18 Weeks: It's a...

Today we had the anatomy scan, the ultrasound that checks all of Baby Tuna's bits and pieces to check that everything is where it should be and is developing and working properly. We are proud to report that everything looked and sounded A-OK! While checking the Baby Tuna's anatomy, we also got a great shot of a very specific region of the baby's body...the part that let's us know what we've all been patiently waiting to find out...

That's right!! We're having a GIRL!! So many of our friends and family, most of you in fact, predicted a boy. I felt certain from the beginning that it was a girl, which is funny, because I've never accurately predicted the gender of any of my friends' babies. The Hubs, who officially predicted the baby was a boy, now claims that he knew all along that it was a girl. Apparently he was using a reverse psychology mojo mind trick. Clearly, it worked! ;o)

So now we can proceed with finding a name for our sweet baby girl (which will be kept a secret until her birth), decorating the nursery, and creating a registry. A BIG thanks to those of you who offered suggestions. It will really help us weed through all of the baby stuff out there. After the doctor appointment, we headed over to the mall to buy a little baby gift for ourselves. I was getting totally discouraged because the majority of the baby girl clothes are pink - ick. At our last stop, the Hubs found the perfect onesie and tiny socks at Gymboree:

How far along? 18 weeks

Total weight gain: about 12 lbs (my appetite has definitely picked up this week)

How big is baby? About the size of a sweet potato…and according to the doctor, she weighs about 9 oz. She's so big, they actually pushed our due date back 4 days! Is anyone surprised that Baby Tuna is an overachiever in that department?! 

Stretch marks? Not yet. The Hubs found Burts Bees Mama Bee belly butter. It doesn’t have cocoa butter in it, so it doesn’t stink, but still feels so nice on the growing bump.

Sleep? Sleeping well, not counting the 2:30 am potty and snack break.

Best moment this week? Finding out that we are having a baby girl and getting to see her swim around at the ultrasound. She was very fidgety (another not-so-big shock).

How are you feeling? Pretty good, most of the time.

Miss anything? Being able to buy the cute fall clothes that are out right now. Have to wait till next year. 

Movement? Felt a couple of flutters…waiting for more!

Food cravings? Honeycrisp apples and Honey Nut Cheerios are pretty delish, but orange sherbet is my life!

Aversions? Eggs and cake/cupcakes (those who know me well will be amazed by this, but I haven’t been able to touch them in months)

Anything make you queasy or sick? See above.

Gender prediction? IT’S A GIRL!!!

Labor signs? No

Belly button in or out? In, but the Hubs thinks it’s looking different.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood?  Pretty good most of the time, until I get hungry :o)

Looking forward to: Decorating the nursery, once we get the junk out of that room.

  

So Much Baby Gear, So Little Time

Our first trip to Babies R Us was meant to be a fact-finding mission, purely to pick up baby-related intel. And it was, I even took notes (Yes, I'm that girl). But it also proved what the Hubs and I already felt might be true...we don't have a damn clue about baby stuff!!! Sure, I've spent my fair share supplying my friends' kids with the cutest books, puzzles, and outfits (even a baby-sized pair of Reefs - still my favorite!), but I've never had to think about gliders, cribs, car seats, strollers, and baby monitors. So much is necessary and so much is, well, total crap! A baby wipe warmer? Please. We live in south Florida. The Baby Tuna's tiny hiney will be grateful for the refreshing coolness of an unwarmed baby wipe.

So, we are asking all of our friends who are mommies (and daddies) out there: What baby paraphernalia would you recommend? What were the best brands, what did you feel you couldn't live without, and what was the first item in the "yard sale" pile? 

Please comment below, or on Facebook...we need all the help we can get!!! 

17 Weeks

How far along? 17 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain: about 10 lbs 

How big is baby? About as big as an onion… about 5 inches long and almost 6 oz!

Maternity clothes? I need more! Thank god for great Gap sales!

Stretch marks? Not yet. Can’t stand the smell of cocoa butter, so I hope my aloe lotion will do the trick. 

Sleep? Doing ok in that department.

Best moment this week? Quitting my awful job! Of course it means that now I need to find a new one, but it feels so good to be outta there!  A close second - treating myself to the first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Yum-o!

How are you feeling? Pretty good, most of the time.

Miss anything? Sushi…I’ve already put in a post-delivery Thai Thai request. I don’t care how it gets here, mama just wants some spicy tuna. 

Movement? Not sure. Felt a big flutter the other night that traveled across my belly. I’m gonna guess the Baby Tuna did a big ol’ back flip.

Food cravings? Pineapple chunks, orange sherbet, spaghetti

Aversions? Eggs, which I'm not normally crazy about, but there isn't enough cheese in Publix to make them appealing right now.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Thanks to a lovely cocktail of Zantac and Gasx, not nearly as much sickness happening these days.

Gender prediction? One vote for boy, one vote for girl, though neither of us can really explain why. 

Labor signs? No

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood?  Pretty good most of the time, until I get hungry :o)

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender!! Maybe next week!

So we're curious to know what everyone thinks? Is the Baby Tuna a boy or a girl? Leave a comment below. 

  

16 Weeks

All of the books and websites say that at this point, the baby tuna's ears are beginning to develop and function (and BTW, she/he is about as big as an avocado!). It gets me wondering what the world sounds like from in there. Is it all muffled and wooshy? Who knows! I can tell you that when the Dave Matthews Band came on the Ellen show this afternoon, I sat right up close to the speaker so the baby tuna could hear the music. Might as well get him/her started early on music appreciation. :o) 

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain: about 10 lbs  (eek!)

Maternity clothes? Hello Gap maternity yoga pants! I think I love you!  

Stretch marks? No…hopefully never!

Sleep? Not as much as I would like.

Best moment this week? Every evening when I get time to chill with the Hubs and Scout. Nothin’ better than that!

How are you feeling? More good than bad, but still kinda funky.

Miss anything? Even though I’m not a big soda drinker, I would love a cherry coke, but the last thing I need is more gas bubbles.

Movement? None yet.

Food cravings? Pineapple chunks, chips and salsa

Anything make you queasy or sick? I really think microwaves should be banned in offices. Seriously! What are these people cooking every day?!

Gender prediction? One vote for boy, one vote for girl.

Labor signs? No

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood?  Mostly happy, but sick of feeling sick.

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender!! And feeling better so I can start exercising again. 

15 Weeks

In this week’s photo, I look HUGE!! In my defense, I will tell you that I had just eaten some of the Hubs’s yummy pancakes…and the camera adds about three inches of belly. Plus, because I have felt so consistently wretched for the last 8 weeks, my exercise regimen is pretty much non-existent. I’m desperately hoping that will change any day now. I just ordered some prenatal DVDs and am excited to try them out before my thighs turn completely into sausages.

You will also notice that I have company in the photo. Big Sister Scout, always the attention whore, decided that she had to sneak into the picture. So typical! :o)

How far along? 15 weeks

Total weight gain: about 8 lbs

Maternity clothes? My collection is growing…along with the belly.

Stretch marks? No…hopefully never!

Sleep? Will I ever get used to sleeping on my side?  

Best moment this week? Feeling pretty good for almost a whole day. Labor Day was a good day!

Have you told family and friends? Yes!

Miss anything? Being able to eat anything besides white bread without getting an enormous gas belly.

Movement? None yet.

Food cravings? Salsa, Skittles, and Starlight mints…but not at the same time. (Nice alliteration, though!)

Anything make you queasy or sick? Pretty much anything that smells like anything, and talking or reading about feeling queasy. Also, watching the chefs work with raw meat on Chopped and Top Chef.

Have you started to show yet? Um...totally, but I’m not sure how much is baby belly and how much is gas belly. It’s kind of ridiculous.

Gender prediction? One vote for boy, one vote for girl.

Labor signs? No

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy, moody, sleepy, gassy (are you sensing a theme here?)

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender!! And feeling better so I can start exercising again.