Dear Poppy: Week 11 Update

How far along?

11 Weeks and 2 Days

Size of the little darling?

A lime! About 2"which seems so small (obviously), but it's still unbelievable to think that a little person, with hands and feet, is inside of me!

Maternity Clothes?

I luckily had a few pairs of jeans that were too big for me, so I am wearing those, along with maternity dress pants, a skirt and a dress...lots of leggings (I need to get some maternity ones) and tights!

Weight Gain?

I have actually lost a few pounds since finding out I was pregnant due to not drinking anymore! I know that will change soon!

Stretch Marks?

Nope...just bought some cocoa butter, though!

Gender?

We keep saying "she" but we don't know yet and won't know for another 5 - 9 weeks (depending on when we can get a sonogram)

Movement?

I haven't felt anything, but we saw s/he move at our first ultrasound!

Sleep?

I have no problem falling asleep, but always wake up in the middle of the night and am awake for about an hour. I get tired throughout the day, but nothing like how I was during weeks 4-6. I usually go to bed around 10 and get up around 7. I have heard from other mommies-to-be that they sleep a LOT more, so I am thankful that I can make it through the day without having to take a nap!

Food Cravings?

Nothing weird, just a lot of carbs. I cannot do chicken, Asian or anything else out of the norm. I am loving pizza, cheeseburgers and grilled cheese!

What I Miss?

An occasional glass of wine at dinner or beer during football games. I was the only sober one at my birthday party, which was fine, but still different for me!

Symptoms?

Nauseous! I have only gotten sick a few times, but get nauseous really easily when I am hungry, so I always keep some pretzels or saltines handy. Ginger ale has also been my BFF. 

Best Moment of the Week?

Our first ultrasound! It was a-MA-zing to see our little person on the screen...and we got our first gift for Poppy: a baby blanket for my birthday! 

Girl/Boy, What are you doing to me?

I am officially 11 weeks and 1 day...and I am still feeling sick. Everyone says it should end around week 14, but it seems to be getting worse.

My birthday was this past Saturday and I had a wonderful time!

Friday night, we went to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and went on a horse ride through the city. Mom said I had a glow while we were on the ride - just something about sitting next to Daddy, riding through the city I love, and knowing that next year at this time you will be with us, had me in the best of the best moods!

Saturday, we woke up so early that we took a mid-morning nap. We went to lunch with the Glaser and shared our news with them; they were so excited! We came home and took another nap - I told you I have been feeling worse! We got up, got ready and met Grandpa, Sarah, Maria and her boyfriend, Frank, Magen and Jim Lawler for some dinner and bowling. It was exactly what I wanted to do. Since I couldn't drink, I wanted to do something - not just go to dinner. It was tons of fun, but I was exhausted when we got home at 11!

Sunday was spent resting. Football, Kardashians (please don't grow up to be like Kim or Khloe!) and Panera for lunch. I haven't been able to eat chicken, but was craving their Thai Chicken Salad! I think there is enough flavor that the chicken taste didn't bother me at all! I was in bed a little after 9, but kept waking up every hour or so.

Poor Daddy has to deal with me feeling sick and not being as cuddly as usual. I hate not being able to be as close to Daddy as I normally am, but I am just so uncomfortable that I move a lot and have to get up to eat crackers, go to the bathroom, etc...he's a trooper, though! He is such a huge help. Your Dad has the biggest heart - you will learn that soon enough! You are so lucky to have him as a role model!


Anyways, that's the update for now. You got a few gifts this past weekend, but those will have to wait until I take pictures! Your Aunties (my girlfriends) are already spoiling you. :)


xoxo
Mom

Dear Poppy: Our little PRUNE!

We saw you!!! You are really in there, Poppy!!!! We had our first ultrasound and doctor's appointment yesterday and I almost lost it. As soon as you popped up on the monitor, I started crying then laughing (I don't know...just nerves?). I looked at Daddy and he had a twinkle in his eye that I've never seen before. You are REAL! I cannot believe it. Seeing you made this whole experience so much more real. Of course I knew you were in there before we saw you, but geez...what an unbelievable thing. 

You are about 1.5 inches and already have fingers! At first, you were sleeping, so there was no action, but all of the poking and moving around, you awoke and started dancing for us! You even waved. :) It was truly the best experience of my life. I'm sure I will be saying that a lot over the next months (and years!), but seriously...

We left the doctor's with a folder stuffed with information about foods, medications, classes, exercises, etc...you sure are high maintenance already ;) I am signing up for every class I can. I don't want to let you down, little person!

Sidenote: I can't believe we have to wait another 10 weeks to find out if you are a he or a she...talk about anxiety!!!!!! 

That's all for now, Poppy. I am still getting sick and can't eat everything (ie. chicken, Asian, anything that's not carbs and cheese) but Daddy is taking great care of me - backrubs, foot rubs, Wendy's runs ;) He's a keeper for sure! You are one lucky baby to have him as a Daddy. (P.S. Did you read what he wrote about me? Holy tear drops!)

Bye for now, little thang...this weekend is my birthday and I am positive you will be getting lots of attention from everyone!! I am so popular right now thanks to you!!! :) 

xoxo

Mom

Poppy's Mama

Hi Poppy! This is Daddy...I know your snug as a bug right now, growing and getting all ready to live life with your mother and I!  We are very excited to meet you, we're not quite sure if your a poppy or a pop but either way its fine!! This has been the most exciting time for us, when we found out you were on your way we were as your mama likes to say....'excited to the moon and back!'

It is nice to watch  Mama experience carrying you, she's absolutely in love with it and you...she's gonna be such a great mother, and I will be a great Daddy as well, WE CANNOT WAIT!!  We have COMPLETELY changed our lives professionally and personally to enjoy life together as a FAMILY! You already have two sisters, Peyton and Mica, they are beautiful girls and I can't wait to tell them about you! They will be very excited and great sisters to you Poppy! They are precious to us!!

For us, every day is filled with joy and wonder, wondering how you are doing, how you will look, if you'll be a boy or a girl, how much you will weigh, what color your hair will be, whose feet and nose and fingers and eyes and tushy and legs and personality you will have...I know you'll probably be a combination of us, your Mama and I always make fun of new parents who say their children look just like the father or the mother.....well DUH....thats who made the little booger right?! haha

However, I want to tell you a secret Poppy...I am HOPING that you will be a carbon copy of your Mama, she is the most beautiful person inside and out. She is, of course, physically beautiful, but what makes your Mama beautiful is who she is. She is caring, thoughtful, patient, gentle, fun, spontaneous, passionate, intelligent, driven, warm hearted, strong, selfless, non judgemental, street smart, has an infectious laugh, and most of all...is my best friend. I am so lucky to be sharing a life with your mother. She is absolutley perfect to me, and I cannot wait for you to meet her, she'll be your best friend too!!!

Dont tell Mama I gave you the heads up ;) ....You'll thank me later in life!  Love you Poppy!! Dad

Dear Poppy: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, Poppy!!
We have so much to be thankful for this year!!  We are thankful for YOU. We are thankful to be living in Maine with family. We are thankful to have spent Thanksgiving with my dad. We are thankful to have told Pam our big news (she jumped on us and started crying!)  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  We sure did keep you busy...take a look!
Your first Turkey Day Game...Deering won!
 
 Mommy and Daddy at the game...it was sunny and beautiful!
 
 Thanksgiving Dinner with Daddy and Grandpa!

 
 Here's Grandpa! He's already talking about getting you in the backyard and playing catch :)
 
 Bug Light...beautiful but chilly!
 

 Turkeys crossing the street...craziest thing I've ever seen!
 
 Black Friday Shopping...Daddy was a great sport and got Grandma 12 vacuums!
 
 Now we are cooking dinner, going to watch the Portland Christmas tree lighting and enjoy another wonderful weekend surrounded by friends and family! We love you, Poppy!!
 xoxo,Mom & Dad

Dear Poppy: We Get to See You Soon!

Hi, Poppy!!

I just got off the phone with your new best friend, Maine Medical Center! We have our first appointment on December 7th at 9:30 and we get to see you for the first time. I wish it was today; I don't know how I'm going to wait two weeks!!

Today, I am going to lunch with Magen and her mom and am going to share our wonderful news with them...you are going to have lots of aunties!

Daddy is in the process still of interviewing with Sysco...they really want him, but it's quite a process! I am applying for various teaching jobs, but it's hard in the middle of the school year! Other than that, we are still getting settled and waiting for the downstairs at Grandma's house to be finished so we can move down there. Now, where are we going to fit a crib? We'll figure it out!

Here are some cribs I have been looking at...what do you think?

Restoration Hardware Antique Spindle:

I like this one for the classic look and the price compared to others at higher-end stores

Sleepi System:

I like this one because it's small at first, which is great for us, but then grows to be a crib and a toddler bed. The only issue is the price ($1,000) and buying different sized sheets!

Pottery Barn Cataline 3-in-1 Crib:

I like this one for the price and that it will convert into a toddler bed

I am thinking that if you are a girl, we will do a light color: either white or light oak. If you are a boy, maybe a darker color. Either way, your sheets and decor aren't going to be that colorful...just simple and relaxing are what we want. Very light pinks or blues with a gray contrast. What do you think? I'm pretty sure you will sleep well no matter what colors we have in there!

Time to get somes stuff done, little person!

This year, I am thankful for YOU (and Daddy)!

Kisses,

Mom

Dear Poppy: You have Grandparents...and Lots of Friends!

Dear Poppy,

A lot has happened since we wrote last. We got insurance, got a positive pregnancy test from the doctor (duh) and found out that we won't get a sonogram until around 16-20 weeks. So...we had to come up with a different idea to tell my parents. I wanted to get something cute for my mom - mainly because she loves presents and getting her a gift telling her she's going to be a Grandmother would totally shocker her - so we headed to the closest store: Walmart.

Surprisingly, they didn't have a great selection...I was looking for a book or journal for grandparents, but came up empty-handed. So, we went to the baby section and found a set of bibs that talk about Grandma. We wrapped them up in tissue paper and put them in a gift bag. We ended up meeting Mom for dinner and I once again had to say NO to a beer and get a laugh from her. I used to be quite the drinker, and everyone says I can still have a drink here and there, but I'm not risking it yet.

Anyways, we got home and Mom went into her room to change. I called her name to come out to the kitchen and told her we got her something. Of course, she was thrilled that we bought something for her...until she started opening the bag.

Her face went blank and we couldn't tell if she was excited or mad! She asked us a few times if it was a joke...if we were kidding...and we kept saying no! Finally, she started crying and I gave her a huge hug. I still had to whisper in her ear, "Are these happy tears?" And she said, "YES!" She hasn't stopped talking about it since. She is SO EXCITED to be a grandmother and is going to spoil you rotten, Poppy!

The harder of the two to tell was my dad...the extremely Republican Catholic man who raised me to do everything by the books. He did a great job raising me, but sometimes life happens and here we are! We started a tradition when we moved home to bring Tony's Donuts to my Dad's house every Saturday and this past Saturday was no different. I barely ate mine in anticipation of telling him...my stomach was in knots and I couldn't stop smiling at Daddy.

There was a break in conversation and I said, "Well, we have something to tell you...you're going to be a grandfather!" Mid-chew, he said, "What?!" Then he calmed down and was extremely excited for us, too. I couldn't have asked for better reactions from my parents!

Saturday night, Grandma and I hosted a Stella and Dot party for her girlfriends from "The Hill." You will understand one day. :) Anyways, we broke the news and they were so excited! Mom was the first of her friends to have a baby, and is now the 2nd of her friends to be a grandma. They all kept talking about a baby shower - you are going to be SO SPOILED! 

Sunday, Daddy and I decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch football, eat wings and drink beer....well, O'Douls for me! While we were there, my girlfriends were texting me about Wednesday night - Thanksgiving Eve - AKA always a night to not remember. Moe lives in Boston and probably won't make it up, so I just had to tell her! I am busting at the seams to tell everyone! I texted her that I couldn't drink on Wednesday night...6 seconds later, I got a phone call from her. :) 

So, a lot of people are finding out, but we are still not telling everyone. It won't be "Facebook Official" until after the New Year probably, but it's out in the blog world and shared with friends and family. 

That's all for now...you are still letting me know that you are there...saltines and Ginger Ale are my new best friends. 

I love you!!

Mom

Dear Poppy: I Know You're in There!

Dear Poppy,

You sure do have a way of waking me up lately! I have been stashing a sleeve of saltines and a bottle of water by our bed for your early morning reminders that you are in there. :) Nausea has been coming and going for the last two weeks, but I finally felt OK the past two mornings...until this morning. Poor Daddy's face when he sees me eating saltines at 6:30 am; I know he wishes he could help, but his sweetness is just what the doctor ordered. He is so enamored with you, Poppy! He talks to you, kisses you and looks at you all the time! It's the sweetest thing to see his face light up when your name is mentioned.

Have we mentioned that we call you "she?" Since Daddy already has two girls, we are thinking you may follow in their steps, but who knows? Maybe you will surprise us and be a mini-me for Daddy. :) We have caught ourselves looking at baby clothes at the GAP, looking at nurseries online and reading blogs about having a baby. We are so excited!

Right now, we still haven't told my parents because we are waiting to get a sonogram picture to give them in a frame...we just have to get insurance first! Since I don't have insurance (or a job), I am going to go with MaineCare for the pregnancy - it covers everything pre-, during and post-labor to make sure you are the healthiest little baby out there! Hopefully we can go tomorrow to get insurance and see you very soon!!

We are looking at a late-June, early-July birthday for you; it seems so far away, but I know it's going to fly by! We feel so blessed, Poppy. And I feel so blessed that God has chosen Daddy to be the father of my children. Even thought we aren't married yet, we know that everything happens for a reason, and we are more than excited to begin this new adventure together!

Love Always,
MOM

Dear Poppy: Week 6?

Hi, Poppy! We still aren't exactly sure how old you are, but you are GROWING...I know that! My pants are snug and I am tired. You are starting to show, too, so I am wearing lots of ruffly and baggy shirts. Leggings are my best friend right now; I wish I could wear them all the time! I definitely need to buy a few things, but have to save a little money, first.

I just want you to know how happy you've made me and daddy. You weren't exactly planned (neither of us have jobs or a place to live - we are living with your Nana!), but we weren't exactly trying to prevent you, either, and we are so blessed to have made you!! Sometimes, it doesn't feel real yet, but there's not a second that goes by that I don't think about you. Especially when my boobs hurt, I'm exhausted and feel like throwing up ;) But I would do anything for you! And it's a great reason to get a foot rub from daddy. :) You will see...he will spoil you and treat you like a queen! He makes me (and you) feel the most important person in the world.

Anyways, I am so anxious to tell people! We are waiting to tell my mom and dad until we have a sonogram to show them; they have always wanted to be grandparents and I know they will be over-the-moon excited about you! I really want to tell my girlfriends because they keep inviting us out to drink and we keep blowing them off! This is such a huge secret....only a few more weeks until we share the wonderful news!

I love you, little person!!

xoxo,
Mom

Dear Poppy: Week ?

Dear Poppy,

I guess you are now the size of an apple seed...almost the size of a pea!! When we found out we were pregnant with you, the first thing we read was that you are the size of a poppyseed - and now we call you poppy. We promise to not put that on your birth certificate. :)

We found out about you last Thursday, October 27 - the day after daddy turned 40. We were packing our house in St Michaels and I found a pregnancy test that we had bought a few months ago. We had to quickly hide it when we had unexpected guests one night! Anyways, I saw it and thought to myself, "When was the last time I had my period?" I asked daddy and he said, "YOU'RE PREGNANT!" haha. So, I took the test and immediately told him no because there was just one line. Then about 10 seconds later, the second line appeared. Daddy had his head poked into the bathroom and started smiling. We were in complete shock. In a great way! We couldn't believe it. We kind of sat together for about 15 minutes, and I started googling stuff. I have no idea what I'm doing, Poppy!! Daddy's had two daughters, so he's the one teaching me.

That night, daddy went to get some dinner at Panera and I asked him to stop and get another test. Sure enough, it came out positive again. It all started making sense...the last two times that I drank wine with dinner, I got extremely nauseous. I was kind of constipated, which never happens to me, and my boobs hurt so bad. None of these really caught my attention at the time, but looking back, it all makes sense. It's amazing how quickly my body is changing.

I used to have a glass of wine/cocktail/beer each night (sometimes a couple), and I haven't even missed it. I am not going to do anything to risk hurting you! Daddy kind of giggles when I ask him questions about what I can and cannot do/eat during pregnancy, but I want to make sure you are the healthiest poppyseed ever born! And so does he...we were talking about whether we hope you're a boy or a girl, and we both just want you to be healthy. (P.S. Daddy has a lot of girls in his family - and some twins - so may or may not be surprised!)

We went to visit Daddy's mom, brother and sister-in-law this past weekend and told them at dinner. When I ordered "just water" that was the first thing out of their mouths! We aren't telling many people - we want to wait until we see a doctor in a few weeks. I am kind of nervous about telling my parents because we aren't married, but I know they are going to be SO exited to have a grandbaby...you are going to be their first! You are going to be SO spoiled!!! :)

We just got back to St Michaels and are watching some football...daddy is taking a nap and I just took a third test - just to be sure. Yep...you're still there!! I am over-the-moon-excited for you to join our lives. It's amazing to think that you are growing so quickly inside of me! They say that your heart is growing this week - I wish I could hear it already. I can't see you yet, but I know that won't be too long now.

Time to go for a walk and build a fire...it's our second-to-last night in this house. It's very bittersweet, but moving to Maine with my family couldn't have come at a better time. You are going to be surrounded by love all of the time! I promise you a wonderful life. :)

xoxo,
Mom (wow, that's the first time I have written that)