Dear Hope: More than half way there!!!!

Dear Hope,

Ok so I haven’t been the best in updating my blog… who would have thought planning for a baby could be so time consuming! So here is a little update to catch everyone up on Baby Gabriel.

September 9^th – I had my 16 week check up with Dr Lambert (OB) and everything went great baby’s heartbeat was strong and steady and everything seemed to be going along as planned.

Later that day I flew back to Buffalo for a long weekend to visit family and celebrate my Goddaughter Molly’s 4^th birthday!!!! I also had a “girls” day on Saturday with my mom, sister, Aunt Pat, and Grandma (GG- great grandma to baby). Baby Girl and I were spoiled rotten when My Aunt bought us the nursery furniture collection (2 dressers and crib) and my Gram bought the most comfortable glider and ottoman (for all those late nights) and the entire crib bedding set!!!! It is all so nice and I can’t wait to set up the room!!!!

September 17^th – I think I felt the baby move for the 1^st time!!! I was at Brian’s football game vs Villanova and seeing it was a very exciting game I was jumping up and down and cheering really loud! Well… baby wanted to join in too and all of a sudden I felt this flutter in my belly! I guess she wanted to cheer for daddy too!!! It worked they WON!!!! After that I felt it a few more times so I am pretty sure that it was her saying hi!!! But, I was really looking forward to that flutter turning into real kicks (even though everyone says be careful what you wish for when she’s keeping you up at night… I don’t care I love it!!!)

October 4^th – Another check up with my OB – almost 20weeks (I go every 4 weeks or so). Again a great appointment and Baby’s heartbeat was strong! By now I definitely seem to have a belly and Dr Lambert even used the words “well I think you popped!”

October 6^th – (20wks 1day) – I think I felt baby’s 1^st real kick today!!! I was at a work meeting all day and as I was sitting at the table I leaned back to stretch and I felt this quick push from inside… It happened a few other times that day and again that night! Since then I have felt it every day (usually at nighttime after dinner when I’m laying down) so I’m pretty sure that it’s my baby girl telling me she’s ok!

October 10^th – Level 2 Ultrasound Day!!!! I have been waiting so long for this appointment and was nervous but so excited for it to be here! First off the best part of the day was that along with Brian and I my mom and his mom came into town to join us at the appointment!!! I was so happy they got to see a sneak peak of their granddaughter before anyone else!!!! It meant so much to Brian and I that they both came from so far to share this experience with us!!!

A level 2 ultrasound is a more in depth view and assessment of the baby. So the dr and technician look at and measure all the major organs and body parts to see if there are any possible problems or birth defects. Of course they give the disclaimer that it’s not 100% but everything looked normal so we are pretty confident that she is going to be healthy!!! See her heart pump and her tiny hands open and close was the most amazing sight! It makes me want this 2^nd half of the pregnancy to go even faster so I can hold her in my arms and tell her how much I love her!!! When they measured her they did say that she was measuring a head and gave a due date of February 18^th… however I am going to ask my dr more about that because seeing as we went through IVF and our original due date of Feb 22^nd which was an accurate calculation I am not sure which to go by. Sometimes babies have growth spurts and depending on when they are measured it can change dues dates by a few days… but I am glad she is measuring ahead vs behind… I guess I am doing a good job growing this little one. And who knows maybe she will make her appearance on Feb 19^th and give her daddy a great Birthday present!!!!

Next OB appointment is November 4^th…. More to come!!!

Kate