20 Weeks

Finally, for those of you who have been wanting a belly shot...here it is!! I finally figured out my image upload problems...so you can also see an ultrasound image in "IT'S A BOY!". I am at 20 weeks in this photo and looking pretty cute...I think! I certainly haven't been feeling cute all of the time, but every now and then I do.
We have chosen a name....Arlo! I think it is final. It seems weird to still have 4+ months before he arrives and we know his gender and have a name...but, I like it this way...this time. I am glad we waited with Sam. We still can't decide on a middle name...maybe that will be the surprise...or maybe we'll all be surprised and an Isabel will pop out!
He moves a lot and I started having Braxton Hicks contrctions last week while travelling. They seem to be very frequent and strong if I am too active (like carrying a 32 lb. boy in a sling all day while travelling around airports). Over the last few days I haven't had as many.
We meet with the midwife again next Monday and we have found a doula! Her name is Sara and she is completing her needed birth hours for certification, so she isn't charging us anything. She is a good friend of mine and friend of other women I know and trust AND she has worked with our midwife... as well as had our midwofe catch both of her girls. She is also a certified massage therapist! BONUS! She's good too...having a 90 minute prenatal rub from her a month a go, I can atest.
I promise to be better about posting now that my image issues are over...I love having the visual aspect.

A Visit Home

Sam and I arrived in Maine on Thursday morning and it feels really nice to be home for a number of reasons...

1. It is great to see my folks! We have been relaxing and playing with Sam, going for walks, eating ice cream!

2. Without my regular home chores; I can really play with Sam...or not and my Mom and Dad will. I get some free time to just relax and nap or sleep in....very nice and needed.

3. I haven't cooked one meal since I have been here and my mom did my laundry...I am 28 and she'll still do my laundry when I visit.

4. The weather here is much nicer than when I left Washington...though humid, not as hot!

5. I am vacationing on the coast of Maine...who can complain about that?

Reasons to not like being here:

1. My husband is not here.

2. Dial-up internet connection ( I am spoiled with fiber).

We are planning a trip up north to camp for a few days and I love it up there, so of course I am looking forward to that. Sam will love the river and the animals...lots to explore!

It's A boy!

Yes, it is a boy! The ultrasound went very well and it was such a joy to see the little guy moving around and wiggling his little fingers. Above you can see his head with his little hands and an arm! He weighed 8 oz. on the day of the ultrasound and the computer decided that our due date based on his measurements should be November 25, instead of December 2. The midwives didn't see any need to change the date officially though.

Ultrasound Wednesday

When I was pregnant with Sam we opted not to have an ultrasound and it wasn't until I was 7 or 8 months pregnant that our midwives thought we might be having twins and ordered one! So, we went and it was the worst experience of my life. To make a long story short...the tech had no bedside manners and basically eluded that our baby had some kind of heart defect. We left the hospital in tears. I had hoped the ultrasound would alleviate my fears of deformities and such. As it turned out, Sam was fine. We waited to find out the sex until the birth day and that was fun.
This time we are going to find out...assuming that the baby cooperates....and just for the record, 2 days before the ultrasound, I think we're having a girl. We'll see! I am also looking forward to seeing the little critter and having a much more positive experience. I'd like to have prints of the pictures this time too.
This morning my girlfriend Stacy came by with her son Jaadyn and while the boys played outside in the 100 degree heat (they wanted too, I promise!) we organized baby/toddler clothes (inside in the AC) and I got a pretty good idea of what I have that can be used again should this be a girl. I have a fair amount since we did not find out with Sam, lots of yellows and greens...very safe for either sex.
So think good ultrasound thoughts for us and I'll post as soon as I have more news!

Baby Names...Ugh.

So, of course we've been having the baby name discussion and I am searching and reading trying to think of the "perfect" names. When I was pregnant with Sam we used to talk about names on our long drives to and from Topeka. It was easy then. We decided on two names and that was that.
Sam's names were:
Samuel Barrett Grieshop (obviously the chosen one)
Nora Haviland Grieshop

This time we have picked (so far):

Isabel Haviland or Aurelia Grieshop
Willa Haviland

Emmett Kenneth

We also had Amon Kenneth for a while, but recently I nixed Amon...too close to "Amen". I also like Liam, but I don't think Matt does. This will all get easier when we find out the sex in just 10 days!!
Any suggestions??? Help us out!!

Yellow-Jackets and Dreams

On Sunday we were heading out of the house to run some errands and I stopped at the garbage bin to dump some things. I accidentally dropped my car keys down into the can and needed help retrieving them. Matt came to help and I stepped back to give him room and stepped directly on a yellow-jacket nest! I was immediately stung a minimum of 5 times ( I can see at least 5 swollen spots) and it hurt!! I haven never been stung by yellow-jackets, by bumble bees many times, but this was much more painful! I screamed and ran into the house. Matt followed and we poured cold water on the stings followed by witch hazel. The witch hazel helped relieve the pain and the swelling. Today I am fine, just a little itchy. YUCK!

Over the weekend I did not sleep well due to a number of horrible dreams including two very vivid dreams that I gave birth to a stillborn. Both dreams I gave birth in the living room and I woke crying. The third dream I had involved Sam and Matt's parents and a trip to have our ultrasound. I abandoned Sam and he wouldn't look me in the face in part of the dream. It was a long and detailed dream, too long to write, but I think it has to do with being a little nervous about our ultrasound in a few weeks. When I was pregnant with Sam in the week before our ultrasound for him, I had numerous awful dreams including one that I can still vividly remember where he was horribly deformed. I know the dreams are normal, but it doesn't make them any easier to handle!

Sam Update

Sam had his two year well-child appointment this morning. He weighs 30 lbs. 8 oz. and is 36" tall...a full 3 feet!! He reached 98% in height and in head circumference, and 75% in weight. He is a growing boy! The ped. does think that Sam's speech is a bit delayed and referred us to an audiologist and a speech therapist. So we'll see what happens there. My boy is so big!