Finn knows...

I have always read that animals have a sixth sense about them and that they know when a woman is expecting. Finn has been his crazy usual self around me, nothing suspicious until I hit 35 weeks. He is very clingy. He will cry if I go into another room with the door shut and he LOVES laying on me and my belly. It is very endearing!

Here is some proof... please disregard my AWFUL appearance... that is what a swollen pregnant face looks like on bed rest!

Bed Rest...

I knew this day might come because of my diabetes, but hearing it was a shock! My bllod pressure has been creeping up each week and at my last appointment, I was so swollen too. So, I am not on bed rest. I can get up to shower, go to the bathroom or grab a bite to eat. I am only on day 3 and I am BORED OUT OF MY MIND! I have done a bit more than I should be - there is still lots of nesting to do! But, I have noticed that the swelling in my feet has gone down, so that can't be a bad thing.

Next Tuesday I go for an amniocentesis to see if Bean's lungs are developed. If they are, we might schedule an induction sooner than July 7th!! The only problem is that the lungs sometimes take a little longer to develop in diabetic pregnancies. So, please send some prayers our way!

36 Weeks

Here is an updated photo of the bump!

7/7/2010

Got the official word today from my midwife that Bean will get his eviction notice on July 7th if he doesn't come before then!!! He will have a cool birthday - 7/7

On a side note... I had to do a non stress test for about 50 minutes today because Bean would not stay still to get a good heartbeat reading... he is going to be one active boy!

Maternity Photo Album

Click here to view this photo book larger

35/35 and Nursery

I have made it to 35/35! That is 35 weeks along, with 35 days to go!!

I have been feeling the pressure or "nesting" because it seems like Bean will be here before we know it. I also had high blood pressure at my last appointment and was told to be on modified bed rest over the weekend... so I am getting anxious that I am going to be put on permanent bed rest.

With the need to nest, Eric and I made a final run to Babies R Us and got the last few items that we need to be ready for Bean to arrive. All of his 0-3 month clothes, blankets, boppy covers, sheets, etc. have been washed and put away and I think the room is in order finally!

Here are some photos of the nursery:



The wall above the crib will have his name in block letters... and I think we decided on THE NAME!!! But, that will have to be a surprise!

32w 3d

I had my 32 week appointment today. It turned into a 2 hour appointment!!! I have started getting Non-Stress Tests (NST):

"The test involves attaching one belt to the mother’s abdomen to measure fetal heart rate and another belt to measure contractions. Movement, heart rate and “reactivity” of heart rate to movement is measured for 20-30 minutes."

Bean is still small so he wasn't as active as they need him to be, so I ended up being on the monitor for around 45 minutes. They had me eat a granola bar to wake him up. Everything looks totally normal though.

I also had a growth ultrasound today and he is measuring right on target and is in the 40-50% percentile. He was estimated to weigh around 4lb 10oz.

I even found out that I may have Lyme disease! I have a bulls eye mark on my rib cage, so I am on antibiotics for the next 3 weeks as a precaution. Never a dull moment!!!

29/30 weeks

Here are some 29 week bump photos.



I had a doctor visit yesterday at 30 weeks and I am measuring right on target (belly wise) and the Bean doesn't feel big - which they were worried about due to my diabetes. I was relieved to hear that! My induction date will be the week of July 5th. That is the 39 week mark, and they like to deliver diabetics about a week early so baby doesn't grow too big.

28 weeks

We went today to UConn for a follow up ultrasound (last time Bean had his arms crossed across his chest) to look at Bean's growth and his heart. Today he had one arm across his chest, but they were able to get all of the measurements they needed. The doctors said that everything looks great. He is weighing approx. 2lb 14oz which is pretty much on target for 28 weeks. His feet are still measuring large... good thing one of his grandfathers works for Converse haha!

We got a good look at his profile and we are in love. He looks so stinkin' cute! He also had hiccups for the first time during the ultrasound... it was such a neat feeling and it made the ultrasound tech laugh because she could feel them too.



We are still in contention about the name... but we have about 10 more weeks until go-time, so hopefully we will agree on something great!

(Almost) 26 Weeks!

My bump is growing rapidly! Shirts that I use to wear don't quite cover the bump anymore but I am enjoying showing now. People just seem to be nicer. They hold the door for me, let me get off of the elevator first, smile at me for no reason, and give up their parking spots.... technically the last one isn't because they can see the baby bump, but they must see my face glowing with pregnancy or something haha!

Eric and I put the crib together last weekend and I washed all of the bedding and Bean's room is starting to feel like a nursery! I also bought argyle vinyl wall decor from Uppercase Living that I can't wait to get in and put up!

Names have been the hot topic in the Milot household for the past few weeks. We have a list that we like but nothing is standing out to us. If you have any suggestions, we would LOVE to hear them, so comment away. We will be keeping the name a secret until Bean is born, so you will have to stay tuned.

I have also been told by my OB that if I do not go into labor by July 5th, I will be induced. With diabetic mamma's they like to induce about a week early so the baby doesn't get too big. I was told before that it would be July 11th, but I will take the 5th!!

I would also like to make a plea to my ankles... PLEASE STOP SWELLING... thank you!

Have a Happy Easter everyone!

Bean is A Movin'!

I started feeling little twinges or tickles about 4 weeks ago. In the past week I have been able to feel Bean moving around a lot! It feels like he is doing somersaults - it is the neatest feeling. Feeling Bean move around is a wonderful reminder that I have a growing baby inside my belly! Here is my 22 week bump photo (please don't mind my puffy face... oh pregnancy how I love thee!!)

The New Digs

Eric and I moved into our new home this past weekend with the help of many friends and family! We are so thankful for all of your help. We were even lucky enough to have some of the guys put together some of Bean's nursery furniture!

We are just about all unpacked now and Finn is enjoying his new home as well. He loves to just sniff around and he is even braving the cellar steps now!

Here are a few photos of the place (please don't mind the things scattered everywhere!)

Nursery Bedding

We waste no time... Eric and I already had in mind what we wanted to do for the nursery if it was a boy or a girl. Girl - paisley. Boy - argyle. So, we found the perfect bedding on Babies R Us and Target and wouldn't you know... they were all sold out. So, we ended up buying it from Baby Earth (which is a super cool website by the way).

Preparing to be outnumbered...

Because - IT'S A BOY!!!



We had out Level II ultrasound at UConn today and things went well. Of course our little man was laying the wrong way so they couldn't measure some of the things they needed to, but we will be going back next month for an echo cardiogram and more measurements. Bean has all of his important extremities and the brain and heart look good. The ultrasound tech said that he has big feet! I will post the ultrasound pics soon, but it was plain as day that little Bean is a boy!!

Thanks to all of those that voted. I honestly had no feeling one way or the other. Now I am preparing myself for lots of mud, frogs and salamanders!

Pondering Bean's Gender

I am getting very excited about out big ultrasound tomorrow at UConn. We are going to hopefully find out the sex of Bean. In the past Bean has been known to cross it's legs so we shall see. After looking through numerous name websites and books for boy and girl names... it is hard to believe that tomorrow we are only going to have to search for one or the other.

To find out or not to find out... I think it is such a personal choice (as is anything that is baby related). I think not finding out is such a wonderful surprise, but for this pregnancy this time, it isn't right for us. I feel like I will be able to have a closer connection with Bean once we find out and I am very excited for that! And, it wouldn't be right if I didn't say that another reason is that I am SUPER excited to decorate the nursery beforehand... just sayin'! haha Or A

So, here is hoping I can have sweet dreams and not be up all night wondering what sex little Bean is!

P.S. Aren't tie dye onesies so cute?!

Nursery Furniture!

After researching and searching and driving all around... we decided on the nursery furniture that we wanted! We are getting the "Olivia" crib from JC Penny and a 3 drawer chest (to use as a changing table) and a 5 drawer chest that match the crib.



I also want to thank my parents for generously helping us to get the nursery furniture - it is such a wonderful gift! We love you.

Vote

Don't forget to vote on the gender of Bean. You can find the poll on the right hand side of our blog. We find out Feb. 18!

18 Weeks

Here is a photo of my ever expanding belly!

"Hi Dad!"

I went to my OB around 17 weeks and got a nice ultrasound surprise. I got to see Bean's cute little hand. Bean was missing dad so Bean waved and we got it on the screen!


.:"Hi Dad!":.

First Bump Photo

I have been feeling pregnant or just plain ol' fat lately... so now that I have a bump to show... I am going to show it! haha This was taken at 16 weeks.



I am now wearing almost exclusively maternity clothes since things are too small, too short, ride up, etc. I want to thank Julie and Vicki for being so generous and letting me borrow their maternity clothes... it has been SO helpful! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

13 weeks

Since I have had Type 1 diabetes since I was 6, I knew that this pregnancy would be considered high risk. I have been going to at least one doctor's appointment a week! I go to Backus for my diabetes care and to Day Kimball for my OB. I am working VERY hard to keep my blood sugars in good control and my latest a1C was 6.2. That is a very good number and I am trying to get in the 5's for the remainder of my pregnancy.

I also have to go to the UConn Health Center for my big ultrasounds. We went for our first trimester ultrasound at 13 weeks 2 days. They did screenings for downs syndrome and a few other genetic disorders (all of which the Bean does not have or has a very low chance of developing.) For the downs test, they have to measure the Bean's fluid on the back of the neck. The Bean did not want to cooperate! We shook my belly, laid on my side, went to the bathroom, jumped up and down to see if the Bean would move... I hope this is not going to be a foreshdowing of how Bean is going to act when Bean is born! The bonus of the uncooperative behavior was that we got to have a 45 minute ultrasound!!! It was amazing. It was such a special time for Eric and I to look at our little baby and see it (I hate calling Bean "it"!) move and kick and open it's mouth. At one point both of Bean's hands went up as if it was saying, "That's enough!"

We also got to hear the heartbeat for the first time. It was a healthy 158bpm.


.:Look at that cute little profile! I think the Bean is going to have Eric's mouth for some reason:.

8 weeks

I had many of the usual symptoms or side-effects of pregnancy in the beginning. Luckily my nausea was only followed by vomiting once! The bloating was the worst!

Our first appointment and ultrasound was at 6 weeks and we got to see the sac, but no Bean. So, we went back at 8 weeks and were able to see a little blob - I know how endearing! We did see the flutter of the heart beat and that was pretty amazing. Seeing that made it all seem real. I have been so happy that Eric has been able to make it to all of my important ultrasound appointments! It is so nice having there.



During all of this we sold our condo!! It was a very exciting time for us since we have been wanting to move for over over a year. Since we didn't have a house lined up we have been staying with my parents. Finn has been loving all of the added attention! We are so thankful to have this option! About a month in we bought a house in Zadora Heights in Dayville. We will be moving at the end of February! We are so excited to move into our new home and to raise the Bean there.

The beginning of the Bean

I had a inkling that I was pregnant. I had been waking up starving and with a strange twitter in my stomach and my breasts were really sore. I had been telling Eric that if I didn't get my period by Friday of that week, I would take a test. Me being the free spirit that I am, woke up Wednesday morning and decided that I was going to take a test. While Eric was still sleeping I took a test and it was POSITIVE! I screamed to him that I was pregnant and he was deliriously saying, "I thought you were going to wait until Friday!" haha We were THRILLED. We had been trying for about 3 months. I went the next day to the doctor's to confirm.

That weekend we made a shirt for Finn that said, "I'm Going to be a Big Brother" and brought him over my parent's house. On Sunday, Eric's parent's came down and we had Finn wear the same shirt. It was a great way to tell our parents!



We hope you will follow us through this journey of the good, the bad, and at times the ugly I am sure! I won't post any photos that are too graphic for those with weak stomachs haha!