A Letter From The Baby

Dear family and friends,
     I thought you'd be interested in learning some more about me this week.  Can you believe that I'm already the size of a lemon?  Think of me when you pass the lemons at the grocery store this week :-)  I have also learned to do some pretty cool things this week.  I can pee now.  Lucky for Mommy and Daddy, they don't have to take care of it yet, I'm just practicing for all those diaper changes.  I can also make facial expressions.  I can grimace when Mommy feeds me spaghetti and grin when she feeds me Starbursts and nectarines.  Mommy thinks I'm a girl and Daddy just wants me to be healthy.  I'm going to reveal all the first week of September, if I feel like cooperating!  And last but not least, Mommy and Daddy have decided on my name whether I'm a girl or a boy.  I can give you a hint.....my initials will be ECG either way (any guesses?).  Ok, that's it for this week, my 14th week :-)

Lots of Love,
Baby ECG....the lemon

pic courtesy of www.babycenter.com

Farewell 1st Trimester

I'm now in my second trimester!  It is crazy to think that I'm 1/3 through the pregnancy.  These past couple of weeks (since I have been off school) have seemed to drag by, but I'm sure once I get back to school, January will be here before I know it.  So just as all the books have said, the symptoms have started to phase themselves out the past couple of weeks.  The only thing that is driving me crazy is these stupid antibiotics I'm on.  I have to take them  FOUR times a day!!!  So add in my prenatal vitamins and all I'm doing all day is taking gel cap pills.  To make matters worse, the antibiotics have to be taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before I eat or 2 hours after I eat, and the vitamin has to be taken with food.  Everything has to be timed just right so I can make sure I'm eating, taking the antibiotic, and taking my vitamin.  I even have to take a pill in the middle of the night, which isn't a huge deal since I'm up every two-three hours to go to the bathroom anyway.  I'll manage though!  40 minutes until my next pill and 5 days until my last!!!

thump, thump, thump, thump

That's the sound of Baby Gerke's heartbeat and we got to hear it today!   The heartbeat was a little tough to find, but once the baby stopped moving all around the heartbeat was strong and very fast (according to the doctor).  Scott was so nervous.  I don't think he took a single breath while the doctor was searching for the heartbeat.  I kept hearing a couple of beats here and there, but Scott wasn't hearing that.  As soon as the doctor would start to hear the heartbeat, Baby Gerke would move away. But bottom line is that we heard the heart beat and the doctor said that puts us in the clear....we're in the safe zone!!!!

I do apparently have a small infection, but that is being treated with some antibiotics and should be gone in about a week.  News to me, but glad it is something easily taken care of.  Our next appointment is on August 10th.  The day after we get back from out next vacation.  Scott's boss has got to love him...he goes on vacation for a week, then has an appointment the first day back.  No really his boss is incredibly supportive, so it's not a big deal!  And if all goes as planned, looks like we'll be finding out boy or girl, the first week in September!  It seems like so far away, but I know it will be here before we know it!

If you're lucky enough to be at the beach...

then you're lucky enough! Or so the saying goes! We just got back from the Gerke family vacation to Duck, NC. It was a great time. Lots of time with family, hours spent in the sun, splashes in the pool and ocean, time playing games....what's not to feel lucky about!

Every alone moment Scott and I were able to steal, we reminded ourselves that our trip to the beach next summer will be very different. We'll have a baby in tow, which comes with so much more. More gear to pack, more time inside than out, but more importantly, more smiles, laughter, and love. We can't wait!!!!

The Gerke crew on the 4th of July