Memorial Weekend, Preparing for our baby girl

This entire Memorial weekend was dedicated to preparing for the baby. We painted the nursery (thank you Billy samchun!), ordered her bedding, started collecting room decor, and purchased her nursery furniture (not to mention the full-on house cleaning and re-organizing). Danny's parents were extremely generous and bought her the crib and mattress. We also ordered the matching combo unit (changing table/dresser) and the additional chest. And of course her collection of mini clothing and wardrobe is well underway. =)

I decided I wanted her nursery paint color to be a creamy, light beige color so I could do more with accessories. I wanted a clean, peaceful, calming, sanctuary for her and it turned out quite nice, I love it. The bedding I chose is mostly white with pops of blues. Her quilt will also be blue. I wanted to avoid the baby themed decor so I went hunting at a few of my favorite stores, World Market and Home Goods where I found a white wooden floral hook and these great crate/storage boxes that have a romantic garden theme that I absolutely love. Karen and I went to the Arlington Flea Market on Sunday to do some browsing as well. My goal was to find an old vintage bookshelf that I could repaint for her in a rustic white or green. I ended up finding really pretty vintage floral prints in white, blues, and greens that will go perfectly on her walls.

All of these things are in the pictures above including "big sister" Roxy who was helping in her own way =). The pink walls are what we were actually covering with her new paint color, not a fan of pink! The nursery is no where near complete but I wanted to document the work in progress so I can look back and remember this time with fondness. When I started hanging up her first little onesy in her new room, I took a moment to smile...each step closer we get the more exciting and real everything becomes. What a feeling of nostalgia these events will bring in years to come.

20 Week Ultrasound, 5.15.09

(1st picture is the "girl" part they circled and the 2nd is a face view)

20 weeks is a happy time. You are half way through your pregnancy, you can feel your baby kicking, you have a lot of the initial genetic testing completed.....and you can find out the gender of your precious little one!

Our experience at our 20 week ultrasound was the most exciting thing I have encountered thus far, in my life. Not sure if all new mothers feel that way but for me it definitely took the cake. What makes me even giddier is knowing that this is going to be one of many, many milestones to come, wow am I going to be spoiled!

First off, I was so excited the night before I barely slept. Danny and I had planned for weeks to make a day out of it and both took off work. We had our ultrasound scheduled in the morning, planned on heading to the mall to finally be able to purchase our first gift for our baby, grab lunch, and then head to my 20 week check-up. We were certain we were having a boy (along with the rest of the world) and so we were excited for the confirmation of this good news and also hopeful of normal growth progression of the baby.

Nancy, my ultrasound tech, was really nice and extremely professional. We had little waiting time and I was scooted into the room almost immediately. She began her examination like clockwork- showing us the head, spine, heart, each leg and arm etc. I had already started crying at this point (pregnancy hormones) because it just dawned on me that without any effort on my part this baby was actually developing with all its little parts, perfectly. Miracle is a word that is often thrown around with pregnancy but I finally really got it. (Took me 20 weeks but I got it!)

Nancy then told me to roll to my side and I felt the anticipation of her looking for the parts she needed to see. I was squinting up at the screen trying to make out anything/something when she calmly said, It's a girl. Pause. Silence. Hmm, perhaps she doesn't know what she's doing, is what I was thinking while quite confused. Danny and I looked at each other and both said very loudly WHAT? Are you sure?? She was slightly startled and asked "Yes, looks like a girl...hope this is a good thing?" We started laughing and continue to barrage her with the "Are you sure's??" I went to the restroom, lost control of my tears, and ran back for our pictures. When she handed them to us I had her re-explain why she thought it was a girl. Just checking!

If I could capture one moment and tie it up with a bow, it would the look on Danny's face and that instant we were told that we were having a little girl. Tehehhee. I pretty much cried the rest of the afternoon. I knew I had always wanted a girl but to this extent I did not know. Yes, 20 weeks is a happy time. =)

Mother's Day Weekend

What a great weekend!

Full of sunshine and quality time. The hubby and I headed into DC to enjoy the weather. We went to the Wax Museum and an early dinner at Clydes, courtesy of a GC he received from dancing like a maniac at a Wizards game. Will baby inherit daddy's skill, or lack of =) ? On Sunday (which is reserved for real mothers) he surprised me in bed with McD's breakfast, a thoughtful card, & a gift certificate to a pre-natal massage. Really? Wow. Totally unexpected and so undeserved.

What do I mean when I say 'real mothers'? I mean those that have already walked that journey. Pouring their hearts, tears, and love into the very existence of the little innocent lives they have helped create. To never give up. I have yet to cross that threshold and can only hope to shadow those mothers before me.

We also watched the movie Sugar in the theater. What a great movie about the hardships of immigrating to the States for a dream of a better life for your family against the challenges of language, education, & money. Without the option to fail. That movie combined with a touching & amazing Mothers Day blog I read of GK's made me want to point out (to myself) to remember these times of leisure and pampering, like I had this weekend. I live my day-to-day complaining about the little things when I have everything I need at my fingertips and only when I see snapshots into hardship & triumph do I stop to really appreciate what I have been given. What a charmed life compared to those before us and how easier we all have it because of them.

Mental note: remember these moments and always be grateful.

"Whoa...you're showing now!"

I got that quite a bit at work late last week...I'm definitely showing more and more a little each day! I'm still wearing regular tops sometimes for work but the cardigans are being stretched across me now, which probably makes it even more obvious & a little silly looking =).

Minus a few weird episodes, I feel so lucky to have had such an easy breezy pregnancy so far. I can only hope the 2ND half will be the same. Everything seems to be running like clockwork, even related to feeling the baby move. I started to feel flutters in my 16Th week but its definitely stronger now heading into my 19Th week, and also more consistent during the night and mornings. Haven't felt a hard kick yet-- can't wait for that!

Counting down the days until May 15th. =)