Our Baby the Soccer Player

Saturday, February 20th was the first time I felt the baby move. It was pretty strange to feel that tiny thump and quick fluttering in my lower belly.

At first I wasn't sure if it was the baby, but the movement repeated 4 or 5 times in 20 minutes. Every time I started doubting myself, thinking that I had imagined a movement from inside, it would happen again. This baby stuff is pretty amazing.

Now I dream that my baby has a soccer ball with it in my belly (really uterus, but whatever) and is kicking way to score the next goal.

Baby Showers! (Updated)

My mother and Steven's mother will be hosting two separate baby showers in honor of our little Peanut. We are very excited to celebrate with our friends and family.

My mother will host a shower on Saturday, May 15, 12pm at Venuti's Banquets in Addison, IL. (Where our wedding reception was)

Steven's mother will host a shower on Sunday, May 23, the time and location are still a surprise!

Heartbeat in time for Valentine's Day

We had another doctor's visit yesterday to check on the baby's heartbeat. It was a perfect thumping at 148-150 beats per minute. That sounds awfully fast but the doctor said that at this point the baby's heart beat can range from 100 to 160 beats/minute.

The baby was moving around alot. I can't feel the movement yet but you can hear it's movement on the monitor. The doctor made a prediction that it was a girl since the movement was so frequent and strong.

In one month we will have another ultrasound where the baby's measurements and development are checked. They can determine the sex of the baby at that visit but Steven and I have decided to keep it a surprise.

Doctor's Visits

During the first two trimesters of pregnancy we have been seeing our doctor monthly. So far each visit has been more exciting than the last.

My first visit was the "confirmation" visit, December 8, 2009. The Dr. told me what I already knew...that I was pregnant...however, I was astonished by the visit non-the-less. I expected another pee test but instead was surprised by the my first ultrasound which gave me my first glimpse at the baby. At this point, the baby looked more like a peanut (thus the nickname). Not only was I amazed at how small the baby was, 3.5 mm (YES, millimeters), but that inside that tiny little peanut I could see a heart beating!

Photo: Week 6 Baby Ultrasound

Our next visit, was January 5, 2010. At this visit a second ultrasound was performed and again Steven and I couldn't believe what we saw. I think Steven's exact words at the sight of our baby were "Holy crap! That's a baby!" In one month our peanut turned into a baby. I mean, it looked like a baby! The details on the monitor were awesome. Our little peanut even waved to us...I kid-you-not, one little arm waved back and forth as if to say "What's up" to mom and dad.

Photo: Week 10, Baby on its side, head to the right


Photo: Week 10, Baby on its side, Head to the left

Telling our Family...

Photo of Steven's Babcia after hearing the news!

Waiting to telling our families was one of the most difficult waiting periods. We had this exciting news, but couldn't tell anyone but ourselves.

Since it was so close to Christmas we decided to wait to Christmas eve to tell the family. We debated a million different ways of telling them...Making an ornament with the sonogram photo on it, writing a christmas-y poem, having our 3 year-old niece make the annoucement, etc.

By the time Christmas came, Steven and I hadn't decided on a concrete plan. So at the last minute I wrapped our sonogram photo and Steven found some stickers (an important bribe for later).

First, we stopped by Monica's house to tell them the news. We arranged the family on the sofa while Steven took our niece into another room to bribe her to tell everyone our secret in return for a lovely collection of stickers. Apparently, the bribe worked like a charm because she ran into the room, and said "Uncle Stevie is having a baby!" After a moment of confusion and interpretation of the 3 year-old's words, everyone was elated. And I was just thrilled to finally tell someone!

Later that night, at my aunt's house, we had finished the 6th or 7th course (I wasn't counting anymore) and decided to take a short break to open presents...the perfect time for our Present. We gave my grandmother the present with the sonogram photograph. You could see her complete bewilderment by the photograph in the frame. She looked at the black and white photo of our baby and asked if it was a picture of my dog!!!!! I knew she had never seen a sonogram picture before. I explained that it was a picture of my baby and asked if she was ready to be a great-grandmother. That's when it clicked...and the whole family errupted in joyful celebration.

Steven and I could have debated for many more months on the best way to tell our families, but somehow I think everything worked out wonderfully in the end.