she's moving!

Well, i have wondered for the last few weeks if it was actually the baby moving inside, or just gas. Matt and I are pretty certain it is the baby. He felt her move about a week ago and last night we actually sat and watched my belly move as she kicked. It was really cool! she was really active last night, not so much that matt could feel her, but i could hardly get to sleep. This is the fun part.
What isn't the fun part is having your daughter sitting on your sciatic nerve. Good Lord! I do believe I have coaxed her off of it, if only for the day. Over the weekend I could hardle move. My mom is spending some time here since she had a mild heart attack last week, so we had to clean out the guest room. and when I say we i mean my wonderful wonderful husband cleaned out the room while I sat on the couch and did homework. My mom is doing well, we have her and her two dogs here for a rest. NOTE: a rest for them! =) they are actually doing pretty good, star and shelby are turning out to be good friends and simba and sadie were already close, so we're ok. - - back to the sciatic nerve - - there were a couple of days when I would be walking and get stuck. i couldn't move forward of backward, I just had to wait until the pain lessened enough to move. it was terrible. I laugh about it now, I sounded like such a martyr. Oh! poor me, I had morning sickness, I have sciatica. but it really did hurt at the time.
I have also offically grown out of my pants! thank god I'm turning 30 when I pregnant, so i can blame the growing fetus in my belly.
School starts in a week, I'm nervous about the work load I've taken on, but believe I want to graduate bad enough to power through it. I will graduate next december, but have decided to stay and walk in May. by then it will be 14 years after I took my first class. What a long trip. 2006 Marriage, 2007 Baby, 2008 Graduation. I was telling Matt, that one of these years when nothing exceptional happens we are going to be bored. NAHHHHH!

We're having a girl

Well it's offical, we're having a little girl. I had an ultrasound earlier today and am excited to report that everything looks good so far. We entered into today thinking it would be a girl and kind of hoping for a boy, but when everything was said and done it really didn't matter. We arrived for our appointment at 2:30 with a full bladder. They came to take us to the room at about 2:45 and just as we were entering the room a woman, crying and followed by her husband were pushed in past us. They asked us to wait, that this woman was coming from the ER, and we returned to the waiting room. We learned a little later that while were were wondering what our baby would be, this other woman was learning that she wouldn't be able to have her baby at all. it really put things in perspective. they called us in, I laid on the table and they squished warm gel on my belly. As they began rubbing around on my stomach, all I could think was - I have got to pee! a few minutes into the exam, the tech asked if i had felt the baby move - I giggled and said yes, well... I think I do, well sometimes... The tech didn't say anything. I stopped giggling, got quiet, why had she asked. did she want to know when specifically was the last time i had felt the baby move - was the baby NOT moving now - was something wrong? about 5 minutes later, but seemed like years, she said, "I asked that question becuase everytime I try to get this picture she turns over - - - can you feel that?" WHAT?! are you kidding me? couldn't you have said that seconds after asking the question - a sigh of relief! i mentioned that I had consumed 32 oz of water - she said if the baby didn't stop moving she would just take a few more pictures and then let me empty my bladder. evidently it only takes 16 oz of water, but they tell people 32 because most people only drink 8oz - good to know! she finished the pictures, I emptied my bladder and returned to the room to have more pictures taken and to find out the sex. a new tech was there, she was very nice. She showed us the kidneys, the stomach, the heart, head, arms, legs - and then she gaves us the view we were waiting for. "See those three lines - yep, it's a girl." I couldn't believe it, and still can't - this little thing growing in my belly isn't just an it anymore - it's a she! They took quite a fe pictures for us. They appreciated our patience while they were looking after the other woman. We will post them as soon as we get them scanned. She tried to get a good 3D photo, but the baby had her hands up right in front of her face - they were cute anyway! We met up with the grandparents to share the news - They are very excited as well -

So - we've decided no more funny name - only real contenders allowed. you are welcome to submit your thoughts, but know that no official names will be announced until after she is born and the birth certificate has been signed. Names musn't necessarily begin with M to be considered.

And so here we are - 19 weeks and counting -

passing time

time is passing quickly. I have entered my 19th week and am feeling worried and excited all at the same time. Blood work taken a couple of weeks ago, called a fetoalphaprotein, will reveal any genetic defects. I have convinced myself to discontinue watching the health channels "A Baby Story" until after the baby is safely delivered. Anything that could go wrong during a pregnancy and childbirth does during the hour long program. Nerve racking, just not worth it. I find myself reading up on Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida and anxiously awaiting the results from my blood test. I expect we will hear something at our next OB appointment On the 9th. Speaking of appointments... Thursday is the big day for finding out if we are having a He or a She. The little thing can stop being refered to at it and can loose the asexual moniker "Margaret Thatcher".
We are trying to decide on themes for the room - Jungle seems to be what we both like. I have a feeling my thoughts of muraling the walls will cause me too much anxiety and we seem to have settled on something a bit more realistic. If only I were more artistic and less lazy =).
2 big milestones around the Janssen house. Matt has begun the process for painting the nursery and I got the jacuzzi to work. When i say "I" got it to work, i mean Larry the spa guy got it to work, but I believe I was very helpful. We took a very shot very HOT dip a couple of nights ago. I didn't stay too long - I hear pregos shouldn't spend too much time in the hot water!
Preparations are underway to get the house in tip top shape for the arrival of our little one. we recently purchased furniture for the living room - hooray no more sitting on the floor. I am determined to get the upstairs organized and make the garage a place shelby will like to sleep. Sadie could really care less about the renovations as long as she gets her food and water and an occasional lick of matt's feet.
I think Matt is still having a hard time enjoying the journey - He seems what can happen every day at work! I'm sure after our next Ultrasound and OB appointment we will be a little more relaxed. The grandparents seem to be enjoying it so far. My mom just recarpeted one of her spare rooms and is painting, papering and preparing to make it into a nursery. She has decided on a bear theme - Lord help us! Matt's mom and dad have also started offering assistance. I think we all agree that Shelby will be one of the biggest worries when we bring the baby home. She is still a youngster herself and needs lots of attention. Matt;s parents have offered to watch her if needed - I'm sure that invitation will be extended to the baby as well!
We are just about at the half way point and eveything is looking well - I feel good (minus the fact that my 30th is approaching quickly).

21 weeks to go - it doesn't seem possible!