24 Weeks

16 weeks left til we get to meet this little baby! We finished painting the nursery and put together the crib and have the changing table in the baby's room. It's so weird to walk in there and see a crib! Penny is confused, she walks in there and just looks around and smells everything. She is in for a real treat come April!

My mom and I went with my Aunt Nancy and cousin Brittany to pick out fabrics for our baby bedding. I am so lucky to have such a talented aunt to make us our beautiful one of a kind bedding. I can not wait to see the final product! When you see my bedding and wonder where in the world I got it, I will simply have to tell you that it's a Nancy original and you can't have it :)

We had our 24 week appointment and baby's heart rate was at 154. Everything is going very smoothly right now, I feel great and the Dr. told me my weight is right on track.... now maybe Joe will stop joking with me and calling me Porky.

Starting the Nursery

Due to my lovely husband’s need for knee surgery, we had to get a jumpstart on our nursery. After the surgery, he won’t be up for much painting and putting together cribs, so we thought we would get it all done before he has it.

We finished painting, well Joe finished painting. He did an awesome job and tonight we will be beginning to put together the crib. Actually, knowing me, even if I have to stay up until 3:00 am, I WILL finish it! I can’t wait to see what it will look like when it’s all done!

Baby Santilli already has a job for next year! He/she gets to be a ring bearer or flower girl for my BFF Sara and her fiancé Bill’s wedding. How cute is that?!?

Week 21 Ultrasound

The top photo is the little peanuts profile and little arms and hands. The bottom one is the little crossed legs. So cute :) Made it easier for us to not find out if its a boy or girl, because he or she doesn't seem to want us to know either!

The baby was breech, so hopefully that will change within the next 18 weeks!!

Week 21-22

Joe and I have had an exciting week!! This week we were both able to see and feel the baby move! We have got a little acrobat in there, we couldn't believe how much he/she was moving around!!

A lot of my weekend was spent just laying down and staring at my stomach. My mom, dad and Katie were all able to feel it too. Then baby stopped moving around so I did some jumping jacks to try to get him or her to move around, shortly after, the baby had the hiccups, I think I need to just leave the baby alone :) But it was the most exciting baby related thing we have experienced so far!

My tummy seems to be growing more and more by the day. Each time I wake up, I feel I have grown even larger!

HALF WAY DONE!!!

Half way done!!!! I think I might look like I am a little further along than I really am, don’t let this belly fool you, I still have 20 more weeks to go. My stomach feels like it grows by the day. I asked Joe Monday morning to confirm that it had in fact grown overnight, and as he stared at my growing belly, he just said “well, you haven’t tried to wear tighter clothes in a few days, since you just wore sweats all weekend….”. Just call a spade a spade Joe, I am getting bigger!

We finally picked out the crib set we love. Thank God for grandparents! My parents are buying us the crib and Joe’s parents are getting us the matching dresser/changing table, I can’t wait to set it all up in the baby’s room!

Another exciting thing, Mike and Katie found out there are having a little baby BOY! I already bought him his Christmas presents, I just couldn’t help it! I think that made it a little bit harder for Joe and I to wait to see what we are having… we have another ultrasound coming up next Friday, so let’s just pray that we hold ourselves to it and don’t cave!

Baby's First Toy!

So, not only is Peanut all ready to be decked out in Cub's gear from Auntie Shannon, Bear's gear from Uncle Alex and Auntie Abby, and more onesies from Uncle Mike and Aunt Katie, this kid already has it's first toy!

Grandma and Grandpa Nelson were shopping at Costco and found an adorable rocking horse! When you press on one of the ears, it makes noise and moves its head, and when you press the other ear, it moves its tail too. They think thats a good idea now....until either the baby or Joe (my other child) press the ears 200,000 times a day :)

Daddy's Turn

So Teresa asked me one day if I wanted to write a post on our blog, and I thought, "ya know what, that is a good idea".  A little over 16 weeks into this amazing journey, I have encountered several thoughts, emotions and questions about becoming a daddy.  Just because I am not the planner that my beautiful wife is, doesn't mean that I haven't thought long and hard about all of the amazing memories, life lessons and joy that I can't wait to share with peanut.  Until then, my job is to continue to take care of my little wife in every possible way.  So, whether that is feeding the dog because she cant stand the smell of her food, going to 7-11 for slurpees at all hours of the night, or reminding her that I still think she is beautiful and definitely not fat every day.  I will continue to do everything I possibly can to make this pregnancy easier for her.  I can't wait to be a daddy!

Almost 16 weeks

Yesterday was a great birthday!! I woke up to Joe making breakfast for me, he brought me flowers at work, I went to lunch with the girls from work, and the best part was that as a birthday gift to me, our Dr. let us have an ultrasound at our appointment yesterday!
Baby was moving around, clenching his or her little fists and opening and closing it’s mouth. The legs were all crunched up, but the feet were crossed at the ankles, it was so cute!!
The heartbeat is now down to 150, which is significantly less than the 176 last time we heard it at 11 weeks!
Our Dr. knows if it’s going to be a boy or a girl, let me tell you how HARD it was to stick to our guns and just leave the Dr.’s office without knowing! SOO HARD!
About 24 or 25 more weeks to go…

Week 15-16

The ultrasound is a little shaky, Joe was having trouble taping with the camera and watching it at the same time. It's still pretty cool to see though :)

First Trimester-DONE!!

I couldn't wait to get out of my first trimester! Worry a little less, eat a little more (without feeling nauseated that is), sleep better.... the list goes on.

Who was I kidding??? Now instead of nausea, I have indigestion.  Instead of waking up feeling sick, I wake up to use the bathroom, 10 times, or EAT! And I think worrying is just part of the gig. :)

Overall, I really am feeling so much better!!!  I no longer have to walk around Jewel for an hour trying to find something I'd be able to eat!

I love being pregnant and getting so excited about meeting this little baby, but lets be honest, there are a few things I miss....

-Sleeping through the night! Last night I was up at 2:00 am, eating Capt'n Crunch in bed.  Woke up in the morning and Joe says, "oh good, you slept through the night"  He didn't even hear me crunching on my cereal right next to him!  Does this mean he wont hear baby crying in the middle of the night either??? 

-Sushi

-Deli Sandwiches

-Buttoning my jeans

-Wine, dirty martinis and bloody marys

-Blue cheese on salads

-Spray tanning

-Crystal Light and artificial sweeteners

-Normal hormones, I don't think crying 4 times during "One Tree Hill" is really necessary!

I know it will all be worth it in the end!  In 6 months, I can sit on my couch with my cute little baby, drinking crystal light while eating a sandwich and salad covered in blue cheese with an awesome tan :)  I really can't wait!

12 Weeks- It's not that big, yet!!

6 weeks- When my stomach was still flat...

Peanut- 11 Weeks

GREAT News!

Best news ever, I get to share the wonderful journey of pregnancy with my sister-in-law Katie! Our due dates are exactly 1 month apart! Part of our maternity time will be together, our holidays will be filled with tons and tons of food and no alcohol, AND I don't have to get fat alone!! :)

Mike and Joe already have arguments about whose baby will be more athletic... always a competition!! Katie and I just want 10 fingers and 10 healthy toes, but those boys are already concerned with the athletic ability of a fetus. Go figure.

Almost done with my first trimester!

I am finally almost out of my first trimester! I pray that the nausea subsides after I hit 12 weeks! We had another doctors appointment on Friday. The doctor was able to use the doppler on my belly to see and hear peanut. The heart-rate was 176 and growing right on track! Peanut is much bigger than a peanut now, almost 2 inches long! Babycenter says its about the size of a fig right now, last week it was a kumquat..I definitely had to google that! Why cant they compare it to something people actually know?!

My list of foods has expanded a bit now, but it changes from day to day. Actually, moment by moment! Last night I sent Joe on another food run for me. All I wanted was a baked potato from Wendy's. Joe came home 10 minutes later.... with 4 bags! I just looked at him and his response was, "Well, I know how your appetite is right now, so I wasn't even sure if you would still want the potato by the time I got home, so I also got you a salad, fries and chicken nuggets" I enjoyed those fries thats for sure! :)

I have gained about 4 lbs so far, but I think its because every time I feel nauseated, I think it means I need to eat. And the most consistent food I can eat is Macaroni and Cheese, not exactly the picture of health!

I am still convinced that its a girl! Joe is still convinced its a boy :)

Everyone has been requesting a belly shot, there isnt much to see but I'll post one in a few days, along with my ultrasound that I keep forgetting to scan!

Joe and I just got back from our 2nd ultrasound.  Little peanut is growing right on schedule.  We were able to hear and see the heartbeat today!  157bpm.  Joe thinks it will be a boy and I think it will be a girl....I know, shocking right?!?! Hearing the heartbeat was the most exciting thing!  Our next appointment is in 4 weeks.  By then I will be out of my first trimester and will hopefully start to feel a little better and freak out a little less :)

So far, Joe has been great!  He goes to get me food when I want it, holds my hair back when...well when necessary.  He tries to keep tabs on what's on the can eat/can not eat list, which changes daily, so I have to cut him a little slack :)  Overall, I feel great, this is such an exciting time in our lives.

April can't come soon enough!!!

Too soon?

Is 6 weeks too soon to tell people? Too bad, we already did! And it was so much fun!! Joe and I had the best weekend! Saturday night our whole family came over to hear the good news. We gave each of our parents grandma and grandpa onesies and bibs, everyone was really surprised. I think just about all 13 people in the room had tears in their eyes. It was a perfect night and everyone was really excited for the addition to our family. This kid is going to be SPOILED!!

Sunday afternoon my 5 closest best friends from high school, Sara, Jenni, Nina, Alicia and Kristen came over for lunch. Sara came over first. About 3 years ago, she brought me a little baby book for the future. When she came over I told her I had been cleaning my house and came across it, as she held it in her hand, she looked at me and just knew. When the other girls arrived, I brought out a cake, which is pretty common. The cake was decorated in pink and blue sprinkles and said "Aunties in April". I guess Sunday is the day when we turn our brains off because it took them a while to get it. After the confused looks, I read what the cake said, really annunciating the words. Still blank stares. I said "are you guys kidding me??? I'm pregnant!!!" Then obviously they got it :)

First Ultrasound

We had out first ultrasound on Friday morning!  We even got a picture of our little peanut, that looks more like a weird fish or something...that better change :).  The dr. said that everything looks great and totally normal.  We go back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound and by then we should be able to hear the heartbeat!  We can't wait!

It's Official!!!

Well, it's true...Joe and I are having a baby!!! Our little peanut is due in April, we are sooo excited!! We figured it would take at least a few months for it to happen, let's just say Joe is pretty proud of himself because it happened immediately!

At first, I thought I was just psyching myself out and making up "pregnancy symptoms", turns out, I was right! Right away, I was tired, nauseous, had headaches and cramps and I almost lost my lunch when I smelled fried shrimp. I found out on August 20th on my lunch break at work. It was so hard to keep it from Joe until I got home!! And even harder to walk back into work and pretend that my whole world didn't just change! On my way home from work, I picked up a onesie that said "I Love Daddy". Joe had been having a rough day, so I just told him that I had a gift to cheer him up, I think it worked.... :) I handed him the onesie and he just smiled, he didn't get it at first, he just thought I was being sweet for when we really would need it. I said, "Joe.... I'm pregnant". The look on his face was absolutely priceless. We are ecstatic to be parents! And maybe a little freaked out.... :)

We found out while my parents were in Italy, so we had to keep the secret until they got home, but we had already planned to have a family BBQ with my family and Joe's family about 2 weeks after we found out. I will only be 6 weeks at that point, which is still very early, but we plan to take that opportunity to tell everyone all together. We are so excited to see everyone's reaction!

We bought our first items for the baby today, and it was soo much fun, and so overwhelming! We bought onesies and bibs to give to our parents when we tell them. We had the lady at the checkout counter take a picture of us with our new baby clothes, I think she thought we were nuts!