through pregnancy... but when sorting through the photos I find myself thinking... am I really that big? :)

Our little boy

On December 15, we found out that we are having a little boy! This ultrasound picture was taken at 20 weeks and 5 days. The little one was in just about a perfect position to show us that he was indeed a he! His arms were curled up around his head and his legs were hanging out with lots of room. It was wonderful to know that everything is on track with the pregnancy and see the ultrasound tech zoom in on various areas showing his developing internal organs and even the umbilical cord. The highlight for Joe was seeing the baby swallow during the ultrasound! We also found out that I have an anterior placenta, meaning that the placenta is between the baby and the front of my belly... this explains why I haven't felt a lot of movement and kicking yet, because he is kicking the placenta instead!

Pregnancy update- 18.5 weeks

This week I had my monthly checkup, and I am thankful that everything continues to go well with the pregnancy so far. The baby's heart rate was in the 160's, my blood pressure was normal, and I have gained about 2 pounds since the beginning of the pregnancy. My belly has begun to round out in the past few weeks and is now slightly noticeable. Overall, I feel pretty good with the exception of some leg cramps, a little shortness of breath when I go up and down stairs, and a feeling of sickness if I have an empty stomach.

We scheduled the ultrasound for December 15. Baby Henderson is waiting for the opportunity to reveal "boy or girl" and Joe is looking forward to seeing baby live for the first time!

After 15 weeks, a baby avocado!

This week I finished my fifteenth week of pregnancy! This week, baby is about 4 and a half inches long and weighs about 3 ounces... approximately the size of an avocado. Since I crossed into my second trimester a few weeks ago I have been feeling a lot better. I am thankful for less nausea and more energy.

However, I have noticed that pretty soon I will be outgrowing my clothes. Though I don't think I have a really noticeable baby bump, several people have commented on it. I always thought I'd enjoy wearing jeans with an elastic band anyway! I'll do my best to get a picture up in the next few weeks.

My next doctor's appointment is Nov. 24, and we will probably schedule the ultrasound for the week of Dec. 15. I'm hoping we'll get a good idea during the ultrasound if we have a boy or girl. Especially since Joe and I have had an easier time agreeing on girl names than boy names.

I would appreciate your prayers for Joe being able to be home for the birth of the baby. At this point there is no way to know what his schedule will be in late April/early May. It will probably be at the discretion of his command, so I am praying now that it will work out.

Check out this link for more info if you're curious!

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-16-weeks_1105.bc

My first "Centering" class

Today I started my pregnancy centering class! I had never heard of this type of care before moving here, but am planning to try it out for a few months. If I don't end up liking this approach, I can choose shorter, individual appointments. Since I'll be a first time mom, I'll take in all the info and hopefully meet some other expecting moms.

Basically, I met with a group of about 10 other women who have a due date within a month or so of mine for two hours. Most of these women are either in the Navy or spouses of Navy guys. There is more of a focus on education regarding pregnancy and labor & delivery. Today we had a dietician come and speak about nutrition and we just had a general orientation and "meet and greet." During each centering class I will also have one-on-one time with the midwife. Joe will also be able to attend the class, though he was working today and couldn't come.

During my one on one time with the nurse midwife (who is great, I really like her!), everything continues to be normal. I am almost 14 weeks today. I got a little nervous when she was trying to find the baby's heartbeat (what if she doesn't find it?) but my fear subsided when I could hear the quick beating of the little heart, about 150 beats per minute. I haven't gained any weight in the last four weeks, but she reassured me that was still normal. I am also not really showing yet.

One thing I really carry away from pregnancy so far is a completely new perspective on human life. Hearing a heart beat from inside you, when you know this baby is so fragile, weighing around an an ounce or less and only 3-4 inches long, is simply amazing!

Baby on board!

Yup, you read right. Joe and I are expecting!

We are excited to share this happy news with you. Again, I realize that I haven't posted much lately, but that's because things have been quiet on the homefront with the exception of this new development.

As far as a few details go, we found out in late August that we will have a little one joining us, God willing, around April 29 of next year. I had my first ultrasound on my birthday (Sept. 30) and got to see the baby, watch it moving around, and hear his or her heartbeat. So, as of my last doctor's appointment at almost 10 weeks, everything looked good.

I've been feeling pretty good. Although I haven't tossed too many cookies, I can't say it's never happened. :) In general I've had a small appetite and avoided the smell of food and cooking whenever possible. I crossed over into my 13th week of pregnancy this week and am hoping my nausea will soon be fading away.

We do hope to find out if baby Henderson is a boy or girl, and will let you know when we do, around late December.

I'll do my best to keep you posted as things progress. Thanks for sharing our journey toward parenthood!