Ahhhh...I Love My New Bed

As Chris and I watched Violet pushing the sides of her bed out we thought it was time to upgrade her from a full size to a king size. After getting beyond her intense sniffing session of the new bed, she now loves it. She can play in it, sprall out and just enjoy.

Pregnancy Progress: Week 18

Today, I am 18 weeks pregnant!! When each new week arrives it always seems like it will go by so slowly but then as it comes to an end it feels as if it just flew by. I think back to when I was only 5 weeks pregnant and taking a pregnancy test every morning to make sure it was really true and I can't believe I've made it to 18 weeks (and looking forward to 22 more!!), have a baby about the size of a sweet potato growing away, and it is a girl. It has been and continues to be such a surreal experience.

I "think" I started feeling Cashina move over the past few days. It is tough to know if it is actually her since some of her movements could actually be gas bubbles but I have felt some bubbles and a scratching sensation that actually tickles and causes me to have to scratch back...ha!! I usually feel the scratching in the same area each time and typically when I am sitting watching TV or at my desk at work. I can't wait to actually KNOW it is her instead of just speculating.

So, this week, Cashina will start to produce feces and store them in the colon....we better start saving for all of those diapers we will need!! Cashina will also start to hear better this week and will start to here my heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. Most importantly, Cashina will be busy this week building a strong heart and muscles...GO CASHINA!!

We will be going in for our fetal survey this week which is an ultrasound where they will check all of Cashina's organs to make sure they are growing as they should. So far so good so we are keeping our fingers crossed for more great results.

A Ciano Baby Girl!!

Chris and I had the pleasure of having an elective ultrasound yesterday thanks to my most fabulous Mom and Cash flashed the goods to reveal that she's a GIRL!! We are going to have a daughter!! It still doesn't feel real to me that we can actually say "she" and "her" when we speak about her but I don't think there is any mistaking that we saw girl parts. No part of what we saw looked like a hot dog to me :-)

Cashina (as Chris has been calling her) was extremely active and quite the squirmer so it was hard to get still pictures of her. I think it may have had something to do with the 20oz Sprite I drank on the way to the appointment that got her going. Perhaps I will avoid all of that sugar the next time.

We caught her sucking her thumb, opening and closing her mouth, snuggling up next to the placenta, putting her hands in front of her face and we even got to see her full bladder which I am sure was getting ready to burst like mine almost was.

I think this has been one of the most exciting moments of the pregnancy (other than seeing and hearing the heartbeat for the first time) and I am glad my Mom could be there to share it with us.

2D Profile

3D of Face; left hand in front of face, the mass on the right is the placenta

3D of face; sucking thumb of right hand, left hand in front of face, placenta on right

You Look Great!!

Over the past few weeks as we have been making the announcement about our impending addition to friends and family, the first questions asked are, “How far along are you?”, “When are you due?” and “How are you feeling, any morning sickness?” Standard questions which I am always happy to answer. The strangest thing is that most people will say, “…well, you look great!!”. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am flattered that they think I look great but do they expect that I am supposed to look horrible (sick, tired, huge and swollen)? I am 17 weeks pregnant, not 42 weeks and ready to issue Cash an eviction notice. I think I should look good at this rate!! Maybe it is just a natural thing for some people to say or maybe some women don’t look great at 17 weeks? I just don’t know but as long as I look great and Cash continues to grow and thrive I will be a happy mom-to-be.