Banning Milkshakes

Sparky really loves milkshakes. REALLY LOVES them - way too much. I tried a milkshake the other night, with dinner and my belly paid for it with a very sound internal beating. Apparently the sugary, sweet milkshake is a recipe for hyperactivity in the womb. Back to the water only diet.

We're getting ready for our big trip to Florida and can't wait for a few days of relaxation on the beach. Hopefully Sparky travels well on her first plane trip.

Week 21 - The Second Half

This photo was going to be really cute this week ~ I had a cute little top and had been all fixed up from work. Then I decided to boil and egg in the microwave for dinner. I had it in water, so I figured it would be fine. However, when I took the egg out it exploded everywhere (mostly all over my face and cute new shirt). So... after the shower and putting on pajama's this is Sparky's week 21 photo.

My belly made it up to 42 inches this week and I've been avoiding the scale for the last couple weeks, so I'm sure there are a few pounds that could be added to the previous total. Sparky is getting to be a very active girl - she's been kicking and punching me all day long. According to the websites we've been checking out, she's around 10 inches long and just about a pound.

We brought home a bassinet for Sparky this weekend. It was up in Grandma Lorraine's attic, so we aren't quite sure where it came from or who has slept in it, but it is sturdy and white, and should withstand a very curious basset hound. Unfortunately with an old bassinet comes an old mattress of a size that isn't made anymore. I went out to Hobby Lobby today and purchased material to make my own sheets, since we couldn't find a single store that carried 13 by 28 bassinet sheets. When we get the sheets done and the bassinet cleaned and steamed, we will post the pictures.

It's only 12 days until we take Sparky on her first airplane ride to sunny (we hope) Florida for a week of fun at Vero Beach. We are very excited for a little rest and relaxation before Sparky gets here and turns our lives inside out.

Insomnia

Sparky has decided to sleep while I am awake and party all night long. This is not a good outcome for me now that I can feel all the partying. Last night between Sparky, needing to use the bathroom twice, and Maize being "scared" - I was awake at least every hour starting at midnight. We need to get these interruptions on a schedule so that Sparky's party, Maize's panic at the snowplows, and my bladder all wake me one time, rather than 3 or 4.

Today is Steve's birthday, so Sparky and I are taking him out for dinner when he gets back from school. My belly is getting stretched out and is now 41 1/2 inches, so I figure some birthday celebration won't even effect my waistline at this point.

SPOILER ALERT - IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THE GENDER OF SPARKY DO NOT READ

Today was Sparky's 20 week ultrasound so that we could make sure everything was growing well and in the right places. The ultrasound technician was amazed at Sparky's cooperation and said excellent photos and measurements were taken. Of course we are very proud of our little one for her excellent cooperation this morning. That's right folks - Sparky is a she. We will now have to apologize to her for the first 20 weeks of refering to her as a he.

The techinican said Sparky looked very healthy and was right on track for growth and development. And the technician was very sure that Sparky was a she - so were Steve and I from the very first image we got of our little one.

Our baby is a very active little gal - there was lots of moving and stretching and kicking going on during the entire ultrasound. We are hoping that she inherits her father's more mellow personality and calms down after she's born. My belly didn't grow this week and I'm still feeling great. Below are the official shots of Sparky from her ultrasound.

Sparky's Cousin

Sparky's newest cousin, who is expected one week before Sparky's big appearance, is going to be a boy according to the ultrasound. We are very excited for nephew number 3 and hope that he and Sparky will be very good friends. Sparky is just a few days from revealing his (or her) gender. The big reveal is at 8:30 next Tuesday morning. Since they will now have 3 grandsons, I am sure that Grandma and Grandpa Obreiter are hoping for a little girl, but Steve and I will just be happy to have a healthy little one who doesn't cry too much.

Check back Tuesday night for the big reveal and for the weekly statistics. Have a wonderful weekend!

The Week 19 Update

Well... it's week 19 for this pregnancy. We are officially one week from the half way point. Thanksgiving week was a nice break from the daily routine and a nice opportunity to visit with family and friends. We also enjoyed some nice after Thanksgiving shopping - I got a few new maternity tops and Sparky now has a crib to sleep in. I've been feeling really good in the last few weeks, but I have been experiencing more leg cramping than normal, especially in my thigh muscles.

This weeks update - my belly is back up to 41 inches. Aparently Sparky ate well during Thanksgiving and added that half inch back onto my waist. Sparky is about 6 inches from head to crown (and 9 to 10 inches total). He weighs in at about 8 1/2 ounces.

Pregnancy photos may be posted later this week, but for today I'm feeling rather un-photogenic.

Week 18 - Almost half way there...

Now that Steve is home again, we can get back to the weekly photographic update. I am back down to 40 1/2 inches around (down a half inch from last week). I am blaming the loss in circumfrence on the flu bug that I had last Friday. I was definitely knocked out - I ate lunch on Thursday and didn't eat a real meal again until lunch on Saturday. It was a very long couple days...

We are going to see the doctor on Wednesday. I'm sure it will be rather uneventful, but I am looking forward to hearing the heartbeat again. Now that I've felt Sparky moving it is much easier to get worried that you haven't felt movement in a while. I'm sure the little kicker is just fine, but it's nice to feel the little guy every once in a while.

Our family is all trying to get healthy so we can travel to Hastings for Thanksgiving. After my big sickness on Friday, Maize got really sick and ended up going to the vet for kennel cough. We had a whole lot of dog cough up and puke to clean up this weekend, but we are finally getting that under control too.

Other than our little adventures, things are going well. I feel good and haven't had a problem doing any of the things I've wanted to do. I survived the last football game of the season, including the really long walk from the dental school to the stadium and back. Unfortunately Michigan couldn't make our last football game as students a win - but then again you can't win them all.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family who we won't be able to visit with this holiday season! With love - Jen, Steve, Sparky, and Maize :)

Welcome Home Steve

Steve came home, so Sparky can now sleep (or at least let his mom sleep) in peace. Sparky's newest trick is moving around so that it feels like a million worms are crawling around in my stomach - a very odd sensation.

Sparky is getting pretty heavy, or something like that - my legs are achy at the end of the day and I've got a pulled muscle in one of them. I'm hoping that it clears up before the football game this Saturday. I also reached the too big to sit at my desk with a pillow behind my back milestone today. The pillow was nice for extra lower back support, but with it in the chair I was just too far forward and too out of balance to sit comfortably.

One week until we see the doctor again - it should be a relatively uneventful visit, but the ultrasound is only 3 weeks away. I am voting boy but Steve is hoping girl. We shall see...

Week 17

Steve's out of town again this week - so no photographs again. Maize, Sparky and I are trying hard to entertain ourselves as best as we can. I've popped all the way out to 41 inches around this week and added a couple pounds. Sparky has also decided to make himself (or herself) very well known to me this week. I've been getting lots of internal pounding, but so far neither Steve nor I have been able to feel any kicks on the outside. I am certain that the internal kicking is Sparky - it is random, painful at times, and generally not related to any other internal discomfort. Hopefully this child will begin kick outwardly and into the muscles, rather than my internal organs.

I've just about completed the second block of a 9 block, crocheted baby afghan for Sparky. I went with yellow yarn so that it would be gender neutral. It's beginning to actually look like something that may be finished on time.

Sparky, Steve, and I went up north to Sault Ste. Marie last weekend. It was Sparky's second up north experience so far. We had a great time checking out our potential new home. Steve's "interview" with the dentists seemed to go really well and we are going back in January for a second interview with the rest of the staff. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed a little free time on the way home.

Steve will be home late Wednesday night, so we will update with the photos hopefully on Thursday.

Week 16 and counting...

Steve is out of town for the week and next week as well, so there is no photographic display of the expanding waistline this week. Maize, Sparky and I are holding down the fort and trying to get our house back in order after one very wild weekend. Our washing machine died this weekend. It had been on its last leg for a while, but Friday it finally spun its last spin and died with a tub full of water. Luckily we knew someone with a washing machine and dryer that they needed to sell. So... we got a new washing machine, Grandpa Harley and Steve installed it, and then they left to take the truck back to the golf course. While they were gone, and after they had me start a load of laundry to make sure the water would run, the drain pipe started leaking and leaked the entire load's worth of water onto our floors. Being pregnant, I just started wiping it up with towels and waited for Steve to pull the washing machine out from the wall and fix it. At least the breaking down may be done for the time being.

Now for the week 16 stats. First, the belly is now 40 inches around (up 1/2 inch from last week). My weight has remained constant for the last 6 weeks, which has been a good thing. My belly pains have decreased. Sparky is about 5 inches and about 3 ounces. He's probably starting to move, but I haven't felt anything yet. This weekend Sparky will make his second trip to the Upper Pennisula and will visit Sault Ste. Marie, where Steve is interviewing for a job.