Baby Bump at 23 weeks

I'm turned a little too far forward and you can't see the baby bump as well in this picture, but my puppy looked so cute I couldn't resist.

Baby Bump at 23 weeks with Skin

My Mom keeps bugging me to send her pictures of my belly showing skin. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of these pictures, but I can't exactly tell her no, either. So here you go. Please take note that it was later in the evening and I had already changed into my pajamas.

Reality Check

The farther along I get in my pregnancy, the more of a reality check I have. Sometimes I start to get very nervous about raising another person... you know, being responsible for another human being! A million question start running through my mind, and chief among them... Am I going to be a good Mom? Will I put my child's needs above everything else? Am I capable of doing this job, and doing it well? Will my daughter love and respect me the way I have loved and respected my Mom? Will I teach her everything she needs to know and prepare her for this great big world? A world that I'm still learning myself, mind you. These are all rhetorical question, of course, but continuously run through my mind.
I guess in the end time will tell. I was told by a very wise man that it is necessary to discipline your children, but most importantly, make sure they always know that you love them. As of right now, this is my plan of action... to love her, discipline if necessary, but above all else, love.

21 weeks, 4 days

So here I am 21 and a half weeks along. I swear my belly gets bigger everyday! My husband will leave for work, come home the next morning and just stare at my belly, amazed at how much bigger it has gotten since he saw it the previous day. I have a feeling I'm going to be huge, an absolute whale at the end of my pregnancy. I swear I'm not eating just cookies and ice cream. I'm pretty much eating the same way as I did before I became pregnant. I just feel like my belly is growing extremely fast and I'm a little worried what I'm going to look like 3 and 4 months from now. We'll see...

We're Having a Baby GIRL!!!

Okay, so I have to tell you about my doctors appointment and my emotional reaction. I have to start by saying that every bone in my body, (almost) everyone I spoke with, and every old wives tell was telling me that I was having a baby boy. I truly believed I was and the sono was going to confirm that. So when she told me, "It's a girl," I just froze. I was absolutely in a state of shock. I was NOT mad, NOT upset, NOT disappointed, just in absolute shock.
Now, for those of you who are reading this and aren't close family members I should tell you, I grew up with brothers. I have never really been around little girls, never played barbie or dolls. I was always with boys, not girls. I have always worried that I wouldn't know what to do with a baby girl if I had one. I have also always had this fear that if Dustin and I had a little girl that Dustin would not be able to tell a crying little girl the word "No." She would have him wrapped around his finger (I still think this). I feared I would always be the bad guy, he would always be the good guy... she would love him and hate me b/c I was the one who told her "No." I realized that to many of you I now sound that like an irrational pregnant woman who is full of crazy hormones that makes her say stupid things, but I really did think these things. These were very REAL concerns for me.
So, when I was told "You're having a baby girl," I froze. Tears started pooling in my eyes. Dustin came over to hug me and I just lost it... I started balling. Again, I was shocked, and a little nervous about having a little girl.
When the doctor left the room I was finally able to look at my husband, and I don't think I have ever seen him so thrilled in my life. He was ecstatic, couldn’t be happier. Then he saw the worry in my eyes and asked me what was wrong. In my shocked, crazed, hormone-filled emotional state I blurted out, "She's going to love you and hate me... I don't know what to do with a little girl." He looked at me like I was absolutely crazy, and I must say, I don't blame him. Then he pretty much told me I was crazy, that he didn't know what to do with a little girl either but we would figure it out together.
It took me a few minutes but I realized that he was right, we would figure it out together and most importantly we will love her with all of our hearts. My initial shock quickly wore off and I must say, I’m very excited about having a little girl. I’m still a little worried that I’ll always be the bad guy, but much more than that I’m excited that we’re having a little girl. I look forward to all the cute dresses, earrings, dance class, the mother-daughter bond, and yes evening the dolls. Dustin could not be more excited about having a little girl. She might already have him wrapped around her finger.
We have decided to name her Maddison Lynn Mikes. We both really liked the name Maddison, and we’ll likely end up calling her Maddie for short… we’ll see. My Mom’s middle name is Lynn, and I wanted to have some part of my Mom’s name given to my daughter, so Lynn it was.
Here are some pictures of Maddison, she is 20 weeks and 2 days old in these pictures. Enjoy!
Oh, and if anyone out there has lots of experience raising little girls… I’m all ears ;)

Our Baby Girl, Maddison Lynn Mikes

19 /20 Weeks Photo

Dustin and I have conflicting info regarding my stage of pregnancy. One place I'm told I'm 19 weeks, and another tells me I'm 20 weeks. At my next obgyn appt I'll find out for sure how far along I am.
As for me... all is well, and getting bigger all the time. I've started to feel the baby kicking. I don't feel it very often, maybe only once or twice a day, but when I do its amazing. I look forward to many more kicks ;)

17 weeks and counting

I went to the doctor today and had my blood drawn for some routine tests, like Down's Syndrome. Dr. Wagner told me that all of my previous labs have looked great, and the pregnancy thus far has been just perfect. We also listened to the baby's heart beat again today. It was beating at a very normal 150 beats per minutes. Dr. Wagner said that at this stage in my pregnancy the baby's heart will beat anywhere from 140-170bpm. Pregnancy wise, everything has been going very well. I've never suffered from morning sickness and that alone has been a huge blessing. Lately I have been experiencing lots of headaches. Again Dr. Wagner assured me that was normal and to take Extra Strength Tylenol, which thankfully does the trick for me.
The past 3 days I've had cold-like symptoms... cough, chest congestion, headache, body aches. But most importantly, NO fever. Today I feel much better than I did the past two days. I have no worry of having the flu, but I will still go get a flu shot some time this week. I'm just thankful that I'm already on the downswing of this short lived cold, the worst is definitely over.
My next doctor appointment will be to determine the sex of the baby! I can't wait!!!! I'll post the findings as soon as I know them.
And for all you who live far and who are not Mom, I've posted a few pictures of my growing belly. Dustin says he can tell everyday that my belly is getting bigger. Enjoy!

17 weeks

Baby's First Picture

Here is the very first picture of Baby Mikes!!! At the time of this TV sono I was 8 weeks pregnant. The day before my regularly scheduled OB appt I started spotting. (Perfect timing for an OBGYN exam) During the exam, she saw more blood than she would have liked to, so she sent me to get a sono. She was airing on the side of caution, which I completely agreed with and was thankful for.
Sono took me in right away and I got a look at our baby for the first time! I can't describe that feeling... you Moms out there know what I'm talking about. For the past 8 weeks I knew I was pregnant, but seeing that picture made it real... if that makes any sence. I was in absolute awe of the miracle of life, and the fact that I was carrying it!
The sono technician quickly found the source of blood (shown in the 2nd picture), and she told me there was no need to worry. She then moved on to the baby's heart beat (the 3rd picture). It was absolutely amazing to watch the heart beating. It was going a fast 170 beats per minute, but I was asured that is a normal pace for a baby.
After the sono, I met back up with my OBGYN. She confirmed what the technician had told me. The small amount of blood was very normal espicially at that point in my pregnancy, the bleeding would soon pass, the baby was at no risk. All was well! I left that appt relieved and excited. And of course with my very first baby picture!

My First Baby, My First Blog

Well, a good friend of mine, Missy Flint, encouraged me to start a blog about Baby Mikes. This way all friends and family can stay up to date on all the latest news regarding my pregnancy and our new edition. This is my first blog, so it will probably take me a little bit to figure out how to do everything. (I'll be calling Missy at all hours... see what you've started ;)

As of today, I'm exactly 14 weeks pregnant. I've just started to show a small baby bump. To be honest, I wish I was showing more. Up to this point, it just feels like my whole stomach has gotten bigger, but no "baby bump" definition until this week! I'm so excited to get the pregnant belly and to feel the baby kicking!!!

My next Dr. appt is in 3 weeks. We will just be doing some standard blood work. But, 8 weeks from now (the week of Thanksgiving) we will find out if our little bundle of joy is a boy or girl. I can't wait!!!

Stay tuned, pictures to follow...