Another Step Closer

The crib arrived today!! I know it is early to start setting everything up, but frankly we don't care. I have had the crib picked out for awhile and when Brian and I talked about it he told me it was a little to early to order it (and he was probably right). The other day I was looking at some things on the intranet and Brian asked if I was looking at cribs - I said no and he told me that I could probably order one because we are almost half way there and time will go faster then we thing. I am pretty sure he was being sarcastic but I ordered it anyway :) It came today along with a dresser; we figure those are the two items that we need so we will start with them. This evening we tackled the task of assembling this crib which went well, we are missing a few screws that I have to call the company to get but they aren't important yet. The dresser was already assembled so that was nice. We are a step closer to being ready for BP this summer. After we put everything together we listed to BP's little heart beat; I can't put into words how excited we are that our dream of starting our family is coming true, we feel so blessed.

BP's Crib

18 Weeks

BP is now as big as a bell pepper and weighs over 7 ounces. BP is over 5 inches long from head to bottom.

BP is still going strong

We had another scheduled ultrasound today. The point of the ultrasound was not to look at baby, but I was hoping they would anyway. The ultrasound tech gave me a little scare - I was sure glad Brian was with. She brought us in the room and she was reading my papers. Then she put the jell on my stomach and started the ultrasound. She didn't really do much and I was pretty sure I could see BP in there (they don't have a screen for me to see so it is a little difficult) then she just stops and hangs the probe up and asks me if I have had a regular OB ultrasound scan done yet. I told her we had in Fargo and she asked if they looked at this or that and I really didn't know what exactly they had looked at. So then she tells us that she has to go and look at something on a different computer and leaves the room. My gut reaction was something was wrong and Brian, being the strong positive supporter that he is, assured me that she was just confused and all was fine. Turns out all was fine and they just wanted to make sure that with doctoring 2 different places one office didn't think the other office was doing something and vice versa and then we miss out on monitoring that we should be having...if that makes sense. She assured me all was fine and we looked at BP and measured the heart rate; she even commented again that BP likes to move around, I am starting to think that we may have our hands full this fall. She even printed off a few pics for us to take home, BP is going to have quite the photo album before it is even born. The rest of the planned scan went normally and I am guessing that after our next Fargo appointment because everything seems to be going well we will not need bi-monthly scans - but it sure is nice to see little BP all the time. We didn't actually see the dr today so we do go back on Friday. We don't really mind all of the monitoring that we are doing but all I can say is thank goodness for insurance!

Proud Papa

Brian is so much fun to watch during this experience...he is so excited! This weekend the fire department put on an ice fishing tournament and Friday night at one of the bars in town they had a meeting for people who were fishing so they could go over the rules and what not. I went to the college basketball game with a friend and then met Brian at the bar afterwards. When I arrived I was congratulated by some people that we do not see very often. Brian pulled me aside and told me "I told so and so we are expecting. Oh see so and so over there I told them as well." I am pretty sure he told almost everyone there that he knew and it wouldn't surprise me if he even told people there that he didn't know. It makes me feel better to see him so excited because then I don't feel bad doing things like buying the baby bedding so early or renting a fetal doppler - which is still the coolest thing!

17 Weeks

BP weighs over 5 ounces this week - as much as a turnip. BP's length is 5 inches from head to bottom.

Valentine's Day

We got something yesterday that is perhaps the coolest thing ever. We have rented a fetal doppler so we can hear little BP in the comfort of our own home. I found it on the intranet, of coarse, and decided it was something we should try out. It came the other day and since it was so close to Valentine's Day I told Brian that is what his gift was. I was joking but it turns out he thinks it is a great gift so everyone is happy. It is fascinating listening to the different sound and it comes with a CD telling you what some of the sounds are that you may hear. I have not played around with it to much yet and it is hard to know what you are exactly hearing but I am hoping as little BP grows the sounds will be more easy to distinguish.

A Flutter?

The doctor told me on Wednesday that I should start to feel BP move in a few weeks - normally with your first pregnancy it is closer to 18-20 weeks before you feel anything - is what I was told. I was sitting at work on Friday opening some new accounts and I felt something that I have never felt before. It felt like a tiny little flutter right below my bellybutton. It was a completely different sensation than I have ever felt during the past months and I am convinced that it was little BP moving around. Of coarse I couldn't wait to share the news with Brian and he is now more convinced than ever that BP is a little overachiever. It make me smile to bear Brian talk about out little miracle - BP isn't here yet and Brian is already a very proud Dad who thinks his little one is one of the greatest kids. I haven't felt any fluttering since but I can't wait until BP really starts making him/herself known and Brian will be able to share in this wonderful experience as well.

16 Weeks

BP measures up to an avocado now and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces (although we know that is not true for our little BP). BP's length is now over 4 1/2 inches.

Princess or Fireman

We had a dr appointment yesterday, but you already know that from the previous post, and everything went well. The nurse and I were joking yesterday about how when you are pregnant you should be able to eat whatever you want and get as big as you want - I saw this cartoon and thought it fit that theory well; although I have only actually gained a few pounds.
It was wonderful to see BP again yesterday - he/she has grown so much from a month ago it just amazes me. The previous ultrasound you could see the entire body in one view and now BP has grown so much they need to move the ultrasound wand around in order to see different parts of the body. They have started measuring BP's arm & leg bones, abdomen, head and even parts of the brain. I was even able to see BP's tiny fingers. I can't believe how much you can see this early on. I know the big question on people's minds are if BP is a little Princess or a future fireman - that question is still unanswered. It is to early to tell on the ultrasound and we plan on waiting until the big day to see what God has blessed us with.

Little BP

Quick update: BP weighs 5 oz and is measuring 16 weeks and 2 days (gestation BP should be 15 weeks 5 days) Brian says that we have a little overachiever or we are going to have a 10 pound baby, which I have decided is not going to happen. Here it looks like BP is doing a headstand, the head is down on the right - the dr said all looks well!

15 Weeks

BP has grown to the size of an apple and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. BP is now over 4 inches from head to bottom.

Hello Belly

Now I know that in a few months this size will see like nothing - but at this point all we can say is Erin definitely has a belly. There is no doubt that over the past few days things have started to grow and I have started to look more like I am pregnant than fat - which is exciting. I now only have 1 pair of normal dress pants that fit comfortably (and that could be because I haven't tried them on since the middle of last week) and the rest have been put away and hope they fit again after BP comes along. We have an appointment in Fargo next week and will probably have to do some shopping for a few more outfits that fit (shirts are starting to get a little small also) so I don't look ridiculous when I go to work. Brian thinks this whole thing is just great - every time I put something away or moan because something I love is to small he gets a big smile and gives me a hug. I really don't mind getting bigger but it would be nice to have a store in Jamestown that we could shop at so I could try things on before I buy them.