16wks 2day follow up...

Yesterday was our 16 week check up, and it went grrrrrrrrreat! We heard the little one’s speedy heartbeat, which is always fun. While visiting with Dr. Garner, Jason and I were able to ask a few birthing questions, which put me at ease. I was starting to worry I wouldn’t have the birthing experience I wanted (Pain, and more Pain!). The birthing stories I have heard from people that had their babies at Presby most mom’s were induced and ended in cesarean (I think the hospital has a 50% cesarean rate!). Dr. Garner assured us, he will not induce unless we are past our due date and it’s needed. He believes inducing is the root of most cesarean births. However, if I am having a 9-10 pound baby, he will recommend I go with a cesarean birth because of my size. If this happens, I will be the first in line to be cut open! Don’t get me wrong, he is not against cesarean births either, he will happily sign us up, if that’s the route we end up choosing down the road. For now I would like to have our baby the old fashion way and no epidural-if I can make it. All in all, I can have the baby how I want to and Dr. G will support the decision-period. YEA! Thank God for amazing doctors who are not all about the easy way out! Our next visit will be August 22nd for our 20week sonogram. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

happy we tackled this…

Over the weekend Jason and I had the registering experience. I don’t know why, but it was a bit overwhelming to me. Maybe it was being surrounded by all of the fellow pregnant women and their husbands. There were so many items to choose from and tons on the ‘suggested’ registry list. My baby registry invention would be a bubble wrap package located at the front of Babies “R” Us with a list attached to it noting all that’s inside. (Think back to grade school when you could pre-buy your school supplies)This would include all the basics every first time parent cannot do without-all recommended by experienced moms of course. To all of you expecting mother’s who have not registered, be sure to go during the time of day you have the most patience and energy. If you know babies and baby must haves, I would LOVE for you to check out our registry and make any suggestions. We registered at Babies R US and Target. Knowing myself, I am sure I will be updating/changing the registry here and there via internet.

Lunch with the family at P.F. Chang's July 18th.

Kentucky Vacation July 2-6, 2008

Jason and I were able to go on a mini vacation from July 2-6, 2008. We visited my grandmother, Aunt Pat, Uncle Sonny, and cousins-Jeremy,Bryan,Jamie, and Wyatt. We had a great time relaxing and spending time with everyone. My cousin Jamie is pregnant (about two months ahead of me), so it was nice spending time with someone in ‘my condition’. Also, picking her brain was nice for obvious reasons-she is slightly seasoned, I guess you could say. Bryan and Jamie have a 22 month old little boy, Wyatt. He is such a doll and they expecting another boy in November. While on vacation I got some kind of stomach flu, which was no fun at all. Come to find out, a full recovery while pregnant takes weeks, not days. This is the first week I have felt like myself again. I guess I should complain much because I have had an easy pregnancy so far. No morning sickness or anything. We did not take many photos while visiting, but here are a few. My granny’s dog, Buddy. Love his overbite. Too cute!

My wonderful Uncle Sonny grillin’ food.

Jason’s game face...thank god he was on my team!

My attempt to play Cornhole…I am practicing daily.

Jeremy and Jason in an intense game of Cornhole on Fourth of July.

July 1, 2008 tweelve weeks six days-first trimester screening.

Today we went to our first trimester screening. This was probably one of the most touching visits so far. The doctor was so informative, explained every movement, and every detail we were able to see on the 60inch flat screen, which the HD sonogram produced. She said the baby was extremely healthy and had a beautiful brain. We really saw our baby this visit, ten toes, ten fingers, healthy brain, and everything! Towards the end she asked if we wanted to know the sex. We both shouted, YES! She zoomed in on its area and let us decipher for ourselves. It’s a boy! Jason practically jumped out of his seat for joy. There is a 5% cushion for mistake, but it looks pretty accurate to me. Our doctor will confirm at twenty weeks. After this visit I cried the entire way back to work, tears of joy, of course. (By the way, we passed the entire test with flying colors-healthy baby on the way.)

Here is the little guy waving to us. His head is to the right.

Oh no...we have a thumb sucker!

I love this photo. Great picture of his profile...you can see his jaw, brain, and little face.

It's a BOY! Look to the left, above his little penis you will see an arrow pointing down at it.

July 27,2008 tweelve weeks two days

Our twelve week check up was very exciting because we were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time. While listening to it, I started to giggle. The little rescale hid so we couldn’t hear the heartbeat anymore. Already a on the go just like its mommie and daddy. July 1st (twelve weeks six days) we will be going in for the first trimester screening, which will test for Down’s Syndrome Trisomy-21 and Trisomy-18. At this visit we should be able to find out a guess of the sex-95% accurate!

May 30th, 2008 eight week two day ultrasound

I am just now starting our family blog-a little behind, so catch up! Read the date I note and we will catch up together… At our eight week ultrasound it was amazing to see our little one is growing strong and has a healthy, speedy heartbeat. It was so full of life and already moving around in its small temporary home. This was one of the most anticipated days of my life. Due to the severe pain I was having and the sudden ER visit, this appointment was much needed to soothe my nerves and worries.

Our next vist will be June 27th for out tweelve week check up.

Baby Steichen at eight weeks two days. The head is to the left, and you can see it's little nubs for arms and leg. The long thing at the end of the baby is it's tail bone.