Baby Peanut and its heartbeat

Today was our 2nd doctor visit. Met with Dr. Gerwe today and he was so nice. I have to meet 9 doctors before I pop this bambino out.

Dr said I was super healthy and the baby sounds great. Heartbeat was about 150-160 range. As far as my work goes, he says I can work at full force if I feel good. He said keep running and keep going. So I'm happy. I lost 2lbs, but he said that was okay. I should be gaining more towards 20 weeks.

In 4 weeks, I'll get my first ultrasound and another doctor visit. Super excited. Judging from the heartbeat, it looks like a girl. Old wives tales... Maybe it is true :)

Doctor says, it costs about $900 something thousand to raise a kid to 18 years. Paul said if its a girl, tack on another $500k haha. Father knows best!

As I'm laying in bed, thank you to Jenni Liu for the body pillow. It has saved me and my sleep has been so amazing. Paul's sleeping area is very minimal now haha! I can't wait for our babies to play together :)

Another happy day.. Mommy and daddy loves you peanut.

Sunday Fun Day

Thirteen and a half weeks! My taste buds are moving on a faster pace and I am happy food is tasting better. Liking it more on the sweet side.

Went on a quick road trip to Columbus, OH. Got some mommy to be shopping in. Tried on some maternity clothes and eh, maybe it's because I'm short, nothing looks right. Found some comfy jeans. Couldn't stop giggling with the belly band part. Got fitted for some new garments and I'm so amazed by the growth and expansion!! I had a little "I wanna cry moment" because my mom is suppose to be here with me to help me, but my loving Hubbie was right beside me. Thank goodness for the waiting area with TVs. All the daddies to be were glued to the screen watching the UK game haha. Paul has been amazing and so understanding. I don't know what I would do without him.

So, instead went to forever 21 and pursued my usual style. Had to make a stop at "buckeye pho" for some viet food. Got to meet up with auntie Jen and Mister H. Thanks to them, baby and mommy inhaled 2 dishes haha!

Another big THANKS to Auntie Nancy for baby's first books! Love dumbo and Dr. Seuss. Can't wait to start reading it to the baby.

So now, I'm home in bed and ready to sleep. Tomorrow we get another doctor visit!! Can't wait and hope to maybe get an ultrasound??? This time Paul and I will for sure get the heartbeat count so we can answer my mother in law's question to: "was it fast or slow?" hahaha

Love you peanut, they say soon I'll feel your little flutters. I can't wait! Mommy loves you to pieces.

13 weeks + 2 days

My baby peanut is the size of a lemon!!

It's Friday and it couldn't be a better day. It's raining like cats and dogs today, but that doesn't stop mommy from smiling.

I'm finally somewhat showing. A lot of my clients have seen it and touched it and say you're a girl. Daddy says you're a girl, but he's really hoping not. Haha either or, I'll be happy.

Stomach is growling... Today is no meat day, so we will settle for fish sandwich. Ack!
Today, I miss sushi. You're going to eat sushi like your cousin Haley at the age of 3 and ginger!!

Mommy loves you...

Baby adventures

So we began baby shopping part II, and I must say a lot has been accomplished. My second round of researching made a ton more sense and made it easier for me to see what I really want. Many have asked me have I registered and to answer that, it's a yes and no. I started one but haven't yet edited it and finished. Still wanting to wait till I find out the gender first to evaluate my final decisions.

Cribs... I think I narrowed it down. Gonna sleep on it for a few days and see what I really want. Bedding...that's set, but still googling and seeing what else there is. Staying pretty neutral just in case I wanna have a baby #2. Strollers and car seats, that is Paul's department. He will be utilizing that a lot more. Being small has some advantages lol.

Seriously though, who knew having a child would be expensive??? My parents made it look so easy for me. New bedding, furniture at each new age transition, and curtains! My brothers say it was just me, and I was spoiled but still, mom and dad made it look like it was a piece of cake.

On a brighter note... Babymoon is booked!! Going to getaway in the sun and get some mommy and daddy time before the bambino arrives! Not telling yet where, because the husband doesn't even know. Def surprising him! He planned our honeymoon, now I plan the Babymoon. Blindfolding him till we get to the gate :) Can't wait!!!

Here are some pictures from our shopping quest. These are not what I bought so please hold the eye rollings to a limit. Quite entertaining and I fell in love with!!

12 weeks

It's 12 weeks!  Whew!

I ran for 2 miles today.  It was nice to finally feel better.  What a relief!  As I was running, I couldn't help but smile because of all the love that Baby has shown me.  Baby Peanut has been such a joy and such happiness, I can't imagine what the future holds.

I know I always mention my mom, but she is such a huge part of me, she was my life.  Sometimes I find myself saying her words, but I can see she lives within us all.  Before she passed away, she held my hand and said to me everyday in hospice, "there's no one better than your family.  You love your family."  I can't erase that out of my mind.  It's so true.  There isn't anyone else better than the people who know you most and love you unconditionally through everything.  I have to say I have a strong family, that no matter what it is, we are always there for one another.  I could call my brothers right now and say, "i want white castles" and they would get it. Lol, well Jeff would because he'd eat it with me. HA!  my muppy mup. nee wuvs you

Yesterday, we went to my dad's for dinner.  He cooked a big huge feast.  Called me at the salon like there was an emergency, but just saying "come home today to eat for the baby."  I could see how happy he was when he heard me yelling at 845pm, "Dad!  I'm home, where's my food?" hahaha I know so spoiled, but he came down and started to feed us all.  We had such a fun time eating and laughing and talking.  My brothers were joking (which is a sign of the love) around about the baby and we talked about our childhood.  Dad smiled, brothers smiled, Paul's cheesing.  We laughed till our eyes cried and choking on rice.  Jeff chases Paul around the house trying to kiss him.  It hasn't been like this is in like 5 years.  It's like the family is back.  This was how Sunday dinners were every week.

I can finally say Baby Peanut is hope.  My cousin Mary said one day, "this baby is Hop," my mom.  As I'm crying and typing this, I can tell you that this moment in my life, I couldn't be happier.  To see my family laugh and be so excited about this baby and a new chapter in my and the whole family's life, I know my mom is smiling.  If there was one thing I will instill in my child, it is "there is no one better than your family."

Mommy Hop...thank you for your strength and unconditional love. Also, for giving us another hope to happiness forever.  I love you

From Daddy P! =P

Well since I heard your heartbeat a couple of weeks ago things got even more real. Wonder what how you will turn out. Are you going to have my nails....ew I have some ugly nails and hopefully you get your mom's nails. Hopefully you will smile with your eyes like me...haha...actually Nancy's would be better. I'm going to pray you get the best of both worlds. As in being a dad this will be very interesting because this is so brand new. I will provide you with the latest in technology and you will be spoiled rotten probably. Oh well, but hopefully well mannered. I am starting to ask people on what to do to make sure I can help you on your journey to be successful. I want to have a great relationship that we can talk about anything and be there for you no matter what. As far as telling you what I did when I was younger....it was all pg-13 and everything you hear about me is lies =). 

Love Daddy P

Who will you be?

As I'm getting closer to the end of my first trimester, I can't help but wonder how the baby is.  Who does the baby look like?  How will the personality be?  Will it be like Paul or me?  I hope he/she gets my eyes haha!   I seriously can't believe time has flown by.  It was like just yesterday I was trying my best to just make it through the first trimester.  Now, onto my second!  What joy!

As I'm going through all my baby apps, it shows that Baby Peanut is the size of a large plum.  I laugh because I find myself walking through Krogers and randomly picking up whatever fruit the baby size will be and hold it against my belly and smile.  And of course, some random stranger will look at me and I just give them a big cheese like I always do.  It's been so fun being pregnant.  Such a happy moment, actually one of my happiest moments ever.

I can't wait till the baby gets older.  Will it be a boy?  Paul played soccer, I played basketball and volleyball (sad to say, by high school, my height killed my future to be an athlete.)  Will it be book smart?  I was a straight A student and Paul claims to be a genius.  Will it be a girl?  Omgosh, if it's a girl!  I want her to do to all the things I did.  Ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, sing, violin, cheer, NAILS (haha kidding, well not really.)  I was very lucky my parents let me explore and do all the things I did.  One thing I've learned, I never gave up.   I wasn't allowed to quit, which I think now has made me who I am today.

Which brings me to the subject of what kind of parent will I be?  At times, I think gosh my parents were so strict, but now, it wasn't so bad and it was for the good.  It made me who I am today, which I'm thankful.  I hope I will be strong like my parents and be able to juggle all the things and times and activities.  They had four kids in sports and all.  I only have one and I'm scared!  I'm glad my mom and I worked together for so many years.  All those talks, lectures, and wisdom she had, I miss them and learned so much.  It's definitely hard and heart breaking at times to realize that my mom isn't going to be around, but I've established so many relationships within these past four years, that it has helped so much to deal with her passings.  I hope one day, Baby Peanut will read this and see what joy and happiness he/she has brought to me.

We went registering, well started a little, and it was sooooo much stuff!  Paul was so funny and he seemed to enjoy all the things we were looking at.  Thanks to his cousin Anna, for the "Baby Bargains" book, our eyes were glued and on the hunt.  It's just exciting that now we get to shop for our kid, kinda surreal but happy!

Two more days till 12 weeks= 3 months
Next Doctor appointment is March 26th.
Weight gained= 1.8 lbs
belly status= it's popped out!  but still in that "hmm she looks pregnant, but could be fat" stage =)

The end.

11 weeks and I can eat!

I have the most amazing husband ever!!!!

Last night I thought he was playing with his fish, but he actually was cooking. While I went to bed early, and I woke up with a pot of pho, pot of Chao, and a pot of Thit kho.

I haven't been eating so much, but one day my dad made Thit kho but only shared a tiny portion. I inhaled it like nothing. Paul noticed I ate it and I must have raved about it. So he called my dad up for the recipe. This totally made my heart smile and got me all warm.

I came home from work and ate up everything like there was no tomorrow. I'm so happy to finally eat eat eat! Thanks to my love, he treats me so well! He's gonna be an amazing daddy!

Now I have heartburn, but it's okay! So worth it! Baby was well fed tonight.

The end. Love you P

The baby morpher and going to 11 weeks

So I went on thebump.com and tried to see what my baby would look like.

Results:
White skin
Red hair

Hahaha um Paul said I had explaining to do. Hilarious.

Though it showed a boy... Or maybe it's a butch-like girl??? Just My luck!

Belly is slowly showing. Not big yet. Still tired but getting better. Please let this exhaustion be over.

Your heartbeat was a song to me

We heard the baby's heartbeat!!! Went to the doctor's today. Dr. Kirkwood is actually the father of a good friend of mine and he couldn't have made this first experience any better.

He helped explain all my nervousness and made me feel so at ease with all my thoughts.

He then began to put the gel on my belly. He said there was a 40% chance we might not hear it, so I was ready.

Then... Voila! Thump! Thump! Thump! So fast! I got so excited I cried and I looked at Paul's face and he was smiling so big his eyes disappeared. This is a miracle and Dr. Kirkwood smiled and said you are doing amazing!

I guess all the vitamins and the organic fruits and veggies is all working. Baby, mommy has never eaten this healthy, but it is so worth it! I love you and I'm so excited!!!

Big brother Bentley

Throughout this whole experience how could I forget my shadow? Bentley has been with me through all my days. He's the one laying next to my feet, laying his head on my belly and always on guard if he hears a sound and following me to all my bathroom trips. God love him.

Last night after work, he got a special surprise! Thank you to cousin Anna for his adorable tee. He was so proud wearing it that when I tried to take it off, he growled at me. No lie!

He's gonna be a wonderful buddy to baby Peanut. They're already a team.