As the close of my first trimester is just a week or so away I am starting to get really excited about everything that is to come around the corner. I have made the rest of my doctor's appointments up through August and I offically know when my next ultrasound will be. I guess I can start the big countdown until the 20 week ultrasound in July. We are supposed to be able to find out the gender then but babies can be very unpredictable so they may not be able to tell. All I can say is if they can't tell then we are going to have to make another ultrasound appointment because now that I know I am going to find out I am really excited to know. Right now I am laying bets that it is a boy but we will have to see when all is done, I guess.
Originally I really wanted to wait until the baby was born to hear the gender but Stan really wanted to know. After doing a lot of research online and assessing the reasons why I didn't want to know I realized my main purpose was I wanted to drama of Stan getting to come out and tell our closest friends and relatives all about what the baby was. I realized that I wouldn't even be there to hear the announcement or to see people's faces and after a lot of online research I realized that there are enough surprises in the delivery room so why add one more on top of it. Plus while we were in NC visting Paul & Heather I realized it was so cool that she could refer to things as " her nursery" or "she has this or that" I just liked that little extra connection that could be made between both the mother and the baby and the father and the baby. So adding all of this up I came up with a neat comprimise, when we go to the sonographer I am going to bring a piece of paper, a pen, and an envelope and I am going to have her write down the gender but not say anything to us about what it is. Then Stan and I are going to take everyone out to dinner (the future grandparents, and aunts & uncles) and we are going to open up the envelope in front of everyone where we can all find out together. I figure I can have my big dramatic moment (c'mon everyone I never deny that I am a drama queen) and Stan can know what the gender of our baby is.
Before all of this excitment is a lot of waiting so in the mean time Stan and I are going to be putting a pool together through one of my pregnancy websites and when everything is all set we will be posting a link on this blog so everyone who wants to can try to predict all those fun baby facts like gender and birth time etc. So that is definatly a "coming attraction" within the next month or so.
We are also talking about coming up with our top names and posting them on here to try to get people's opinions on whether the name would be a good fit or not.
My current thinking:
Boy: Wyatt Diehl Murgolo
Girl: Elizabeth (Beth) Nicola Murgolo
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
10 Weeks: They Grow Up So Fast
10 weeks: From Embryo to Fetus
See the big picture
How the baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout the pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside the womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: The baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long.
In the coming weeks, the baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
How life's changing:At the next prenatal visit, you may be able to hear the baby's rapid heartbeat with the help of a Doppler stethoscope, a handheld ultrasound device. Many women say that the beating of their baby's tiny heart sounded like the thunder of galloping horses and hearing it for the first time was very moving.
Before you got pregnant, your uterus was the size of a small pear. By this week, it's as big as a grapefruit. Though you're probably not ready for maternity wear, you may find that your regular clothes are becoming uncomfortably tight and your blossoming breasts are straining the seams of your bra. The thickening in your midsection is most likely due to slight weight gain and bloating at this point. In these transitional weeks between regular and maternity clothes, pants and skirts with forgiving elastic waistbands (or low-rise waistlines that sit below your belly) will provide some much-needed comfort.Depending on your level of fitness, you can most likely participate in a wide range of activities during pregnancy. Swimming and walking are excellent choices for the whole nine months. Exercise promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance — three qualities that can help you carry the weight you gain during pregnancy, prepare you for the physical stress of labor, and make it easier to get back into shape after your baby is born. (Unfortunately, there's no evidence that regular exercise shortens labor.)
See the big picture
How the baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout the pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside the womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: The baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long.
In the coming weeks, the baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
How life's changing:At the next prenatal visit, you may be able to hear the baby's rapid heartbeat with the help of a Doppler stethoscope, a handheld ultrasound device. Many women say that the beating of their baby's tiny heart sounded like the thunder of galloping horses and hearing it for the first time was very moving.
Before you got pregnant, your uterus was the size of a small pear. By this week, it's as big as a grapefruit. Though you're probably not ready for maternity wear, you may find that your regular clothes are becoming uncomfortably tight and your blossoming breasts are straining the seams of your bra. The thickening in your midsection is most likely due to slight weight gain and bloating at this point. In these transitional weeks between regular and maternity clothes, pants and skirts with forgiving elastic waistbands (or low-rise waistlines that sit below your belly) will provide some much-needed comfort.Depending on your level of fitness, you can most likely participate in a wide range of activities during pregnancy. Swimming and walking are excellent choices for the whole nine months. Exercise promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance — three qualities that can help you carry the weight you gain during pregnancy, prepare you for the physical stress of labor, and make it easier to get back into shape after your baby is born. (Unfortunately, there's no evidence that regular exercise shortens labor.)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Everywhere-A-Lee-A-Lee
Yesterday we celebrate Mother's Day with Stan's mom, dad, and aunt. We went to see the musical 1776 at the Olney Theatre. I had a great time. The actors were fabulous and they had these wonderful singing voices. I really loved the set and the staging...I couldn't be happier. We had excellent seats too. Just close enough to the action but far enough away where we could easily see the entire stage. I hadn't gone to see a play in so long and it was so great to get back to the theatre. I know that Millie really enjoyed it. I could hear her laughing at the jokes and when I looked over at her during the play she had this great big smile on her face. I loved spending that time with Stan's family and it was so nice to do something extra special like that. History and theatre mixed with music count me in! As we all know I love Benjamin Franklin and I have to say the actor who played him did an excellent job. I was very impressed. He hit all those comic elements that Benjamin Franklin has in 1776 and I thought his lines were delivered very well.
After the play we went out to Maggianos for a special Mother's Day dinner. It was fabulous. I had only eaten the family style there once before and I tell you everytime I go I am even more impressed than the last time. I remember at William's birthday party there was this beef meal I wanted to try again but I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called. Whatever it is it is super fantastic. Last night we ordered the Fried Zuchini which has the world's best breading and the sauce is soooo good! And I got to try the Stuffed Mushrooms which I don't think I had ever tried before. I kept thinking while I was eating it that these mushrooms are sooo going on my new favorite foods list. We ordered two pasta dishes one that was these tubed noodles with a meat sauce and I thought that was really great and the other was a pesto alfredo which was just soo goood and I have to agree with Stan on the choice of Angel hair pasta to go with the sauce it mixed in so well. I requested that we have the chicken parmasean because I seem to remember getting it before and it being good. I have to say I was so glad I asked for that because the breading on that was just delicious. Another thing I was never going to forget about Maggianos is they have spumoni which I had never tried before until I had gone there with Stan, hi dad, and John, and Maggie a couple of years ago. Their spumoni is so good it sings in your head while you eat it! I couldn't stop myself from eating, even as we were getting the check I was eating more bread dipped in this mix of Olive Oil, parmasean cheese, and pepper. Oh it was all so good.
Then I got my very first Mother's Day present. Stan's mom got me the "expecting" figurine from the Willow Tree Collection. I just adore Willow Tree. I love how gentle all their figures look and how they always capture those moments in your life that are special. I was so excited when I got it. In some ways it made the baby feel more real. At this early stage it's kinda easy to just go on with your day and not really pay attention to the pregnancy and then there are those moments where it hits you that you are going to have a baby and it's just the greatest feeling. I think the figure made me feel that. Just seeing her baby bump made me think about how just around the corner is a bump of my own. A great thing is the figure will always hold a two wonderful meanings (1) becoming a mother and (2) my first mother's day.
Everything was so special and perfect. I couldn't have been happier. Now how many people have I made hungry with my details on Maggianos? (I always get so excited by food, I am such a fat chick--I love it!)
After the play we went out to Maggianos for a special Mother's Day dinner. It was fabulous. I had only eaten the family style there once before and I tell you everytime I go I am even more impressed than the last time. I remember at William's birthday party there was this beef meal I wanted to try again but I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called. Whatever it is it is super fantastic. Last night we ordered the Fried Zuchini which has the world's best breading and the sauce is soooo good! And I got to try the Stuffed Mushrooms which I don't think I had ever tried before. I kept thinking while I was eating it that these mushrooms are sooo going on my new favorite foods list. We ordered two pasta dishes one that was these tubed noodles with a meat sauce and I thought that was really great and the other was a pesto alfredo which was just soo goood and I have to agree with Stan on the choice of Angel hair pasta to go with the sauce it mixed in so well. I requested that we have the chicken parmasean because I seem to remember getting it before and it being good. I have to say I was so glad I asked for that because the breading on that was just delicious. Another thing I was never going to forget about Maggianos is they have spumoni which I had never tried before until I had gone there with Stan, hi dad, and John, and Maggie a couple of years ago. Their spumoni is so good it sings in your head while you eat it! I couldn't stop myself from eating, even as we were getting the check I was eating more bread dipped in this mix of Olive Oil, parmasean cheese, and pepper. Oh it was all so good.
Then I got my very first Mother's Day present. Stan's mom got me the "expecting" figurine from the Willow Tree Collection. I just adore Willow Tree. I love how gentle all their figures look and how they always capture those moments in your life that are special. I was so excited when I got it. In some ways it made the baby feel more real. At this early stage it's kinda easy to just go on with your day and not really pay attention to the pregnancy and then there are those moments where it hits you that you are going to have a baby and it's just the greatest feeling. I think the figure made me feel that. Just seeing her baby bump made me think about how just around the corner is a bump of my own. A great thing is the figure will always hold a two wonderful meanings (1) becoming a mother and (2) my first mother's day.
Everything was so special and perfect. I couldn't have been happier. Now how many people have I made hungry with my details on Maggianos? (I always get so excited by food, I am such a fat chick--I love it!)
Monday, May 12, 2008
And the Beat Goes On...
Yesterday was my first Mother's Day..well kinda...I am still debating with myself whether I should be included in that whole Mother thing since I don't really feel like a Momma yet. Anyway, so I spent most of my mother's day laying on the couch feeling really gross. Around 3 I realized that I absolutly had to get up and do something because I had been dwelling on it and I have to say it was not helping. So Stan and I went to go see Baby Mama. I loved it! I thought it was incredibly well done. It was both really touching and funny. I liked everything about it but I think in an attempt to end my naseau I tried to snack a little too much and my tummy went South!
I have discovered that there are some foods that I can eat no matter what. So I think this may be the beginning of my hormonal cravings. I have been craving a lot of chocolate, ice cream, anything sweet (baby is getting more and more like daddy everyday!) and I am so proud to say that Carrabas Manicotti has made a fine dish that actually settled my stomach for at least a couple of minutes.
Things are getting better. I am still looking forward to those second trimester days when I can have some of my energy back and regain my appetite.
I got my Doppler in the mail and I am really excited to give it a try and see what I can hear!
I have discovered that there are some foods that I can eat no matter what. So I think this may be the beginning of my hormonal cravings. I have been craving a lot of chocolate, ice cream, anything sweet (baby is getting more and more like daddy everyday!) and I am so proud to say that Carrabas Manicotti has made a fine dish that actually settled my stomach for at least a couple of minutes.
Things are getting better. I am still looking forward to those second trimester days when I can have some of my energy back and regain my appetite.
I got my Doppler in the mail and I am really excited to give it a try and see what I can hear!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Kidney Bean: 8 Weeks
How the baby's growing:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.See what's going on in your uterus this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You may notice that your bra is getting more snug. Soon you'll likely need a larger size with better support. Rising levels of hormones cause breast growth and other tissue changes, all in preparation for lactation. Your breasts may continue to grow throughout pregnancy. Don't be surprised if you go up a cup size or two, especially if it's your first baby. Keep this in mind, and allow for room to grow when investing in a new bra.Feeling fatigued? Hormonal changes — in particular, a dramatic rise in progesterone — may be contributing to your sluggishness. Nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you energy, too. And you may be having trouble getting a good night's sleep at this point, especially if you're uncomfortable or find you need to get up to pee.
Walking to beat fatigue "Taking a short 15- to 20-minute walk helped me cope with the overwhelming fatigue that hit me in the first trimester. It was the only way I made it through a day at work without a nap!" —Gabriela
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.See what's going on in your uterus this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You may notice that your bra is getting more snug. Soon you'll likely need a larger size with better support. Rising levels of hormones cause breast growth and other tissue changes, all in preparation for lactation. Your breasts may continue to grow throughout pregnancy. Don't be surprised if you go up a cup size or two, especially if it's your first baby. Keep this in mind, and allow for room to grow when investing in a new bra.Feeling fatigued? Hormonal changes — in particular, a dramatic rise in progesterone — may be contributing to your sluggishness. Nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you energy, too. And you may be having trouble getting a good night's sleep at this point, especially if you're uncomfortable or find you need to get up to pee.
Walking to beat fatigue "Taking a short 15- to 20-minute walk helped me cope with the overwhelming fatigue that hit me in the first trimester. It was the only way I made it through a day at work without a nap!" —Gabriela
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Brain Dead
Today I have messed so many things up... little details but everything was caught none the less adn brought to my attention. I have been feeling like such a moron the last couple of days and I can't help but think that my recent lack of focus in from the little baby within. I am just having such a hard time keeping my mind here. A huge part of my job is multi-tasking which means that I have a lot to do and I am always trying to do it all at once but I think I may need to slow down more now. I just keep losing my energy and then I lose sight of those little details that I used to be so great at catching. Although I felt so bad I spilled the beans to my SRO letting her know how I have had the worst morning sickness and fatigue and how I am pretty sure the baby is sucking out my brains. Fortunatly there are enough people at work who are here to support me and they know I am pregnant so they are all going out of their way to help me. That is what NIDA is all about the team work and I have to say I am so very impressed with that. I am thinking about writing an article for DEAS newsletter about how everyone bands together to help one another out and get through their work successfully. I might actually start taking people up more on their offers to help me with my work because I have to say I am getting just a tad overwhelmed.
The thing that gets to me is I am just so tired. Its like all I can do to keep my eyes open. I know I just need a weekend that is full of rest instead of these crazy weekend trips Stan and I have been going on for the past few weeks. Although the trips were really fun I know they just took everything out of me and I just need a couple days in a row where I can relax and not have to worry about how things are going to get done or whatever. I think I am going to push myself tonight and tomorrow to get the house really clean and then the rest of the time I am just going to pass out and watch TV. I am going to Regain the Lazy!!!
The thing that gets to me is I am just so tired. Its like all I can do to keep my eyes open. I know I just need a weekend that is full of rest instead of these crazy weekend trips Stan and I have been going on for the past few weeks. Although the trips were really fun I know they just took everything out of me and I just need a couple days in a row where I can relax and not have to worry about how things are going to get done or whatever. I think I am going to push myself tonight and tomorrow to get the house really clean and then the rest of the time I am just going to pass out and watch TV. I am going to Regain the Lazy!!!
Monday, May 5, 2008
All the Rage
Hey Everyone,
I thought it would be cool if the readers could post some stories from when their preganacy hormones were out of control and they started getting all soppy or maybe had a few testie words. I just recently have become one big huge ball of pregnancy emotions and I am telling you Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde has nothing on me at this stage. Today, at work, I got so mad at someone and then out of nowhere I just dropped it and was totally fine with her. Then after lunch I started feeling a little sad about the whole thing. It's just hilarious how sensative I have been recently. I mean I have always been an emotional person but c'mon sometimes I can be rational right?
So everyone let me hear those crazy hormones stories!!!!
I thought it would be cool if the readers could post some stories from when their preganacy hormones were out of control and they started getting all soppy or maybe had a few testie words. I just recently have become one big huge ball of pregnancy emotions and I am telling you Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde has nothing on me at this stage. Today, at work, I got so mad at someone and then out of nowhere I just dropped it and was totally fine with her. Then after lunch I started feeling a little sad about the whole thing. It's just hilarious how sensative I have been recently. I mean I have always been an emotional person but c'mon sometimes I can be rational right?
So everyone let me hear those crazy hormones stories!!!!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The Flutter
Today Stan and I went for our first ultrasound appointment and got to see the first glimpse of our little baby. The first thing the tech said was there is the gestational sack and I thought wow a gestational sack I am so pregnant. Then she looked around and couldn't see the baby so she decided to try a T/V ultrasound. When everything was set up she showed me where my cervix was and measured it and then went in search of baby once more. I was starting to get really scared, the thoughts started going in my mind thinking what if there is no baby there but the sack is there because it was ectopic or what if I am this huge freak and there is no baby just one big huge cyst, but all was set well. They found the baby hiding between the uterine wall and the gestational sack. At first it was really hard to see the baby but what drew our attention to it was the fluttering of it's little heart. That baby is already taking after it's daddy being all shy.
I can't tell you how excited I was to see the little heart and how relieved I was to see that everything is going well so far. She took a measurement of the waves from the heart and the reading came out that it was beating 141 times per minute which is right on track.
I think that at the ultrasound it was the first time that it really hit Stan that we are pregnant. All that being a daddy fear started setting in but I could tell he was so excited and proud.
So here is my question to all you new mommys out there: When I was in the office the tech said more than likely the next time I would see her would be at my 20 week ultrasound to find out the gender...but do they do ultrasound stuff when you go in for your doctor's appointments because I always see the equipment in their offices?
(I will be posting the pictures on here tonight but since the little one is so shy it is pretty hard to see)
I can't tell you how excited I was to see the little heart and how relieved I was to see that everything is going well so far. She took a measurement of the waves from the heart and the reading came out that it was beating 141 times per minute which is right on track.
I think that at the ultrasound it was the first time that it really hit Stan that we are pregnant. All that being a daddy fear started setting in but I could tell he was so excited and proud.
So here is my question to all you new mommys out there: When I was in the office the tech said more than likely the next time I would see her would be at my 20 week ultrasound to find out the gender...but do they do ultrasound stuff when you go in for your doctor's appointments because I always see the equipment in their offices?
(I will be posting the pictures on here tonight but since the little one is so shy it is pretty hard to see)
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