Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

17 Weeks

Dear Baby,

This past week we went to the doctor for our 16 week visit. Everything went well, and I’m happy to report, I only gained one pound! It took awhile for the doctor to find your heartbeat because you were moving around so much. For some reason, I have a feeling this is going to be a pattern. From everything we’ve seen, you seem to be a very active little baby. I haven’t felt you move yet, but that should be happening in the next couple of weeks. Still no major cravings, just less self control—especially with sweets!I We also found out that you’re going to have another new friend, baby Senefelder is going to arrive about two months after you! My pants are starting to get pretty tight–especially when I sit down. I’m still wearing pre-pregnancy pants, but keeping them buttoned with a hair tie or the belly band.

Other news to report, last week Daddy surprised me by painting the nursery. Another item checked off the list. We also found a rocking chair for the room and should be getting it in a couple of weeks. Next step is to paint the changing table. Other than that, things have been pretty low key. I haven’t been traveling for awhile and we had the weekend off from weddings. Your cousins Ashley and Courtney slept over and we had a Harry Potter slumber party. We also were able to relax on Sunday by laying by the pool.

This weekend we’re headed to Brainard to shoot a wedding and then have an engagement session on Sunday so a busy weekend ahead! Also, just a cute little story to remember. Daddy was playing with my tummy the other day and flicking it and I go “What are you doing” and your Daddy responds, “We’re playing, would you leave us along”. It was very sweet and I think a little forshadowing to the future. Your Daddy is really just a big kid and he is going to have so much fun with you—I can’t wait to watch!

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

15 Weeks

Dear Baby,

It’s been awhile since I’ve written to you, mostly because sometimes I forget you’re there. I’ve been feeling pretty great these past couple of weeks—all of my clothes fit and I can still sleep on my belly so there isn’t a lot reminding me you’re there. At least like the first couple of weeks when I was sick and tired. Still no major cravings or anything, but do miss the occasional beer—more so when others around me are enjoying one. This week you are about 4 inches long and 2 ½ ounces, about the size of an apple. Your crib also arrived last week and we got it all set up and I’m ready to pain the room this week. I’m also planning on meeting with Grandma Bothwell to get all the details figured out on the bedding for your crib and hopefully she can get started on that soon! One of my favorite things right now is watching and hearing how excited your dad is for you to arrive. Everyday he asks how’s the little peanut doing? He also likes to kiss my belly or shake it. I usually tell him that probably gives you a headache and you probably don’t like it, but he likes you to move around and squirm from his movements. We go to the doctor again next week to check on you and make sure you’re doing well.

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

Boy?

This past week, I got the feeling that you are a boy. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t seem possible that you could be a girl. Last Tuesday, we had our regular monthly doctor appointment and everything looks great! We tried to hear your heartbeat but because the placenta is at the front of my belly, it was too hard, so we had another ultrasound and got to hear your little pitter-patter. No real changes—I can still fit into all of my clothes and am having fewer and fewer episodes of feeling sick. I haven’t gained any weight yet (at least according to our scale at home. The scale at the doctor says I weigh a couple of pounds more, but I haven’t gained anything there either so that is a good sign.) This past weekend, we found a crib for you, and I looked at fabric that we are going to make a crib skirt and some other items for you. Right now it looks like you’re room is going to be grey, aqua with maybe a little bit of white and orange in there too. My goal is to have the nursery done be the end of summer! I’m off to Madison again tonight/tomorrow and am hoping it will be the last trip for a while. All this traveling is exhausting.

Love, Mom

P.S. We met your cousin Ruby Griswold over the weekend. She is a little cutie and can’t wait to have play dates with you!

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

12 Weeks

Dear Baby,

So many things to share! Last Friday was quite the day. I had a genetics appointment to make sure you’re extra healthy. Originally, I was told it was going to be a quick 15 min appointment, so I told Daddy he didn’t need to come. The appointment ended up being over an hour and included an ultrasound. Luckily, Daddy was close by and able to join us for the ultrasound. They took all sorts of measurements and pointed out all of your different organs. Right now, you’re 6 cm so 2.5 inches. We even got to hear your heartbeat, which was very exciting! They also took some 3D photos of you. Right now you kind of look like a teddy bear but you’ll keep growing to look like a little human. My favorite part of the ultrasounds is watching Daddy’s reactions. His whole face lights up when he sees you and gets this sparkle in his eyes that brings tears to my eyes. He is so excited for you to arrive.

From everything they could tell, you are looking like a very healthy little baby. After the appointment, we took some bump pictures. There isn’t much of a bump yet, but we’re going to take photos every week to show your progress! That evening, I shared the news with the Hickels and they are beyond thrilled for your arrival! Saturday, we took some newborn photos of your friend, Carter Hall. It was such a thrilling experience to hold him and think in 6 months, we’ll get to hold you. Holding him brought emotions to the surface I had never felt before. Whenever, I had held babys previously, it was fun and they were cute, but knowing you were growing in me made it that much more real.

We also shared the news with your auntie Kelly—she was so excited she cried. We also shared the news with Great Grandma T and she was overjoyed. We have another Dr. appointment today so we’ll get to hear your heartbeat again. I’m also hoping to ask Dr. G why I get so sick while standing up. It is such an odd feeling. It isn’t really nausea—it feels more like motion sickness. Hopefully we’ll get some answers.

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

11 Weeks

Dear Baby,

Once again you made another trip to Madison this week. Maybe that’s an early sign that you’re going to be a badger?!?! Your Uncle Joe, Aunt Angie and Aunt Sheila would be very excited about that. You continue to be quite the little stinker on airplanes. I feel very sick and almost always have to rest my head in my hands and between my legs for the entire flight. Let’s hope you get over that soon. You are now 11 weeks, just  three weeks away from the 2nd trimester, which means only 6 months until you get here! You’re as big as a prune and weigh almost half a pound. Nothing too big happened last weekend. We took pictures of your friends Abigayle and Annabelle on Saturday and then on Sunday I just hung out on the couch for most of the day. I wasn’t feeling the greatest and felt motion sickness just while walking in Target. I had to go sit down on the patio furniture to try and rest so I could make it home. You’re Dad was busy at Grandpa Sampson’s doing a train session, one of his favorite things. We also told a couple more people about your existence, Trevor and Nikki, Rachel and Jake, Jenna and Cory and Lindsay and Dan. In one week we hope we can tell everyone! We’re also on the countdown for your cousin baby Griswold. He or She should be arriving any day!

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

Unofficial Mother’s Day

Dear Baby,

You are so thoughtful! This past weekend was mother’s day (my first unofficial mothers day) and you told your dad it was a good idea to give me a card from you. It was very sweet and thoughtful! We also shared the news with the Sampson’s that you’re on your way! They were all very excited especially Great Grandpa Sampson. He had a huge grin on his face and has been wanting another baby around. You’re Daddy has been busy helping him on his garden the past couple of days and he says Grandpa asks him all sorts of questions about you and how I’m feeling. One of his first questions, was, if you’re a boy, will your name be William? We told him it would be! You’re dad has also been busy over at Grandma and Grandpa Bothwell’s house. Today he is working on fixing some of the boards in their retaining wall and re-doing the stairs. It’s a lot of hard work and he’s pretty tired at night so I try and take care of him. You and I also went to Madison again this week. It’s getting a little bit better every time I travel so ‘Thank You’! We’ll be heading there again next week, but that time we’ll have to stay over night. Oh, I also forgot we finally told Auntie Sheila that you’re on your way. She thought we were joking and I think still part of her doesn’t believe it.

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

Strawberries anyone?

Dear Baby,

Things have been fairly uneventful over the past couple of days. Last Saturday I went to a wedding shower for cousin Sheila at cousin Erinn’s house. After most of the aunts and cousins had left, I shared the news with Erinn and Aunt Mary! Aunt Mary lives in Nebraska and I wasn’t going to be able to tell her in person so I wanted to make sure I did that. She is like a second mom to me, so almost like a second Grandma to you! They were so excited and even started talking about when she would be home to throw you a shower. I think your Grandma B was pretty excited that I told them too. She can finally talk about you to someone. Then yesterday we went to another Twins game with you Uncle Joe and Aunt Angie and your dad shared the news with them. Uncle Joe was a little slow to catch on but then was VERY excited and was asking all sorts of questions about you. After the game they even called Grandpa Bothwell and teased him a little bit about becoming a Grandpa.

I’m starting to feel a little bit better every day and am not quiet as tired as I used to be. No major cravings or anything still, but I’m intrigued by food much more than I used to be. I saw a commercial for a dairy queen blizzard the other day and thought, mmm that sounds good, I kind of want one right now. I held off, but prior to you I would never want something from just seeing it on TV. So if that is considered a craving, I have lots! I’m also really loving strawberries right now. Like really loving them–to the point where I will eat two pounds of them in a day…good thing they’re so cheap right now!

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

8 Week Appointment

Dear Baby,

What an exciting day for you! You got your first of many many pictures taken. We had our first doctor appointment today and our first ultrasound. You’re just about 1 inch and have tiny little arm and leg buds. The other exciting thing we got to see was your heart beat. It was beating about 180 times per minute, which is right where it should be. Anywhere between 150 and 200 is healthy. Although we didn’t hear it, we watched it beat and pulse. It was such an incredible experience. Your dad was very excited and had a huge smile on his face the whole time and kept saying, ‘Wow! That is so cool’. And, I have to agree; you’re already pretty spectacular! They also took some blood to run a couple of tests and gave us a whole packet of information to read. Next steps are to call the insurance company to see if they cover some additional special tests for you. Then we go back to the doctor in 4 weeks to hear your heartbeat on the outside of my belly! Can’t wait! Keep growing, you are due to arrive Dec. 6!

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

Grandma’s Little Baker

Dear Baby

This past weekend was fairly exciting. Your dad and I photographed his good friend Justin’s wedding. It was a little rainy and cold, but overall a very nice ceremony. During the reception, we had a lot of people asking if you were going to be around anytime soon. We avoided the questions best we could, but I’m sure everyone suspects you’ll be here soon since I wasn’t drinking.

Yesterday we had a lazy day. Daddy is going to be doing some work at your Great Grandma Tansey’s house and at Grandma and Grandpa Bothwell’s house this week, so we went over to Grandma and Grandpa B’s to get a low down on what needs to be done. And we finally shared the news with them that you’re going to be here in November! I made a little apron for you that say’s ‘Grandma’s Little Baker’ and wore it over to tell them. It took a little while to connect the dots, but they were very excited! Neither of them could believe it and were very shocked BUT very excited. It felt so good to share the news and excitement with them! Tomorrow we’re going to the doctor for our first appointment. I’m praying that we get to hear your heart beat!

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

Little traveler

Dear Baby,

Welcome to the Big Apple! You sure are becoming the little traveler considering you’ve only existed for 8 weeks (as of tomorrow!) and have already traveled to four states. We’ve been to Madison (twice), Chicago, Arizona, and now New York. Tomorrow we’re going to a fall fashion preview of my clients at work. They’re introducing all of the new products to the fashion magazines. Should be fun! I just hope you cooperate and don’t make me sick. So far, airplanes haven’t been your favorite adventure. Whenever I fly (which has been almost every week), I feel more nauseous than normal. On the flight to NY, I wasn’t sure how things we’re going to turn out. I had really bad indigestion. It was like my food was just sitting at the bottom of my throat and wouldn’t move. I was nervous it would come back up if I burped, but that’s all I wanted to do. So, I sat bent over with my head between my knees for the entire three hour flight. Luckily, I didn’t get sick.

Love, Mom