25 Weeks

Hi everyone...I've finally gotten around to taking my 25 week picture:

Boy is that belly white!!!! Can you tell I didn't wear a bikini this year? (I think those days are gone!) Emma is growing rapidly and trust me when I tell you I can feel it. I've had pretty bad round ligament pain in my lower abdomen... things are definately starting to stretch. I'm even starting to outgrow some of my early maternity clothes...sorry Dave!

Dave and I have been working really hard on the house the past few days. We've finally finished painting the office and got really lucky to find a farm table very similar to the one we already have (which Dave uses as his desk) to serve as my new desk. With the hopes of a third person in the office we need the extra desk space for sure. Tonight we'll be rearranging the space and getting things in order down here.

We also started working on the kitchen. We went to Restore last week and found a pantry cabinet that matches our cabinets for $50!!!! We were planning on spending close to $700 to buy one so we're very happy we went that day. We're going to be making the dining room part of the kitchen since we need more cabinet space... with bottles, bibs and all that comes with a baby 4 cabinets just isn't going to cut it anymore! I'll post pictures once the realy work starts.

Other than the round ligament pain I've been feeling pretty good. I had pretty bad heartburn for a few weeks but it seems to have curbed a bit. I'm sure something new will take it's place soon. Maybe backaches?

Su, my sister in law, gave us tons of baby clothes, blankets and baby gear this weekend. We are soooo thankful. I had a pretty good time going through it all while we watched the Steelers on Sunday (sad, sad game). Emma's pretty lucky to have two older nieces that have passed things down! I also went shopping with Barbara this weekend and got some essentials for Emma's arrival. I think with a pack of newborn diapers we'll be ready to roll. Well, sortof.

Here's the 25 week update:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but she's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.

Love to all!

24 weeks

I got home last night from a long weekend in Michigan visiting my family and having my first two baby showers... it's was so much fun. Thanks to everyone that gave me such wonderful gifts, Emma is truly blessed by so many of you and Dave and I really appreciate your generosity. We recieved a lot of great baby gear and now I just need to find room to put it all! We got a lot of 6-12 month clothes, our crib matress, high chair, monitor, sheets and blankets, two diaper bags, some toys, and lots of other really fun stuff! I don't have pictures yet, but will post them when I get some.

We're 24 weeks now and I'm starting to really get antsy to get things done. The nursery isn't nearly finished, the house needs a ton of work before she arrives and I still haven't found a good designer to help out once she's born. I'm pretty cool with the idea of being a mom and not too nervous about that, just a bit worried about how I'm going to get my day to day tasks done. Maid? Personal Chef? Clone?

Here's our 24 week update:
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance **that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

We go in Thursday for the Glucose screening test to determine if I have gestational diabetes. I'm hoping this test goes smoothly... if not, I'll have to have another test that lasts three hours, yuk!

Have a great week everyone!

Poor Cooper

We have a very sad puppy in our house today.... we got back from the beach on Sunday and Cooper had a very bad infection on the side of his face. We took him to the vet this morning and he has a "hot spot" which is basically a sore that he scratched so much it spread and got really bad really quickly. He had to be sedated this morning so he could be shaved and cleaned up and he's still pretty groggy. He has an e-collar on now and HATES it... he keeps bumping into things and looks so sad at you it makes me want to cry. Please pray for Mr. Cooper that he gets better soon. :(


Our week at the beach was great. We had to work a little bit but it wasn't too bad. I don't think we're ever going to have a real vacation ever again. Maybe when we retire, but that's so far in the future it doesn't count! Calgon, take me away!!!! Some beach pics...

This was the whole gang on crab night. We ordered in crabs, crab legs, shrimp and hush puppies, Yum! From left...Lauren, Sara, Emily, Jeff, Dave, Danny's dad Bob, Danny, Brant and Stacy.
Here's Coop swimming in the pool. He just loved it and didn't want to get out. He'd even do laps without the ball just to be in there. :)

This is Ainsley, Brant and Stacy's 4 year old daughter. She's the cutest thing and loved to have her picture taken. She'd be playing in the waves and see me with the camera and stand and pose. Watch out Stacy!!!!

I love this picture. I'm not sure what Dave is looking at, but they're playing Bocce Ball. From left... Jeff, Dave, Sara and Lauren.

Some exciting news, Dave got to feel Emma kick for the first time on Friday. His face lit up, I think he was actually surprised he felt it. She's kicking a lot more these days, but still likes my bladder, ugh. She's still breech and I'm hoping she get's a big energy spurt and flips over soon.

I got a call from my insurance company last week asking for approval for a perscription for Rhogan to be shipped to my doctor. Apparently I have Rh negative blood and there's a chance Emma could be Rh negative (since Dave is) and my body could reject her if our bloods we're to ever mix. It's a shot I have to have at my next appointment that will block my antibodies from attacking her. It was a bit scary at first, especially since my doctor never mentioned it to me but I'm finding it's normal and happens to a lot of women.

In a few weeks I also have to do the "oh-so-fun-Glucose-test" which I am NOT loking forward to. I'm a bit nervous that I'll end up with gestational diabetes because of my blood sugar issues, but let's all hope that doesn't happen. I have to drink this fruit punch stuff an hour before my apoointment then give blood twice while I'm there. I thought being pregnant was fun!!! I think I have given blood about 10 times so far and I'm only half way there!

No news on the nursery. Mom is coming in Nov. to help but I haven't done anything else since I took the last pictures. I need to get moving on it, pretty soon I'll be the size of a house and wont' be able to do anything much less decorate!

Here's the update for 23 weeks:

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

I'm excited for this weekend, I am going to Michigan to visit my family and both sides are throwing me a shower. I have one on Friday night with my mom's side and one Sunday afternoon with my dad and step-mom's side. I can't wait to see everyone, it's been a while since I've been home. It's going to be a short trip, but with work these days I can't afford to stay much longer.

Well, back to work. Have a great week everyone!

22 weeks

Greetings from Nags Head, NC! We're at the beach this week for what I'm considering my last vacation before Emma arrives. We won't be doing much travelling from here on out (together, that is). I do have two baby showers in two weeks that I'm flying to Michigan for, but after that I'll be homebound.

The beach is great. We got her Saturday evening around 6 and will be staying until this coming Saturday. I think we're going to go visit some friends in Kilmarnock VA Sat evening to wrap up the weekend, which should be fun. Cooper is enjoying every minute of this vacation... he's getting to swim every day, which he LOVES! He gets in the pool like it's his second home and never wants to get out, he just swims laps. It's hysterical and get's me nervous sometimes because I can tell he's tired but keeps going! He's got two puppy friends here, Chica and Dixie, and loves chasing them around. He's a bit of an instigator when it comes to rough housing, but it's great to see him get along with other dogs. Yesterday he got to go for a run, swim in the pool, go for a car ride and got to go to the Sound so he was pretty tired. I'll try to take pics of him swimming in the next few days.

Based on my due date we're 22 weeks now. Emma's growing rapidly, but I don't seem to be, which I guess is a blessing. I thought I was pooching out more but I looked at my past weekly pics and not much has changed. I'm definately in maternity clothes now but can still wear some of my old tops. I'm sure that will change in the next few weeks. :)


Here's a pic of Cooper and me in my preggo bathing suit... so comfy!!!!


I got some great news last week from my cousin Scott that he and his girlfriend Jen are having a baby a few weeks after us. (hi Jen - can't wait to meet you!) I am so excited for them and thrilled that I'll have someone to talk to that I'll actually know who's going through some of the same things as me. I talk to a lot of girls on an online thread but I've never met them so it's a bit different.

I've had some pretty bad heartburn lately and more leg cramping, which stinks, but other than that I'm feeling pretty good. I've been able to stay up late with all our friends here and have been sleeping pretty well considering the anaconda pillow is at home. The bed sucks here, but I think I'm so tired by the time my head hits the pillow it doesn't matter much. I know my time of sleep is limited so I'm trying to get as much as I can now! Dear Dave has been great and let's me sleep in every day, I can't tell you how wonderful that is!!!

Here's the update for 22 weeks:
Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

Emma's room is still the same but we've cleared out some of the big toys we got from friends and I've started cleaning out the dressers. Our plan is to put up the bead board in the next few weeks but we'll see. I'd like to get everything done before Thanksgiving but not sure we can stick to that schedule, work has been very hectic and time just flies!

Well, it's time to eat again... one of the best parts of being pregnant!!! I'm eating constantly and love it! My fav's these days are all fruit popsicles, Smart Start cereal and any pretty much any piece of fruit I can get my hands on. Emma likes fruit too... she kick a lot right after I eat some. :)

Love to all!

I apologize for the delay in posting, but there's good reason... I've been up to my eyeballs with work and there's no end in sight. Well, I shouldn't say that, I am going to the beach next week.

I deserve this vacation more than ever before, I am truly exhausted and on the virge of breakdown every 15 minutes. I find myself crying more and more, kinda like the old days when I had a "boss". The pressure to get things done these days is unbearable and finding time to look for quality help is near impossible. When I have a free second I find myself eating, showering or cleaning... and if you were to see my house you'd see that there must not be much time to spare!

The only highlight of my day today has been feeling Emma kick. She's been pretty active in the past few days and for the first time this morning she took pleasure in kicking my bladder. That was fun. I'm feeling her kick my lower right side, she must still be breech and liking her newfound motor skills. I just wish I could enjoy it more, these are the moments I want to remember, not the sobbing and complaining I've been known for the last few days. Maybe she's trying to tell me something....

Well, I'll stop complaining now... I have a lot to look forward to and this work will come to an end. I'll just picture myself floating in the pool as I gaze over the fence to the ocean next week. Yeah, you heard right, our house has a pool and is right on the beach. Let's just pray the weather cooperates and I can float for hours. Lauren, are you ready????

The nursery is coming along slowly. My mom is helping with the bedskirt and draperies when she comes to visit in October. I found the perfect fabric, it's sage green Dupion silk with emroidered butterflies, it's gorgeous and 100% the look I am going for. I haven't found the perfect sheets to match but I'm still on the prowl. For now I'll settle for ivory. I also need to find a good rug to tie everything together. I'm looking for something fairly simple with a cream base and touches of sage and maybe yellow/gold. Rugs are hard, they're either really gaudy or $1000 a pop. I think Target is a grear rug resource, if you have 14 hours to dedicate to searching.

I had another doctor's appointment on Monday and learned that indeed my due date has been moved up. The new one is Feb 4th. I think it's too early (since I pretty much know when she was conceived) but she's measuring big so you never know. She's the product of a 5lb mom and a 10 lb dad so anything goes. Dave jokes about her possibly being a Superbowl baby and how much she's going to hate that when she's older. I agree, if my birthday was ever on Superbowl Sunday I'd be pretty peeved too. I guess she'll just have to become a raging Steelers fan!

Well, it was supposed to be my 20 week mark, but since my due date is moved I'm not sure what to do... so, I'll post both 20 week and 21 week updates...

You're at the halfway mark — congratulations! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's about 10 inches from head to heel. (The way your baby is measured now changes.) A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats your baby's entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance made of dead cells, digestive secretions, and swallowed amniotic fluid, which will accumulate in her bowels and end up in her first diaper.

Okay, that was gross, let's see, is 21 weeks better?

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. Her eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel her move. She's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if she starts working out just when you're settling down for the night.

I'll post a 21? week picture soon, just gotta find the time...

love to all.

The verdict is in....

We had our ultrasound this morning and are 99% positive it's a girl! The picture above is a cross section looking up. Our little girl was very cooperative throughout the test and looks perfect! Her heartbeat was 145 and she weighs about 10oz. Her heart, kidneys, brain and spine all look great.

She has 10 fingers....



...and ten toes...



Our ultrasound tech, Laura, told us that based on the 12 week measurements they moved my due date up to Feb. 4th. We still need to check with our doctor to see if that's really the case. We see her on Monday and will know a lot more.

With tears in my eyes I am so happy to introduce Miss Emma St. Clair Simpson!

Wives Tales... are they right?

Ok, it's my last chance to test those old wives tales to determine the sex of the baby... well, that is unless the baby hides tomorrow. Oh golly I hope not.

Here's one test I took on the interet at childbirth.org... pretty interesting!

You have a 14% chance of having a boy.
And you have a 85% chance of having a girl.

And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight around the hips and bottom, so it's a girl.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You didn't have morning sickness early in pregnancy, so it will be a boy.
You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is even, it will be a boy.
A needle on a thread held over you belly moves from side-to-side, so it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
Your baby's heart rate is 140 or more beats per minute, so it's a girl.
You must have orange juice every day, so it's a girl.
You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it's a girl.
You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the body of the mug, so it's a girl.

Everyone pray that we have luck tomorrow morning, I am dying over here... I want to know soooo bad!!!

And, here's the weekly Wednesday update on the baby's growth:

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.