No Sleep BEFORE baby??

I always thought people complained about not getting any sleep after their baby was born? Well we haven't had Taylor yet but I am not getting any sleep at night. Because the end of the pregnancy is so close my hormones levels are off the chart! Due to the hormone level increase I have started itching again (as I did in the beginning of the pregnancy). I am continuing to take my medicine that's supposed to break down the bile salts and stop the itching but they aren't helping any more. So I now have cholestasis of pregnancy. I knew this was going to happen but I didn't realize just how bad it would get. The constant itching is driving me up the wall and the unbroken down bile salts are not healthy for the baby. The itching can't be in any normal place either. No, it has to be the bottoms of my feet, the palms of my hands, my thighs and my ears. We have been waiting for Taylor to come any day now but it turns out she just doesn't want to. My doctor thought I would have gone into labor Monday night or sometime on Tuesday. I have been trying to induce the labor naturally but nothing has worked. I have taken long walks, baths, gotten a pedicure (the pressure points in our feet are supposed to induce labor), got massages on my back, drank a glass of red wine, eaten kiwi and pineapple (they contain enzymes that start mild contractions) and anything else people tell me to try. Still no baby. So because the itching won't stop I am being induced on Tuesday morning - October 7, 2008.

Until then I am just going to enjoy my time at home as much as I can. Today I am getting my hair cut and running a few small errands. I am really excited about getting my hair cut because I am trying a very different style (pictures will follow later today). DJ is working every night until Sunday so I am trying to be quiet during the day so he can sleep. Tomorrow I'm helping his sister get ready for homecoming and Sunday I will go grocery shopping. Any other suggestions how I could spend my free time?

Any Day Now

Friday I went back to the doctor for our 37 week check up. I now weigh 190 - 48 pounds gained. Taylor's heart beat was 136. My doctor was shocked in the 'huge' change from last weeks check up. Last week when we went I was 1cm dilated and not even 10% effaced. This week I am already 2 cm dilated and half way effaced. She said she thinks I will be able to make it through the move next Saturday but not much longer after that. This has DJ and I both very nervous. I am only drinking water, not participating in any physical activity beyond walking or stressing myself out. I am not letting this little girl come before we get moved into the new apartment. She can come any day she wants after the 27th. So this afternoon I will be packing our bag for the hospital and washing the first few outfits she will be able to wear just to be safe. We return to the doctor again on Wednesday.

DJ got a new job schedule this week. A conductor that started two weeks before him "no longer works for the company" so DJ was placed in his position permanently. This is great except for the hours. DJ was working 8am to 8pm Monday through Thursday (Monday through Wednesday on the weeks he only worked 3 days). Now DJ will be working Thursday through Sunday from 8pm to 8am. He'll have Thursdays off when he is only required to work 3 days. So he started his new schedule Friday night. His boss didn't give him very much notice (he actually called to inform him of this Friday at 1pm) so he gave DJ Saturday and Sunday night off this weekend. DJ doesn't have to go back to work until Friday. To make more money and get used to the yard more he's going to go work Tuesday and possibly Wednesday during the day.

Yesterday we went to celebrate DJ's cousin Spencer's 8th birthday. We all went to his grandma's house. They have a large peach tree in their backyard and were asking everyone to take peaches home with them. We brought home a large box of peaches. DJ's sister had never made a pie before so I told her I would teach her how to and we could make a fresh homemade peach pie. It turned out very good! We made two. It was a lot of fun too.

Because everyone found out what the doctor said on Friday they all thought it would be a great idea to make a bet (yes with actual money) as to when they think I will deliver. DJ's mom picked today (9-21-08), his Aunt Jacque has Monday, his sister Jess picked Tuesday, DJ's dad has Wednesday, his brother has Thursday, his cousin Spencer has Friday, Grandma has Saturday (when we move), his grandpa has Sunday and Uncle Dean has Monday the 29th. Whoever wins gets all the money($9) but if Taylor comes any day after the 29th the bet money will go right into her piggie bank. I'm still holding out for the 29th. :)

27 Days And Counting

There are exactly 27 days until my due date! I really cannot believe how fast the pregnancy went! It's been pretty fun though. When I found out I was pregnant I started a journal for the baby (Taylor now). I write in there about things that have been happening with me and DJ (moving, jobs, etc.) and I also write to her every Saturday about how she is developing and growing. (Saturday marks the beginning of a new week for the pregnancy). I have written about all big moments - ultra sounds, doctors appointments, first kicks and movements, DJ feeling her for the first time. I plan to write in the journal about all big moments that continue to happen - the rest of the pregnancy, the birth, bringing her home, etc. I would like to fill the journal completely and when she is old enough I plan on giving it to her. I hope it means as much to her as it does to me.

So now I am 36 weeks pregnant. At the end of this week she will be considered full term - and the size of my belly definitely confirms that. Last week I was concerned my belly was not big enough but now I am not worried about that at all. I never looked at my belly head on until the other night standing in front of the mirror rubbing my stomach with stretch mark cream. It looked huge. DJ walked into the bedroom and asked what I was doing and I told him I felt like I was basting a turkey but I was only applying my stretch mark cream. He said it gave him a bad visual and I should never refer to applying stretch mark cream as 'basting a turkey' again. I laughed. A few nights later we were getting into bed to watch TV and I layed down in front of him. My head was propped up so I asked if he could see and he smiled. I asked what the smile was for and he replied, "You're kidding right? Can I see? Of course I can't see over your belly. That's like asking me if I can see over the top of a semi when I'm driving your civic". I thought it was very funny! I am now just under 48 inches around and weigh 187lbs - 45 pounds gained total. I am gaining about 5 pounds a week now. We went to the doctor on Monday (we'll start going weekly) and my doctor had to check my cervix. I am already 1cm dilated but only 10% effaced so she doesn't think I will be going into labor too early. We return for another check up on Friday.

DJ started his new job on Wednesday. He loves it! He's working 12 hour days now and he said they don't bother him too much. He likes everyone he works with and he'll start working with his regular engineer tomorrow. John will be his engineer and DJ could not be happier. John was laid off from Union Pacific, just like DJ, only 6 months before DJ got laid off. John and DJ also worked together for a while at Rock Island Rail Road. DJ says he is very smart, safe and great to work with. We all know the people you work with make a huge difference in your job. I'm just glad he likes it. The crew he worked with last week told DJ's boss that they have never had a new employee work as hard or as fast as DJ and they have never had someone learn the rail yard as quickly as DJ did and he didn't need any further training. Yay DJ!

Also exciting news this weekend - we signed the final paperwork on our apartment so it's completely official! Just less than 2 weeks until we move and I can't wait! Here are a few small pictures of our apartment. They finished building on our building but inspections are on Tuesday and we can't go inside until they are done. We are the apartment on the second floor. Our garage is directly beneath us. From far left is our patio, then our dining room window and the three windows look right into the master bedroom. I can't wait to post pictures of the inside! Here is the floor plan for our apartment.

Seems like I'm counting down to everything now - one day at a time!

Uncharted Teritory

In the beginning of my pregnancy I remember taking the first picture of my belly. I took the picture in the morning before I left for work and I had to take the picture because I couldn't believe how big I was! This picture was taken when I was 13 weeks pregnant. Now I have to laugh because when you see the belly now it's much much bigger. All through the pregnancy, all 34 weeks, I have felt nothing but huge. I figured that was the feeling I would experience most - It's worst when someone parks too close to your car door and you have to squeeze into your car!

But last night DJ and I watched more videos in our child birth prep class. They weren't birthing videos but they were of narcotics and epidurals etc for assisting with the labor and delivery. the women in the video footage were huge! They had the biggest belly's ever! Now I feel a little strange about the size of my belly. On one hand it is large - larger than the other two ladies in our class - but today I feel very small. After seeing the women in the video I feel like my belly should be much bigger considering I am only 5 weeks and 3 days from my due date. I have gained 40 pounds but I feel like it might not be enough.

Has anyone else every experienced this during the end of their pregnancy?

More Pictures of the Baby Shower

This was so funny! I keep telling DJ that he is going to have a very hard time telling Taylor "No" because she is going to have him wrapped around his finger and he is going to spoil her so much. He always tries to deny it and says I will be the one unable to tell her "NO". A friend of ours, who had no idea about this, bought us a onsie that says in a heart, "Daddy is wrapped around my finger". As soon as I saw it I laughed and so did everyone else. I laughed because I knew the conversation DJ and I had had but everyone else laughed because the look on DJ's face was so priceless! I had never heard Joel laugh so hard!

DJ's Aunt Jacque made us this diaper cake. She and DJ's Uncle Dean rolled about 200 diapers, stacked them like cake layers and decorated it with ribbon, toys and pacifiers. It was so cute. We haven't taken it down yet but we do plan on using the diapers!

Grandma Carrie made us this blanket. Kara also made us an awesome blanket! I haven't gotten the picture of it yet but when I do I will be sure to post it. It is a pink and white blanket, tied together on the sides just like this one but the pattern is pink and white checkers on one side and the other is K-State logos!! It rocks!

This was a favorite game for everyone. They all had to guess how much string it would take to wrap around my belly! I got some good laughs out of it because all the guys guessed about twice as much string than was actually needed and all the ladies didn't guess enough string. It was actually a 10 year old boy who won the game because he wasn't even an inch over in his guess! All around I am actually 47 inches now!

Baby Shower For Taylor Drew

For those who don't already know, DJ and I decided on a name for our baby girl. Her name is Taylor Drew DeHerrera. We both loved the name Taylor because it's not too girly and it's not too common. We chose the middle name of Drew in honor of DJ's best friend Andrew. We hope she loves her name as much as we do.

Saturday was the baby shower. It turned out great. Tons of people showed up (about 40), the weather was great (it only rained for a few minutes and was very light) and everyone was having a great time. Kara and Jess did a great job planning the baby shower also. They chose five games -
1. Guess how much ribbon you'd need to wrap around Ann's belly
2. Guess the melted candy bar in the diaper
3. What's in a name?
4. How many bottles are in the jar
5. The Beer Bottle - baby bottles were filled and the men had a race to see who could suck the beer out of the bottle the fastest. Joel cheated. As soon as we said 'GO' he unscrewed the top of the bottle and drank it.

All the games were very cute. We gave out gift cards for the winners. We also had a door prize. Everyone who wanted to enter into the door prize drawing had to bring a package of diapers and if their number was pulled from the basket they won a gift card to a restaurant.

We got tons of great gifts and I would like to thank everyone who came or sent us a gift. You have no idea how much it helps! After having the baby shower it really hits home just how fast the whole pregnancy is going. Before we know it she'll already be here!

I also have to tell everyone that last week DJ and I started taking our Child Birth Prep classes. We will go for three more Tuesdays - 3 hours each. I think it's going to help us a lot. I never knew you could chose so many different things about your own delivery. They say I can have her sitting on a birthing ball, laying in the bed, standing up - any way I think I would be more comfortable and would enjoy more. There is a lot to think about. I think it's really going to help DJ understand how to comfort me, how the whole process works and what to expect from the time we get to the hospital to the time we leave. I'll keep everyone posted on our progress. :)

CHOO CHOO!

Friday I played Hooky from work and DJ already had the day off. So we spent some quality time together.

DJ recently applied for Coors (he still has to take a few tests) and he also applied for a short line railroad company; both are located in Golden. He is very excited about the railroad positions. One is a Conductor and another is a Yard master. The railroad company is contracted by Coors to transport all their equipment, ingredients etc around the brewing plant. There are 37.5 miles of track at the plant alone but they do other contract work as well. DJ would be located in Golden right where the brewing plant is. He was curious to see what the tracks looked like at the plant so we drove to Golden after court. It was very pretty up there.

After driving around and looking at everything for a little bit we were on a back road and ran into the Colorado Railroad Museum. DJ and I have always heard about it but neither have ever been. Not having any plans we decided to stop. It was so cute! There were so many train cars there that we were able to walk through (Some were really old) and there was a miniature train track running through a garden. It was a really good time.

DJ was just like a little kid! Since he used to work for Union Pacific Railroad and then also a local short line railroad, Denver Rock Island, he loved being around everything again. He was showing me all the equipment, telling me what everything did, how to unlock the cars from each other, set the brakes etc. He was glowing. I have to admit though. . . I was like a little kid too. He really misses working for the railroad and wants to get back on with someone. He has also applied for Burlington Northern. I hope it all works out for him. He should start hearing something this week.

28 Weeks

We went to the Doctor yesterday for our follow up ultra sound and 28 week check up. I had to take my glucose test - the drink really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and we'll know the results by Tuesday at the latest.

We are going to have a big baby girl! Right now at 28 weeks she weighs in at 3lbs 4oz. That puts her at 11 days heavier than she should be. :) I'm glad she's going to be big - not for the pain factor but because I think bigger babies seem healthier. They are still predicting I will deliver around October 11th also. I thought I had gained over 30 pounds already but the Doctor said I probably weighed myself when I was retaining water on a hot day. I'm really close though. Since the last time we went in I have gained 14 pounds - making it 28 pounds total. My doctor told me I need to keep my portions smaller. I tried to do that today and 40 minutes after I had eaten I was starving again. I am going to try to keep my portions about the same but just start walking every night. We'll see how it goes. They do say your body gains as much weight as it needs to though. DJ laughed at me though because I am close to weighing as much as him and we both know I will pass him up before I deliver. :)

She was so cute. When we first started the ultra sound she was making a sucking motion with her mouth. Too see her little lips moving made me so happy. Her heart is beating 30 beats per minute.

Week 27

You can't see it from this angle but my belly button is half way out and it looks ridiculous! :)

The baby is moving a lot. I love feeling her move around but sometimes I can't tell if it tickles or if it hurts a little. She's growing fast and I can really tell my body is getting ready for her. I now weigh 171 pounds! That's 31 pounds more than I weighed before the pregnancy. Thankfully you can't really tell I've put on that much weight. At the biggest point in my belly I measure 43" around. My chest is constantly growing too and I now wish I owned some type of stock in bras!

We return to the doctor for a follow up ultra sound on the 23rd. We have to make sure my uterus pushed my placenta up far enough to cease any concerns. I'm pretty sure it did. I also have my glucose test on the 23rd and then we will be 30 weeks pregnant! It's gone by so fast! After the appointment on the 23rd I'll start going to the doctors every two weeks instead of every four.

DJ and I got all registered Saturday. We went to Babies R Us and Target. It was a lot of fun but still a little stressful. I never thought registering would take as long as it did but we were at Babies R Us for 3 hours! The baby shower is going to be August 23rd but there is no time set. I'm getting very excited!

I'm going to request that they measure the baby at the next ultra sound so we can see how big she is now! I'll keep everyone posted!

The Cravings Begin

It's official. I now have pregnancy cravings. I'm just very thankful that my cravings are not obscene and are very easy to come across. I crave blueberries, which I have never cared for much and anything cake like. It's not even the frosting or cake I want but the texture of the cake. I find almost anything will hit the spot when one of those cravings comes along. I can eat cake, cupcakes, muffins and it all works. I am enjoying them so much - so much so in fact that I bought a cake last night to enjoy tonight and I bought blueberry muffins. The muffins I made for breakfast this morning. I thought it would be unkind to make the muffins as DJ was leaving for work so I woke up at 4:15 (my normal time to wake up i s 5:30) and started making the muffins so he could enjoy some on his way to work.

Our little baby is moving a lot! Last night DJ and I were watching the Rockies game in bed and he was able to see her kicking through my shirt. I think he really enjoyed that. Lately I am not experiencing only kicking but it feels like she has learned how to wiggle her toes. It makes me laugh because it tickles and I'm so over joyed to feel her moving.

We are planning on having the baby shower August 23rd. This was finally decided yesterday after picking several dates . DJ and I are going to go register Saturday morning and I can't wait. We're so excited!

Expectant Mother

It seems like everywhere you go they now have parking spaces reserved for "New Families & Parents", "Senior Citizens", etc. A long time ago I had seen a parking space at the grocery store reserved for "Expecting Mothers" but it has since been removed. I was doing some errand running and grocery shopping and ran to WalMart. That is where I saw this:

I was so excited I pulled right in without feeling a bit of guilt.

But as I was leaving I got some very rude looks. A man pulled into a handicap space next to me and it was as if I could read his mind. . . "Pregnant women do not deserve their own space". I also noticed a woman walking from her car to the store as I was unloading my cart. She was also pregnant but did not even have a belly as large as mine. She made eye contact with me, started 'waddling' (which was noticeably fake) and sighed as she walked by. There needs to be more of these spaces!

Week 25

Tomorrow will mark the first day of the 25th week of this pregnancy. It has gone by so fast! I can't believe it. Our little girl is kicking like crazy and moves a lot. DJ and I think we are going to name her Payton but nothing is official. We both really love the name but we are having a really difficult time coming up with a middle name we both like that sounds good. I feel so bad not having a name for her yet since we both talk to her all the time.

We went to the Doctor's on Tuesday and everything is going great. She kicked while the Doctor was felling my tummy. I now weigh about 163 pounds, which isn't too bad but my Doctor told me I will start gaining weight a lot more now. The next time we go will be at 28 weeks and I'll take my Glucose test. . . yuck. I picked the Fruit Punch flavored drink and thank goodness it's only 5 ounces! They will also do a follow up ultra sound to make sure my placenta was pushed up by the growing of my uterus. At the 20 week appointment they said I have a low lying placenta and it could cause problems if it doesn't move up. My Doctor doesn't think I am going to have any problems though. After the 23rd of July (28 weeks) we'll start going in every two weeks. That's the first sign that you know you are nearing the end. And I have to tell you that makes me very nervous. I feel like DJ and I are no where near ready for this. I hope we get everything situated by then!

Happy Fathers Day

DJ honestly got the best Father's Day gift ever. . . He got to feel the baby kick for the very first time!

Saturday we went to a graduation party and I felt something I had never felt before. I thought it was a gas bubble at first but when it kept happening I knew it was her kicking. Jess was sitting next to me and she got to feel little kicks. I called DJ over and told him to feel so he placed his hand on my belly and she stopped moving. He poked a few times and nothing happen. Later that afternoon I felt her kick some more and yet again, she stopped moving when DJ got close. I felt so bad for him and he was starting to think she didn't like him. But Sunday night I was laying on the couch and she started kicking again! He felt her kick, only once, but he felt her. What a great gift. I don't think he could have asked for anything better.
Tonight she is back to moving around.She is a squirmy little thing!! Kara got to feel her kick too! It's such an amazing feeling and I don't mind how hard or how often she kicks because I am so amazed by the whole experience. I wanted to cry the first time and didn't even know what to say. It's a total bonding experience that's for sure.
But Saturday at the graduation party we had another new fun experience. . . I got into a bathing suit! It was so hot out and the family that had the party has a pool in their back yard. a bunch of the kids and teenagers were swimming and I had my feet dangling in the water with DJ's mom. Sherri told me I could fit into one of her suits and being as hot as it was I was having trouble turning the offer down. It fit ok, but it was a sight to see! It was so relaxing though.





When I first found out I was pregnant I told Paul we would have to start comparing belly's soon. He always gives me a hard time about how fast the belly is growing. . .so finally we put him to the test. The shirt came off and he posed next to me!





I think he still has me beat a little but he claims he was just pushing it out. We'll have to see about that in a few days! I'm sure I'll pass him up in no time!

But for now we'll just be here kickin' it!

Wait. . . Am I missing something??

You know the feeling you get when you are running late for work but you know you just don't have everything you need for the day? Well I have a feeling similar to that. So I have to ask myself. . . "Am I missing something?"

Oh that's right. . . I'm missing my ankles! And let's not forget the spaces between my toes! I stood in DJ's parents kitchen last night after having sat down for over an hour. I needed to stretch. 10 minutes after standing I look down and notice everything from my knees down is slowly turning purple and what was once my ankles, is now skin starting to fold over the tops of my socks. How unattractive it is to have kankles?!?! So now my legs are hiding my socks and it looks like I have small sausages for toes (you know the one's I'm talking about - served with BBQ sauce at most holiday parties). Cute!

But tomorrow I will be 22 weeks pregnant. I now weigh 163 pounds. So total since the pregnancy began I have gained 26 pounds. I have been trying to watch what I eat, take the stairs at work, take walks in the evenings etc. I don't think that's working though. I was just destined to be big. :) But today I did receive some encouragement. I was picking up the mail in our office mail room and a lady I have never seen looked at me and said, "You're too thin to have a belly like that!". It just made me feel a little better . . . especially after DJ pointed out the obvious last night - that my thighs are getting thick! Yuck! haha.

So here's the baby bump at 22 weeks! If you look close you can see the top of my belly button is about to pop out. I give it about 2 weeks before the whole thing is out!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

DJ and I went to the Doctor yesterday for our 20 week check up! Can you believe it's already 20 weeks? When I first started this blog and found out I was pregnant I was only 6 weeks and 4 days! Time has gone by so fast! (Technically I am only 19 weeks and 4 days but who's really counting).

She was so cute! She wouldn't sit still for the life of her and it took 45 minutes to get all the pictures they needed. They took pictures of her brain, her heart, her organs, limbs and everything else. She was going to town in there just moving around! She even had the hiccups which was the cutest. The doctor said there have been studies that show that hiccups are a great sign showing unborn babies are getting a good oxygen flow. I can't wait until she's big enough for me to start feeling her hiccups and every move. She has all her toes and fingers and everything with her looked perfect. She's about 9 inches long and weighs about 11 ounces. I know most people say "Don't think it's a boy/girl depending on what the Dr. says because I was told I was having a boy but had a girl" or vice verse. Well this little girl was 'already showing off' as our doctor put it so they are about 95% sure she's a girl!

The only bad news the Doctor had to report was on me. It turns out I'll have to give up the ice cream. . . Instead of gaining two pounds (like they told me to) I gained 7 1/2 since our last visit on April 28th! Hahaha. So far this pregnancy I have gained 15 pounds. Meaning instead of a pound a week that is suggested weight gain, I am gaining about 2 1/2! More walking and less Rocky Road! But because I was so skinny when I got pregnant my Doctor said it wasn't too much to worry about but they would like me to cut back. :)

Now here comes the hard part. . . . finding a name! We are both very excited now and can't wait!

Mommy & Daddy

I had to post a new picture of DJ and I. This is the first picture ever taken with DJ rubbing my belly. :) It was taken on Mother's Day!

That Makes It All Worth It

Today the most exciting thing yet has happen to me! I was sitting at my desk working away . . . and I felt the baby move for the first time! It was amazing. I instantly knew it had to be the baby and nothing else and I started crying. I was so overwhelmed with joy. I couldn't stop the tears. It's amazing how someone so tiny, someone you haven't even met yet can have such an effect on you. Everyone has been asking me, now that I'm already in the 5th month, if I had felt any movements and I always got so sad when I had to say no. Some said it felt like they swallowed a Gold Fish, some said it was little flurries and another said she had heard it felt like a cricket running across your tummy. I didn't know what to look for. My doctor told me some women had trouble telling the difference between a gas bubble and little baby movements. I was so nervous I would miss that first sign of movement. But the only way I know how to describe it is that it felt like someone was tickling me from the inside. It was unreal. Sometimes I place my hand on my belly or rub my tummy and it still blows me away that I have a little baby growing inside of me. It's moments like the one I experienced today that just proves that the midnight trips to the freezer for ice cream, constant trips to the bathroom and constant hunger panes are more than worth what's to come.

16 week doctor appointment

Well today I had my check up for my 16th week. My heart rate was good, the baby's was good as well. It's little heart is beating 145 beats per minute. I wanted to cry. I haven't felt the baby move yet but my doctor told me that within the next week and a half I feel the first flutters and little kicks. When the medical assistant was listening to the heart beat she started laughing and asked if I heard the fast swooshing noise, besides the baby's heart beat. The baby was moving around in my tummy while we were listening to the heart beat! I wish I could have seen it but at least I got to hear it. They also drew blood for the Quad-screening and we'll have those results back in about a week. Our next visit is May 20th when I'll be 20 weeks. We'll hear the heart beat, go over general information and get an ultrasound and find out the sex of the baby. I also have to gain a minimum of 2 pounds by our next visit. That will be a total of 10 pounds in the first trimester. From my 20th week to the end of my pregnancy my doctor says she'll need me to gain about 20 pounds. That will put me at an ending weight right around 190! Wow! Thank God for Pilates!

16 weeks and counting . . .

Yesterday marked the beginning of my 16th week of pregnancy. If I deliver on my due date (October 11th) I will have exactly 168 days to go or 59.6% left to go. I have been pregnant for 113 days. Before I got pregnant my waist was about 27". Today's measurements are about 36". Right now the baby is about 3 1/2 ounces, 4 1/2 inches long from head to bottom (averaging about the size of an average avocado). This week the finger and toe nails will start growing and even though the eyes are still sealed shut (which have now moved to the front of the head where they should be) the baby can slowly move it's eyes. Last week it was able to start sensing light. The scalp patterning has begun but it still hasn't grown any recognizable hair. The baby's heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day. This little baby is working hard but I still haven't felt any movement yet. When we went to the doctor on the 14th the heart beat was 156 beats per minute.

Tomorrow we go to the doctor again for a small ob-check up. I will get my blood drawn for the quad-screening (to test for Down Syndrome etc.). We'll hear the babies heart beat and reschedule another appointment for 4 weeks when I will be 20 weeks. Then we will find out the sex of the baby and get out first 3-D ultrasound.

**The beautiful white thing around my chest in the picture is my belly band. I haven't started wearing my maternity jeans just yet. I wear the elastic band (very similar to a small tube top) around my waist, over my jeans and I am able to leave my pants unbuttoned and unzipped. I hear they work great shortly after delivery too.**

Spa Treatment

I went to the spa today and let me tell you, it really was a slice of heaven. But before I get into all the great details of my day I have to say this. . .

You know the feeling you get after having the time of your life? It's like a natural high. Well nothing takes that feeling away quit like going to the cheapest gas station in town and still having to pay $3.47 per gallon. $20 doesn't even get a full 5 gallon. . . not even a full tank. When I purchased my car I only had to put in $15 and I had a full tank. Do I sound like a real adult/parent now? Ha-ha.

Now on to the details of the spa. . .

The pregnancy massafe is 50 minutes and it's totally worth every minute. They give you sandals, a nice comfy robe and walk you back into a private room. Because you aren't able to lay on your stomach when your pregnant this massage differs from a regular professional massage you might receive. The room was dimly lit, had soft music playing and smelt of eucalyptus and lavender. I was to lay on the bed (looked like a twin size bed) and start on my right side. The pillows were the most amazing thing I have ever laid my head on in my life. I was covered my a sheet and down comforter. I could have just taken a nap there and felt relaxed. The massage therapist had me inhale some aroma therapy to relax and began. First the masseuse started working on the left side of my back. She rubber my scalp, worked out all kinks in my back and hips. I flipped over and she did the same on the right side. When my back was done she had me lay on my back and sat me at a 40 degree angle. She had me inhale some more aroma therapy and covered my eyes with a heated herbal pillow. She uncovered my right arm, massaged it with lotion and hot stones. She even went as far as massaging my palm and every finger individually. It was amazing. She left the hot stone in my hand and covered it back up. She did the same with my left arm. With my legs she did the same as the arms but she massaged my feet, including my toes and rubbed them down with the hot stones. It was simply amazing. The last thing she works on was my neck. My collar bone, right above my chest, tops of my shoulders and neck were massaged and again rubbed down with the hot stones. I was ready for bed. She finished by massaging into my skin a tension relief balm that tingled for about 20 minutes and that was the end of it.

I got back into my robe and was greeted at the door with ice cold water. I was lead into a 'relaxation room', had my feet propped up and had a heated neck wrap placed around my shoulders. I was free to sit in there as long as I wished. When I was finished with my water I changed and got ready to leave. Too bad by the time I left it was snowing. . .

But all in all I have never been more relaxed in my life. It was the best gift I have ever been given and I will always remember getting not only a pregnancy massage, but the very first professional massage of my life. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks and get my manicure and pedicure.

Thank you DJ, Dad and Cheryl for the gift! You couldn't have given me anything better!!