First stuffed animal from Dad

Steven and I have gone back and forth about re-painting the baby's room, before finally deciding that we will go ahead and re-paint the room. We have been searching for the perfect color, and have not had any luck. Those who have been in my house, know that I love color. Not a white wall in the house. Well except for the gray-white in the sunroom. But we painted the floor reddish-orange there.
I also have asked for him to paint a tree on one of the walls, but how that is done was still yet to be decided. I really didn't want a scene of any kind, just one big tree.
Well over dinner one night Steven mentioned he was going to pick up The Lorax for munchkin. It dawned on me then, why don't you paint a truffula tree! So Steven picked up the book, and we will search for a color in The Lorax. Hopefully it will bring some good inspiration. Steven also decided to pick up a stuffed Lorax for munchkin. The first stuffed toy from Dad! Hopefully munchkin will love the book as much as his mother!
Of course we daydream of what our little man will be like. Will he love art like his dad? Will he love being outside like his mom? Will he be a combination of us both? Will he be a crazy motorcycle ridin' hell raiser??? (Hope not, I think the mother curse I got was one just like me, well I've never had a motorcycle). I am sure no matter where munchkins interests lie, we will do our best to make him as well-rounded as we can. So he'll get The Lorax in utero, and I am sure dad will encourage drawing skills at a young age with big crayons! Maybe making mud pottery in the backyard is a good combo of the two?! And if our little man decides that math is his thing, or something that neither of us love, we will do our best to encourage that as well and maybe rely on our community of friends.

First gifts from friends

We received our first gifts from friends. Our dear friends the Pendells brought over a whole bag full of goodies for the baby. They brought bottles, a bottle brush, bibs, spoons, socks, body wash & lotion and a cute little hooded bath towel! Thank you so much Sherry, Albert and kiddos!

15 week exam

On Friday, I met another midwife, Jamie. The exam was very short, basically asked if I had any questions, how I was feeling, and she listened to munchkins heartbeat. I also had more bloodwork done. The NT blood work is apparently a two set series of blood work. Jamie said they would have the results from everything back in a week, but they would only call if I have to come back for further testing. I also scheduled my 18 week ultrasound for March 12th, so we will know for sure that our baby boy is a baby boy. I will meet the third midwife at that point, Margaret. How nice, before I am halfway through my pregnancy I will have met all three of the possible people who will be delivering my baby!
Everything has been going very well. If it weren't for my growing waist, I could easily forget. I've only gained a total of three pounds, but I am completely out of my regular clothes for the most part now. I even bought my first maternity dress for church. I was finding Sundays quite difficult, so we found a brand new black dress at the Salvation Army that I could wear. That solved at least one Sunday. I am still able to wear my uniform at work, but I am up a few sizes in the pants. Overall, my favorite outfits right now though, are the sweat pant outfits Stevens mom got me. As soon as I get home, they are the first thing I change in to!
I also felt a little bit of movement Thursday night. It was just little flutters just as I was about to fall asleep. It was steady flutters, so I am sure it was the baby. I haven't felt anything since, and the midwife said it may still be a couple weeks before I feel consistent kicks. I can't wait!

Bump at 16 weeks 4 days

Valentine's Day

So this post really has less to do with the baby and more to do with Steven and I, but I thought I would include it none the less. Valentine's Day in the Hoke house is never filled with flowers or chocolates. The older I get the more stubborn I become about us not accumulating stuff, or him buying me flowers just because every one else in the world is doing it. I do get flowers on random days, and that means so much more to me. Anyhow, the rule in the house is the Valentine gift has to be handmade. How lucky am I that I married a man who is so incredibly talented and artistic. So this year Steven went all out. I have been wanting a cold frame to start my plants in early for years now, and this year Steven made me a cold frame! The only pieces he had to confess to buying were the hinges and the paint. Everything else was salvaged from home redo's around here. Thank you honey!

First gifts from Grandmoo

We received the first package from Grandmoo the other day (though I know she is stock piling at the house). She mailed some cute bibs, including one that read "Grandma loves me". She also mailed us two books. One of the books was hers when she was a little girl, and it comes complete with little Grandmoo drawings in it! She also sent another book- Curious George, which was from one of her best friends when she was a little girl. It was a book she later read to me when I was little. Now I'll be able to read it to my little munchkin.

I know cheesy, but I am so in love. . .

Ordinarily I am not a Michael Buble' fan. In fact, I'm not sure what else he sings. Nothing against those who like him, just not my kind of music.
Anyhow, when I first heard this it made me think of my baby boy, and I can't help but love the song now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJmKkU5POA



My belly is finally starting to pop out a little. My work uniform is no longer fitting, so I have been wearing the bella band with it. Thank goodness it is Winter and a freezing Winter at that, so I am able to wear my jacket over everything. I ordered some pants a couple of sizes larger, we'll see how they work. Last time I wore pants a size larger they were too big in the legs. I was hoping to make it to 20 weeks before having to be out of the uniform. We'll see.
My regular clothes are much more forgiving, and I was actually able to button my loosest pair of jeans last night! However, I was ready to get home and put on my sweats as soon as I could! Maybe I'll get some belly pics up as soon as it is a cute small preggo bump.

2nd try at the NT

On Friday we went for a re-do at the nucheal translucency. Again, our lil' one wasn't cooperating, but the ultrasound tech sent what she had to the doctor and he seemed fine with the measurements. We also had blood work done, and they will either call or we will get the results at our next exam which is in a couple of weeks. The measurement was 1.8mm for the fluid in the neck, and anything under 3mm is good. With the blood work we should get what the chances are of the baby having trisomy 18 or downs syndrome. Of course Steven and I are well under the age where it becomes a concern, and we have no history in either family, so the doctors are not really concerned. We just went ahead and opted for the tests.
The ultrasound went really well. We enjoyed the time we got to spend with our lil' one, and we are pretty sure we got a good shot at what looks to be like little boy parts! The gender ultrasound is in a month, but I have felt all along that the baby is a he, so I am even more certain now! I guess we'll be certain in a month. Though I am pretty certain now :)! The heartbeat was 141 bpm and the baby was still measuring a couple days ahead.
The past couple of weeks have been good. I am still feeling good, and my waistline is starting to disappear. It still amazes me that I have only gained a few pounds total, but nothing seems to fit! But it'll all be worth it, and I am already looking forward to running again come September. (I'm no fool- I'm pretty sure I won't be hitting the pavement in August).
Steven and I also made another baby purchase. We decided to go ahead and buy a rocker recliner for our late nights with the baby. We figured that would be a little more comfortable than just a wooden rocker, plus it will be nice to have in the living room. It's already the most comfortable seat in the house.

Woohoo! the 2nd trimester!

So today starts the 2nd trimester, but this past weekend, I could tell major changes. Not only did I clean my house doing the normal Saturday cleaning chores, dusting, vacuuming, laundry, but I started organizing the baby's room, washed the kitchen cabinets, scrubbed all nooks and crannies that normally get ignored. . .I was on a mission! Maybe this was due to being snowed in, but even still, weeks ago I would have had to take a nap in between each chore! I think I am going to like having this energy back. . .bring on the nesting!

Our stubborn wiggle worm

On January 26th, Steven and I went to another ultrasound. This ultrasound was to measure a spot on the baby's neck to check for Downs Syndrome. Well, from the beginning the baby wouldn't cooperate. Either the baby was too busy doing handstands, or rolling over on it's side, or just wiggling in general. The ultrasound tech tried everything, had me roll from side to side, stand up, walk around, I even offered to put my feet up in the air! I used my mommy voice, but none of it worked and in the end I was already apologizing for my misbehaving kiddo.
On the good side, we got to spend 45 minutes watching our baby. We saw the baby throwing punches, kicking, doing handstands, and hiccuping. It was beautiful!
Since this time didn't work out, I will go back on the 2nd to try to get the measurement needed. Darn the luck! Another chance to see the baby!