6 months preggers

Mama stats:
How far along?: 24 weeks 2 days

Weight gained: 11lbs…plus some, I'm sure (will update # after my Oct. 5th appointment)

Sleep: Great, just having really weird dreams

Maternity clothes: oh yes! AND just got lots of maternity clothes from one of my oldest friends Chastity Wagner Hay (we have been friends since jr. high / we ran cross country & track together). She is a GREAT mommy to 2 beautiful kids.

Movement: I LOVE feeling her move! I cant wait for Ryan to feel her.

Gender: GIRL

Name: We have 1 name in particular we both love, just don’t know if it’s the "1" yet. Will post as soon as we decide.

Belly button in or out?: Still in, just itches sometimes.

What I miss: Drinking beer & watching football

Cravings/favorite foods: Sweets!! I love a little something sweet & a cold glass of milk.

Milestones: We have reached Viability Day! Viability refers to a point in fetal development at which the fetus may survive outside the womb (but stay put baby, you still have plenty of time in my belly).

Best moment this week: getting a lot marked off our baby "to do" list.

Looking forward to: Getting her furniture!!! It is on back order until Oct. 5th (was Sept. 29th).

WOW....

.......what a difference 10 weeks makes!

at 13 weeks 2 days

today at 23 weeks 2 days

Daycare :(

Yesterday was my 1st day to visit daycares. I had already did some preliminary searching. I had called around to get prices (our area is about 720 - 1050 a month), looked on the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services website for their 2 year inspection summary, & asked friends/coworkers for referrals.

Well it started off horrible. At the 1st daycare it took them a long time to even notice I was there, they were caught off guard by my visit, didn’t have any information for me to take home, too small, not clean enough, & the care givers looked like they just rolled out of bed (yuck). The next one was much better! Very professional when I showed up. They gave me a packet of information, a tour, & explained details about the infant room, but……..the facility was HUGE. All together it could accommodate 250 kids (wow), & they didn’t know if there would be an opening. The 3rd daycare looked great, smelled clean, very bright & fresh, but no one was available to give me a tour. Plus this one was a tad more out of the way then Ryan & I preferred. The last one……was just right!!! It had the best location for both Ryan & I to pick up & drop off, it was a referral from a co-worker, inspection summary was good, great infant curriculum, price was right, & had a monitoring system (I can watch my baby all day long from my work desk). I liked that when I entered the building I couldn’t get into the daycare until someone buzzed me in (later was informed parents get the code to the door & it changes frequently). I was greeted by the director who asked me general questions (name, due date, how did u hear about us, etc) before we proceeded. Then she gave me a tour of the infant room which was clean/fresh, each baby had their own personal crib, all the babies looked happy, the care givers looked friendly & nurturing (playing with all the little ones), great amount of space, lots of toys/activities for the babies, & monitored all day. Ah………what a relief! So I know we have potentially found 1 daycare that would be suitable.

I still want to visit 2 or 3 more this month (just to know that I did my best looking for 1). Once I narrow it down to 2, Ryan & I will visit them together & decide where our little girl will go. It's kind of scary knowing one day we will leave her in the care of a stranger, but I know people do it all the time :(. I've also decided that Ryan will have to take her to daycare the 1st day because I will probably cry. I'm already considering working 1/2 days the 1st week I'm back….and don’t kid yourself, I will be watching that daycare monitor all day on 1 of my 3 computer screens at work (haha!)

So the search is still on………….

22 weeks 2 days

22 weeks 2 days

Not much going on in the Nixon household. This past Saturday we met with Father Gary at St. Mary's in LaPorte to discuss getting our marriage blessed (remember our BIG Catholic wedding was ruined by hurricane IKE and we ended up getting married outside the church). This October 18th we will be married 2 years and STILL haven't had it blessed, therefore our marriage is not recognized by the catholic church. Thankfully all our "marriage prep" is still valid. Father Gary gave us his blessing & will perform the ceremony (yay). Ryan & I plan to have the ceremony sometime in October.

This makes me very happy because we plan to have our baby girl baptized shortly after her birth & I really wanted Ryan & I to be in good standing with the catholic church.

Another GREAT doctor appointment!

Baby Nixon

(with her legs bent & her arms by her face)

She did a flip

(this is her facing down. clear picture of her spine & little ear)

Today was a GREAT day! I wasn't going to let this crappy weather ruin it. I woke up knowing I would get to see my little girl. We had an ultrasound & doctor appointment.

First was the ultrasound....and boy has she grown! The tech said she is now 1lb. She was just a moving in there, twisting, and turning. The tech was having a difficult time getting her measurements & good photos.

Then I went to see the doctor (Ryan went back to work). It was short like always. Dr. Schmidt always walks in with a big smile and says everything looks good (ah...such a good feeling). Then I proceed with my list of questions. This time I asked about inducing (yep - she does), episiotomy (yep - she does), when is the best time to schedule the 3D ultrasound (between 28-32 weeks). Then I informed her that I get 8 weeks paid leave from work (no problem), that we already took the hospital tour, & registered with the hospital. This appointment she also measured my bump (I didn't get the measurement, guess I was talking to much). Our next appointment is scheduled for October 5th to have my glucose screening and regular check up.

Mama stats:
How far along?: 21 weeks 3 days

Weight gained: 11lbs

Sleep: Great...only getting up once or twice

Maternity clothes: oh yes! Sucked it up and bought some maternity work slacks. I still fit in my normal work slacks with the belly band, but maternity slacks are so much more comfortable.

Movement: I'm noticing her more & more. She is active in the morning when I'm getting ready & on my ride home from work.

Gender: ultra sound #2 confirming a girl. So its official, I can paint her room pink

Belly button in or out?: in ;)

What I miss: wearing all my cute clothes that I can no longer fit in (or at least fit in & look cute)

Cravings/favorite foods: still love chocolate milk/cinnamon crisp cereal

Milestones: took the required hospital tour, registered with the hospital, & completed our baby registry

Best moment this week: seeing our little girl at the ultrasound

Looking forward to: finally getting started on her room