We put the crib and changing table up in Aidan's room

Ray put them together and it's so exciting to go into his room and just look at it. The room isn't that big, but I think all the pieces we picked out will fit. We're still waiting on the glider and ottoman to come in and one other piece. We still need to clean out his closet as it's been a storage closet for us and a place for out of season clothes since we are strapped for closet space here. We've been buying onsies thru the years on our trips in hopes of having a baby someday to wear them. So now we'll get to pull them out and hang them up in his closet.

Back from 20wk doctor appt

Had our 20wk appt today at Dr Seeker's office. Everything is still looking good. Today was mostly a paperwork appt. We are pre-registering at the hospital and for childbirthing class. Still amazed we are actually getting to do all of this! Our level II sonogram was scheduled for wk 24, but since we are leaving for Italy in about 2wks, they moved the appt up so that we will have this the day before we leave for our anniversary trip. This will make us feel better leaving the country if we know everything is ok before we go and if something is wrong, then we'll cancel the trip. Good thing we bought cancelation insurance for this trip! We didn't do any ultrasounds today, so no new pics of Aidan to post today, sorry!

I am posting a picture of us out on Tuesday for Ray's 33rd birthday. We went to Fado's for dinner w/friends of ours, Greg and Karen, to celebrate.

20wks, the half way point!

Wow, I can't believe I'm really at the 20 week mark. Ray took this picture of my belly this morning before he left for work. Within another 20wks, we'll have a baby! Amazing. I've been feeling really good. I feel Aidan's movements daily and love it. Today when I woke up, it felt like he was all balled up and over to my left side. I'm still dealing with allergies, but feel like I'm at the end of the bad part.

Week Twenty You're half way there!
The rapid growth stage is about over. While things have slowed down, this next stage is vital to survival.
The baby's heart grows stronger. Find a quiet place, lay flat on your back. Locate your own heartbeat by finding your pulse. Next lay your hand on your belly. You may be able to distinguish the two heartbeats!
His legs are reaching their relative size. With the increase muscle develop occurring as well, you will start feeling much more than tiny flutter kicks soon!
Immunities are being transferred from you to your baby now. These immune cells will protect her from viruses you've already had for up to six months after birth!
The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections.
Your baby may startle in reaction to loud sounds. Amazingly, she can actually hear noises outside of the womb. Familiar voices, music, and sounds that baby becomes accustomed to during her development stages often are calming after birth.
If your baby is a girl, her uterus is starting to develop. She has approximately six million eggs in her ovaries. About one million will remain at birth.
Baby is about 6.46 inches (16.4cm) and weighs around 10.58 ounces (300g).

Aidan's nursery is almost done!

Ray and I have been working on Aidan's nursery for a week now. Painting is always more work than it first seems it will be. We took down the guest room last Sunday night and started painting on Monday. We finished painting today! Now, we just need to add the wall paper boarder that matches Aidan's bedding to the top of the room and change all the outlets to white ones instead of the beige they are now. Here is a link to see photos of the nursery in progress...

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcMWLhw2ctWH2

I've been feeling Aidan move and kick on a daily basis now. Yesterday, I saw my stomach move when he kicked me! That was really neat! He did it again tonight and I was looking and happen to see it again! Ray keeps missing it, but I know he'll see it and feel it soon.

Our next appt is a nurse appt this coming Friday afternoon. I'll be 20w1d - the half way point!

Aidan's bedding crisis avoided!

*** UPDATE *** UPDATE *** UPDATE!!!!! ***

My mom went to BRU yesterday and bought everything in the Nautica bedding line that they had on the shelf! She got everything except for 2 items that they no longer had. My friend April found one of the 2 items and my other friend D'Ann in DC got the last of the 2 missing pieces. Whew!! I feel SO much better now! My mom and friends saved the day! Thanks ladies! =)

Aidan's bedding being discontinued!!! Oh no!

I've been on the phone w/Babies R Us since Monday trying to track down the wall paper boarder for Aidan's room, as there is never any in stock in the store and it's unavailable to order on line. So finally today, I track a roll down in Mesquite TX and they tell me that the reason it's been so hard for me to find is because they are discontinuing the bedding and all matching accessories that go with it. OMG!! I am panicking!!! I'm becoming the parent that will fight other parents in the store over the Tickle Me Elmo doll or the Cabbage Patch doll!! But seriously, Ray and I both LOVE this bedding and we've already decorated the room based around THIS bedding! So I called my mom and best friend April and they are going to go tonight and tomorrow to Babies R Us and try to buy whatever they can of the Nautica collection b/c whatever they have on their shelves now, is all they will ever have. Once it's gone, they will not be restocking since the manufacturer is discontinuing that bedding set. I'm freaking out just a little bit here, feeling a huge sense of urgency here!!! Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! I am such a HUGE planner, so this is not sitting well w/me at all.

19wks today! Almost halfway thru pregnancy!

Week Nineteen
Your baby has the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. He has a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods.
Throughout baby's body, nerves are being coated with a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves so that impulses can flow smoothly.
Scalp hair becomes apparent this week. It has sprouted and continues to grow.
The milk teeth buds have already developed and over the next few days the buds for the permanent teeth will begin to form behind the milk teeth.
If baby is female the uterus starts to develop. If you're having a girl, the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place.
If it's a boy, the genitals are distinct and recognizable.
Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and his or her kidneys are making urine.
Your little one's size is around 6.02 inches (15.3cm) and 8.47 ounces (240gm).

This past week, we started working on Aidan's nursery. We moved out all the guest room furniture and painted the top of the room blue and added wainscoting to the bottom half of the room. I just have a little more trim to paint and it'll be finished! We also updated the window blinds and added 2" faux wood blinds in his room. I'll post pics soon!

I'm feeling good. I'm enjoying feeling Aidan's movement on a daily basis now. It's very reassuring. It seems allergies have gotten the best of me for the past few days. I've had lots of congestion, stuffy head, runny and or stopped up nose and sore throat. Not fun. I hope I'm feeling better soon. My total weight gain is 11 lbs so far, and the expected range for 19wks is 8-14lbs of weight gain. So, looks like I fall right in line w/the normal range for now.

18wks today! I'm in my 5th month now

Week Eighteen
Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on baby's skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect your baby's skin during the months in water.
Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. Don't forget those prenatal vitamins!
Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. He'll be putting these lungs to good use in just a few months!
Her vocal chords are formed. She goes through the motions of crying but without air she doesn't make a sound.
Features of your baby's heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.
Your baby measures about 5.59 inches (14.2cm) this week and weighs about 6.7 ounces (190gm).

I'm feeling fine; just a sore lower back and a little tiredness now and then. Right now, I'm so excited to get Aidan's room started!

Nautical bedding for Aidan

Here is a picture of the bedding we chose for Aidan's room. We just bought paint today and will start getting his room ready on Monday or Tuesday. I can't wait!!

Just got AFP test results back...

The nurse that called said everything looks GOOD! She said we have a 1 in 16,000 chance of NT (neural tube) issues and 1 in 16,000 chance of Downs. I'm so glad we weren't forced to make a choice of whether or not to do a amnio, b/c I'm not sure I would want to risk it.

My progesterone is at 50, so my placenta is doing it's job! No more PIO shots!

Very happy and feel continually blessed w/all of this.

Tanya
17w5d
edd 2.8.07
It's a BOY! Aidan Thomas

Week 17 as of Aug 31st

Week Seventeen
By week 17, your baby weighs about 4.97 ounces (140gm) and is 5.12 inches (13cm) long.
He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now. She holds her head more erect and her body and limbs are longer in proportion to her head.
Pads are forming on his tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent.
Her eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed.
Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. This black gooey substance will become your baby's first poop!
The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger and continues to rush blood and nutrients to your growing baby.
If your child is male the prostate begins to develop.
Her skeleton is tranforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

At my last appt, the doctor said I don't need to worry about the PIO shots anymore since the placenta has taken over progesterone and other hormone production by now. I can't say I'm sorry to see the shots go. Ray and I both are glad not to have to worry about them anymore. It's been almost a week since my last shot. This is my last week in my 4th month!