a week of firsts

First in my week of firsts I have to say this is my first day of my 17th week of being alive. Yay me! This week I weigh about as much as a turnip and am about five inches long! By now my retnas can detect light so if Mom and Dad shine a flashlight on Mom's belly I will get the heck out of the way to dodge the light. Isn't that cool? I know my parents and I'm sure they'll be doing this little experiment soon enough!

On to more firsts... This week I got to meet one of my new midwives. Dad said she was his favorite medical person so far of all the doctors we've seen. I'm glad he likes her and hope all the other ones are swell too. At the appointment this week they were able to hear my strong heart beating again, I know it was a relief for Mom since she can't feel me yet.

Mom went ahead and scheduled her last sonogram (as long as I decide to behave here in comfy wombland) for the day after her 30th birthday. She thought it would be the best birthday present to be able to see me one last time before I meet her in person. This sonogram is a big deal because they'll be able to see all my parts and make sure everything looks okay. They'll get to see the four chambers of my heart, my brain, my lungs and a bunch of other good stuff. I know they're really looking forward to it and I'm looking forward to saying, "hi" to them again!

This week Mom and Dad decided to read me my first baby book. Their friends and family have been so gracious in giving us gifts along the way and since they got a book for me this last week they went ahead and read it. The book is called, "I Love You with All My Heart." Mom loved the book so much it made her cry. I can already tell she's going to be one of those sappy, cryin' all the time kinda Mom's...

I also got my first pack of diapers this week. I can't wait to break those bad boys in! Did you know I'll go through 10-14 diapers a day? That's anywhere from 70-98 a week. Talk about fun times on my changing table. I wonder what brand of diaper I'll like the best...

Another first this week was for Mom, she wore her first complete maternity outfit. Since it's been harder and harder to get the zippers up on her jeans she caved and went ahead and put on her maternity jeans and a maternity top for work. It was strange for her because someone actually stopped her in the hallway and asked if she was wearing a maternity top. I guess I am starting to show more and more! Here's Mom on her first day of all maternity clothes... my big brother Tengo decided to dart through the picture, I think he's already getting jealous of my attention. I can't wait to pull his hair and go on rides on his back!

Speaking of showing more and more, below are my "outside" latest pictures from Connie. These are week pictures.

For the picture below Connie told Mom to smile naturally and not so big and goofy. In an effort not to smile big and goofy Mom and Connie couldn't help but burst into laughter. Connie captured one of Mom's laughs.

I guess that's all for this week's adventure. Mom and Dad are looking at more furniture for me tomorrow and I get to go to my second baby shower too. It's going to be a busy Saturday!

-xoxo-
Baby "D"

one decision down... many to go

This week Mom and Dad visited with the midwife group that delivers at Tampa General Hospital. They also took a tour of the Women's Center at TGH to check out what that hospital has to offer. After carefully considering the three options they explored Mom and Dad are excited to have found the midwife group and have them deliver me! It seems to be the best option for what Mom is looking for which is the best opportunity for an all natural birth but with the safety of delivering at a hospital in case I decide not to come out easily. One of the cool things is Mom can labor in water if she wants to and all the laboring rooms at TGH have really nice views of the Bay. Unfortunately the only bad part is the recovery rooms don't have a bed for Dad, just a reclining chair... I guess you can't have it all.

Here's the labor and delivery suite at TGH.

These past few weeks lots of people have been noticing Mom's little baby bump. Pretty much since the beginning of finding out I was going to be joining the family Dad has been taking pictures of Mom's belly in the entrance of my future room. The thought behind doing that was as you watched me grow you also got to watch the guest room/office change into my special room. Here are the first pictures Dad took of me in my room. Looks like Mom must have been pretty full on 7.02 cause I looked pretty big on that day!

On a side note, this week I'm the size of an avocado and am getting ready to go through another big growth spurt. In the next few weeks I'm going to double my weight and add some inches to my height. As for my looks, my eyes have moved closer to the front of my head and I've started growing my toenails. How exciting! If I'm a girl, I hope Mommy paints them bright pink!

This weekend Mom and Dad went looking for furniture for my room. They weren't able to go everywhere yet but they did find a set they liked at Babies R Us. Dad liked the cinnamon version of the furniture...

...but Mom's still undecided between the cinnamon and the dark wood.

I'm sure I'll love whatever they pick out for me and I'm sure they'll love it too... until I put stickers all over it and color it with my crayons. Fun times ahead! The cool thing is my crib will turn into a toddler bed, a daybed and a double bed so I'll always have a nice set a furniture to grow with me.

Before I go for the night... I have to say a lot of people have been commenting to Mom that they think I'm going to be a boy. It will be interesting to see if everyone feels that way once I start showing more.

-xoxo-
Donut

decisions, descisions, decisions

This week mom is 15 weeks preggers with me and I just graduated to the size of an apple. It seems that just in the last two weeks people have been telling Mom she's getting her baby bump. She certainly knows it's there and her pants know it's there too. Buttoning the top button is a thing of the past.

Mom's friend Connie who is a professional photographer is taking pictures of Mom and I every two weeks to do a progression series. Connie takes such good pictures and Mom highly recommends her if you need photos taken http://www.constanceavellinophotos.com/

Here's our first professional portrait. I can't wait to see how Mom grows on the outside while I grow on the inside! This is me and Mom at 14 weeks.

These past few weeks Mom and Dad have been struggling to make a very, very big decision. You see Mom is wanting to insure she has the best opportunity to have a natural birth for me. She wants to avoid having an epidural, getting drugs like pitocon and especially a C-section. Because of this recent decision her and Dad have been trying to figure out where the best place will be to give birth.

Originally Mom and Dad were set on delivering me at St. Joes Women's Hospital. Both of them were born there and it's a specialized hospital for delivering babies like me. The problem Mom has realized is the majority, 98% to be exact, of women who deliver at St. Joes end up getting an epidural. Also 30% of women who come into the hospital end up delivering via C-section. Although it's probably the best hospital to give birth here in Tampa, Mom is concerned with those statistics.

In an effort to make the best decision for the safety of me and Mom they decided to look into a few other options. One place they visited was Labor of Love. This is a birthing center located in Lutz. It's actually the only one in Tampa. At Labor of Love Mom and Dad would deliver me with the help of a midwife. The birthing center has two "apartments" for their delivering families. When Mom goes into labor her and Dad (and family too) would occupy one of the apartments. Mom would have free rein and be able to walk around and go wherever is comfortable for her. At Labor of Love they are big advocates of natural deliveries and unless they need to send you to the hospital everything is done there without using drugs to help.

One nice thing about this place is Mom could do a water birth if she wanted. Although not common in the US, water births are easier on the delivering mommy and perfectly fine for baby. Most women who do water births say they are more comfortable than laying in a bed.

Here's the back porch where Mom and Dad can go to relax if I'm not too painful during labor.

The one and only concern Mom and Dad have with delivering at a birthing center is the possibility of an emergency. Although they deal with delivering babies all the time if something wasn't to be right Mom and Dad would have to go to the local hospital to deliver me. They have full confidence in the ability of the midwives to determine if I wasn't coming correctly but it would still stink to have to go through that after everything.

Because of this concern Mom and Dad are going this week to visit with a practice of midwives that actually deliver at a hospital. This midwife group allows Mom and Dad to decide what method of birthing is right for them and sticks to their birth plan as best they can. They deliver at Tampa General Hospital and if there was an emergency they are backed by USF doctors who will do the C-sections if necessary. Although Mom isn't too excited about delivering at TGH it might be the best compramise for all that they're looking for when delivering me.

Hopefully after their tour of the hospital and meeting the midwife group next week they will be able to make a decision and we can move on to more exciting stuff like picking out my furniture and room decor.

I know Mom and Dad are having a hard time with deciding about my birth and just like them I'm going to be faced with a big decision too.  My big decision is whether or not to wear my UF onesie or my USF onesie. Now that I have both I can see this is going to be very difficult! These aren't my exact ones but since Mom is blogging away from home they'll have to do. I guess you'll have to help me choose when you come visit...

This weekend I'm visiting with my soon to be Great Grandmother, Biscuit Nonie. Nonie lives in Naples with my Great Aunt Susan so Mom and Dad don't get to see her much. I've heard Mom tell her at least five times this weekend that's she's pregnant and each time Nonie gets so excited. I guess having dementia does have its perks, Nonie gets joy everytime she find out she's going to be a great grandmother again. It's sad but Mom is so glad she's still around to share in the joy... over and over again!

I guess I'll sign off for now, I'm excited because I get my outside picture taken later this week. It'll be cool to see if I've grown from the outside so stay tuned. 

xoxo

Baby Donut

best cousins forever

What an exciting week I've had! On Thursday, July 28th I got to be a part of a very special birth, my big cousin Brooklynne Courtney was born! I'm so glad she came before me so she can have six months worth of life experiences to share with me ahead of time. Brooklynne was born at 7:50 PM and weighed 7 lbs. 13.5 oz and was 20 in. long. She had the most hair I've seen on a newborn, but then again she's the first newborn I've met so far... The video below is the first time my Uncle AJ got to hold his new daughter and my newest cousin. I thought it was a sweet moment because you can hear the emotion in Nanny Goat's voice and see how amazed Uncle AJ was to meet his new baby girl.

The whole family was at the hospital waiting for Brooklynne to come so during the free time Uncle AJ, Dad and Keith decided to help pass the time. I wonder what kind of pictures they'll take on my birthday? This one is Uncle AJ getting his back scratched while he scratches Aunt Adrienne's. The next one is Keith getting ready to do an exam. I guess it's all fun and games until baby decides to come.

Mom and Dad are a little obsessed with taking pictures these days and I think they got a little carried away but here are a few good ones from Brooklynne's stay at the hospital. Aunt Adrienne and baby were released on Saturday to go home after an eventful trip to St. Joes and one healthy baby delivered!

Brooklynne is the first grandchild for my Poppy Cafaro.

Cousin Brooklynne loves to stick out her tongue, I think that's her way of saying she's hungry. Mom is planning on breast feeding me when the time comes, I hope I can latch on well so I can grow big and strong too.

On Tuesday Mom and Dad had their first, "newborn session" with Brooklynne. Since they're trying to perfect their photography skills for when I come along they are getting good practice with my cousin. Unfortunately Brooklynne wasn't so happy with the situation and cried for most of it. First lesson learned, make the room nice and warm for the little, naked body. Here's a few to show off Dad's skills and my cute cousin.

See the tongue again!

Whew, that was a lot of baby pictures. I have big shoes to fill trying to be cuter than her! Mom has been having aweful heartburn and acid reflux, which according to what everyone says is a sign I will have hair. In the words of Mom's friend Regina who is also preggers, "I better be birthing a gorilla." So, hopefully I'll come out with some hair on my head too... at least make it worth if for Mom.

Since babies are popping out everywhere I thought I'd give a shout to my new friend Teddy. Teddy was born on August 2nd to Mommy's friend from high school, Lillian. Teddy lives in New Jersey so I won't get to see him often but perhaps we can be pen pals. I can't wait to meet him!

In other exciting news this week, seems like I have so much to talk about, Mom has gotten a few more maternity clothes... not that she needs them yet but at least she's getting some for when the time comes. Grandma Aguila, Auntie Jen and Mom's friend Mary have all given Mom a few pieces to start her wardrobe. Isn't she lucky to have such giving friends and family? Mom got her bella band this week so she can stop walking around with her pants unbuttoned for the world to see. Thank God for all the smart people out there making things easier for pregnant moms.

Mom and Dad also got a special gift from Grandma Aguila this week. She made us a Build a Bear. Inside the bear she sewed a heart and she also put my heartbeat as the sound when you press the bear's paw. It was a really sweet gift that I'm sure I'll treasure forever.

Time to sign off for the night. I've still got more to write about this week but it will have to wait until another time. I need Mommy to get her sleep so I can keep growing. I'm well on my way to being the size of a lemon from my current "large shrimp" status. I love lemons so week 14 should be pretty exciting! Yay for lemon size!