Baby Taps

Today I am 17 weeks along.

This morning while I was still laying in bed, I started to feel some funny sensations in my stomach.  I couldn't quite place what was going on until I placed my hand on my lower stomach and then felt a series of small, short taps.  I am pretty sure that it was baby baum making his/her presence known!  I called Bud over right away and he was able to feel a little too before the show was over.  It was such an amazing moment and I am really glad that we were both still home to experience it together.  :)

Here's a little more on what baby is up to this week.

• baby baum's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone
• baby baum's fingers and toes now feature one-of-a kind prints
• If baby baum is a girl, her little ovaries are already producing primordial egg cells which within a few weeks will develope into eggs (this is mind blowing to me!)
• baby baum is approximately 5.1 inches long, and weighs around 5.9 ounces  (roughly the size of a large onion)

As for Mommy, things are going pretty well.  I have noticed a spike in my appetite again (which I didn't think could possibly get much larger) which might be responsible for this growing bump!  I also have noticed that my belly button (which is normally an inny) is starting to transition into an outy.  I'm sure that is going to be real cute poking out from my shirts in the weeks to come!  lol

Here is my bump pic of the week:

I'm looking forward to spending time with family this weekend.  I'm also praying the rain will stop and dry up so I can watch my little brother play soccer tonight!

Nursery Inspiration

So Bud and I have been spending alot of time discussing what we want baby baum's nursery to look like.  For the most part we haven't had to decide since we haven't taken possession of our house yet, BUT since that will be happening soon, I have been feeling a little more pressure for us to come to an agreement.

Our previous discussions have led us to decide that even though we plan to find out the gender of our baby, we would rather stick with sort of a gender neutral theme so that the nursery can be reused for future children.  Then we can use some simple accessories to jazz it up and really personalize it for the child.  We also want something that will grow well with the child and not look silly if we end up keeping it throughout the baby year into the "toddler" years.  This is a tall order!

Bud's thoughts have leaned toward primary colors, while I have been more interested in the pastels coupled with brown.   He has also really had an interest in using the alphabet and animals (especially frogs), while I have been more interested in the simplicity of patterns within a color scheme, like stripes and polka dots.  Bud has been drawn to the color red which he thinks is good for both boys or girls.  I have been really drawn to green (like a sage green color, not a BOLD, primary green), especially as a wall color because it could easily couple with other colors. 

On Saturday I went garage-saling again, and came home with lots of fabulous purchases, but this  quilt from Pottery Barn Kids is probably at the top of the list!

I guess after reading the ideas we had been bouncing around, it looks like it almost fits more into the scheme of what Bud had been looking for than it does with what I had been looking for.......but I absolutely fell in love with it!  It came with a crib dust ruffle and curtains that are made out of red gingham (they are pretty beat up and I don't think we will use them, but I did take them home so I can be inspired to make/buy something of my own that would coordinate just as well or better). 

The quilt itself is in fabulous shape, and I got a great deal on it!  I like the idea of still using green for the walls, and other bedding, and then emphasizing either the red or the blue based on whether it will be a girl or boy with other things like lamps, wall hangings, etc.  I am also imagining a way to work the alphabet on the walls, like painting it on in various colors as a border around the top of the room.......

Though we still have time to change our minds, it was fun to find something that we both really agreed on.  I might be the only wife ever that spots something she likes at a garage sale, and then picture texts it to her husband to get his approval before she buys it. :)  We like to be different!

4 Months Along

We are 16 weeks today!  Though the time seems to generally be measured in weeks; comparing that 16 weeks to 4 months sure gives some perspective on how far into this pregnancy we are.  We are almost halfway. 


Here is a little bit on what baby is up to this week:

• baby baum is nearly five inches in length (which is roughly the size of an avocado or large pear) and weighs over three ounces

• Eyebrows, eyelashes and hair are starting to fill in

• Taste buds are forming

• Developed facial muscles make it possible for him/her to squint, frown, or try to make other expressions

• His/her eyes can move from side-to-side, and even perceive some light, although its eyes are still fused shut

• He/she might be experiencing tiny hiccups though they are too small for me to feel yet

Here is my growing baby bump:

The countdown continues...


Two weeks until my husband graduates from grad school.


Two weeks until we have our ultrasound.


Three weeks until we close on our house.


And then after that I think everything will run together!  :)


Hope everyone has a happy Friday.  Don't forget your umbrella!

My "secret" flaw

Okay, I have a confession to make.  I am not good with secrets.  I really don't think I ever have been, especially when it is something exciting like a surprise!  My family can vouch for this one specifically when it comes to birthday presents.  I spend so much time finding the perfect gift that I just want to see the satisfaction on the person's face immediately!  Poor Bud has yet to open a present from me on his birthday.  Oh well, I guess everyone has to have character flaws, right?!?

So, this is why when we found out we were pregnant we didn't wait very long to tell everyone.  In fact, we told our families when we were only 6 weeks along.....yeah, pretty early.  Now, you have to understand that we had known since we were only 3 weeks along (which is also, pretty early), so it felt like we were waiting FOREVER to tell them.

I thought I would share the story of how we told them, since it was kind of creative, and I always love to hear other peoples' stories.  Oddly enough, that 6 week timetable (which we were impatiently waiting for) happened to fall on the weekend of Valentine's Day, which was also the weekend that my brother was swimming in the State swim meet.  I thought it would be a perfect chance to get everyone in one place and tell them together.  What I didn't think through all the way was how to get my brothers to want to spend Valentine's Day with their family instead of their significant other.......that was difficult (especially with Joel, which is why he ended up finding out before anyone else).  Woops.  Another example of my poor secret keeping!

Anyways, we finally got everyone around the dining room table together and gave them these special Valentine's that I had made myself:

We had them all open them at the same time, and this is what the inside said:

In case it is difficult to read the poem from the picture, the inside was addressed to either "Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, or Uncle", and the poem was a cheesy announcement written from the perspective of baby baum.  It was welcomed by various responses such as: my mom jumping up to hug me with tears in her eyes, or my youngest brother, Josiah, age 13, saying "Why does this call me uncle?"  Everyone was thrilled, and then sworn to secrecy until we did the same routine at lunch the following day with my in-laws.

I am really glad that we chose to share our news early because my family has been an incredible support to us throughout our pregnancy so far.  I really appreciate being asked about how baby baum is doing, and equally love sharing.  As for everyone else who waits a lot longer to share - I am very confused about how you manage to hide the sickness and the tiredness from everyone around you.  Props to those who can keep secrets better than me.....I am a little bit jealous!  :)

So on to another big secret.  We are planning to find out what gender our baby is going to be at our ultasound which is scheduled for May 7th.  I have heard lots of people say that they would rather be surprised and just not know; but I am NOT one of those people.  In fact, waiting this long to find out has been kind of driving me nuts!  I don't have an opinion either way, I just want to be able to start planning and buy the right color clothes!  Since I am the oldest, I think I have always imagined that my first would be a girl like me, but after being a nanny for a little boy these past couple of years, I have decided that dirt and trucks can be cute in a way that pink and bows will never be. :)  I will share this secret with you all as soon as we know! ;)

Since this is a day of secrets, I might as well just go all out and share the names that we are thinking most strongly about right now.  We had narrowed our list down to our top five girls names and our top five boys before we even got pregnant.  But we have specifically been able to stay solid on our top girl and boy name for the past few months, so I guess I will share them with you.  I would love some input since there are always things that you might not have thought of (like silly nicknames, funny initials, etc.), but please be nice in your comments as these might be the names we stick with. :)

Layla Jayne

Hendrix James

Okay, well I think I have made enough confessions for one day.  Have a good one!

Bumpin' Along

Tomorrow we will start our 15th week of this pregnancy.  Time seems to be going faster and faster.  Only 3 more weeks and we will be finding out if we are going to have a little girl baum or a little boy baum. 


I am still feeling great, though as my tummy keeps on growing I have found myself feeling really bloated.  I didn't really know what carrying extra weight on your front would feel like, and though it isn't really an unpleasant experience, it is definitely different than I expected.  It mostly just feels like a pressure that you can't really turn off.  :)    


Here is a shot at my baby bump as of this morning:

Later this morning I went to the park with Gabe, and someone I didn't know asked me when I am due.  That is the first time that someone recognized my bump as baby without my pointing it out.  I was really thrilled!  I love talking to other moms about their baby stories. :)

baby baum should be around 4 inches long right now or the size of a navel orange. This week developmentally: the legs are finally longer than the arms, and both knees and elbows are fully formed and functioning.  


baby baum witnessed his/her first soccer game this week as we watched the Grinnell Tigers high school boys team beat Knoxville.  (Way to go Jake!)  As we were sitting there in the sun watching the game, I was reminded of how much more I enjoy soccer season than football season when it comes to the weather :)   More soccer to come this weekend.....

First Baby Purchases!

We are in our 14th week now, and we had another routine appointment on Friday.  Bud came along this time, and we heard baby baum's heartbeat significantly slower than last time at only 150 beats per minute (which still is MUCH quicker than my own heartbeat.....so cool!)  It was really awesome to share that moment together, and we were both really elated to hear that our little "lemon" is growing just as it should.  I also specifically asked the doctor if she thought there was a chance that there was more than one baby in there (are you listening, family?!) and she said no.  I am just the right size, and we only found one heartbeat.

Baby is doing lots of moving now though I have yet to really feel the movements.  The doctor said it will probably be a few weeks yet before I really notice them, but our baby is busy sucking it's thumb and wiggling it's fingers and toes.  The other big growth of the week is that it is now covered in lanugo (thin, downy hair) to keep it warm.  I find it interesting that this week I also noticed that my tummy is covered with little peach hairs.....no one told me about this side effect to pregnancy!

Over the weekend I hit up some garage sales and made my first official baby purchases!  My most prized purchase was this bassinet.....it is from Eddie Bauer and is in fabulous shape still!  And yes, it is full of clothes......

I was really trying to wait until we have the anatomy ultrasound next month to buy clothes, but I really couldn't resist the super deals on really cute clothes.  I picked up lots of gender neutral pajamas and a snow suit, and then also a few pink and a few blue items.

Yes, take another look and see that I even picked up an Iowa Hawkeye sweat suit! This was for Bud's benefit, and no, it does not mean that I am not a loyal Cyclone fan.  I will be keeping my eye out for cute Cyclone gear as well.  I just didn't find any at the garage sales.

I guess it was a pretty productive weekend, and I am looking forward to enjoying the sun this week to come!

Beginning of the Second trimester

Okay, so I am very new to blogging. This is the first time in my life that I have felt like I have something that is worthy of talking about in a blog format....our baby!

We are in our 13th week currently, and I am feeling great. Now that wasn't always the case (in fact, you can just ask Bud about how he had to prepare me bowls of cheerios to eat in bed before I could find the energy to get up and start my day...) Those days seem to be over though and my appetite has come back with renewed vigor. I am not sure if my baby bump is really baby, or just the extra calories that I have been intaking the last couple of weeks. :)

I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, and this time Bud gets to come with me. We should hear the heartbeat again, and with any luck I might be able to get an audible recording this time.

Until then....