February 14, 2008 marks not only my sister-in-law Sara's birthday and Valentine's Day, but it was the date of our second appointment with the Doc to get a check on Baby B.
Eager beavers that we are, we were Doc's first appointment of the day-- 7:45am. With the standard weigh-in, blood pressure reading and urine sample done, the nurse asked us if we were ready to hear the baby's heartbeat.
She pressed this little wand over my abdomen, and sure enough, we hear this loud, fast, "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." She said everything sounded normal, and that the beats were at a healthy pace.
Already off to a good start, in came Doc to show us how Baby B has progressed as almost 12 weeks of age.
This month's ultrasound was external--much more comfortable for me, and Corey too. On the screen appeared this little creature-- no more big blobs! We could see a head, an eye socket, hands, feet. It was so cool! Most women are moved to tears when they first see the little human growing inside them, but my reaction was more of a 7 year-old boy on Christmas morning. "Wow! That's awesome! I can't believe it! Keep going, keep going!"
After the ultrasound, Doc allowed plenty of time for questions, knowing that we had a ton last time. This visit, however, we only had a few questions prepared:
Q1. How 'bout that glass of wine we talked about last month?
(Answer Yes. Go for it, but just for one evening. I love my doctor!)
Q2. Highlights, are they a go yet?
(Answer Yes. Go nuts. I really love my doctor!)
Q3. Can I take anything stronger than Tylenol for headaches?
(Answer Yes. I was upgraded to Motrin. Did I say that I love this man?)
With such good news, this was certainly a Valentine's Day to remember!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Telling the Parents
As this is the first grandchild for both the Benjamin's and the D'Agostino's, we wanted to surprise our parents with the news by telling them in person.
On Friday, January 11th, we drove up to Alexandria to see Lois and Chuck first. We told them we were coming in town to see our friends, Lance & Steph Marine, and that plans changed last minutes such that we weren't going to their house till the next day. We asked the D's if we could hang with them Friday night and then we'd be off to see our friends the next morning.
They bought it.
We came with 2 bags of Thai food, had dinner and proceeded to sit through almost an hour of idle chit-chat, as we waited for an appropriate break in the conversation to spill the beans.
After dinner, as we're getting ready to sit down and watch "Music & Lyrics," my Dad's latest favorite flick, finally we get the opportunity to tell them the real reason for our visit.
The look of confusion on their faces was priceless!
I pull out the pictures from our first ultrasound and tell them they're going to be grandparents! After hugs all around, Lois came out saying, "That's wonderful news. I'm so happy for you...wait...I'm so happy for ME!! I'm going to be a grandma!! YEESSS!!"
The next morning we headed out for Salisbury to see Nancy and Andy. Though the D's were a little disappointed we had to leave so early, they were anxious for us to tell the Benjamin's so they could have someone to talk to about Baby B. We asked that our families not tell anyone since it was still so early in the pregnancy. (Though I have a feeling they didn't exactly keep the news all to themselves...)
Finding a reason for us to be in Salisbury was a little difficult, so we enlisted the help of Nancy's BFF, Joleen Rowe. Joleen was more than up to the task of helping us surprise the B's. We were concerned, since it was the weekend, that Nance and Andy may take one of their usual day trips to Annapolis or Berlin, and we'd end up waiting outside the house for hours until they came back. Joleen crafted quite the plan to ensure that the Benjamin's would be home together upon our arrival.
We opened their door to first let in our dog, Luci-- she also joined for the visits. We could hear Nancy saying, "Is that Luci? What's she doing here?" And as we rounded the corner this look of shock came across Nancy's face. I think at first she wasn't sure if our spontaneous visit was bringing good news or bad news.
Instantly, it clicked when we asked what they were doing on or around September 1st. Tears, hugs and a few high-pitched screams later, we also showed them the pictures of our little speck, and they couldn't have been more delighted!
What wonderful reactions!
On Friday, January 11th, we drove up to Alexandria to see Lois and Chuck first. We told them we were coming in town to see our friends, Lance & Steph Marine, and that plans changed last minutes such that we weren't going to their house till the next day. We asked the D's if we could hang with them Friday night and then we'd be off to see our friends the next morning.
They bought it.
We came with 2 bags of Thai food, had dinner and proceeded to sit through almost an hour of idle chit-chat, as we waited for an appropriate break in the conversation to spill the beans.
After dinner, as we're getting ready to sit down and watch "Music & Lyrics," my Dad's latest favorite flick, finally we get the opportunity to tell them the real reason for our visit.
The look of confusion on their faces was priceless!
I pull out the pictures from our first ultrasound and tell them they're going to be grandparents! After hugs all around, Lois came out saying, "That's wonderful news. I'm so happy for you...wait...I'm so happy for ME!! I'm going to be a grandma!! YEESSS!!"
The next morning we headed out for Salisbury to see Nancy and Andy. Though the D's were a little disappointed we had to leave so early, they were anxious for us to tell the Benjamin's so they could have someone to talk to about Baby B. We asked that our families not tell anyone since it was still so early in the pregnancy. (Though I have a feeling they didn't exactly keep the news all to themselves...)
Finding a reason for us to be in Salisbury was a little difficult, so we enlisted the help of Nancy's BFF, Joleen Rowe. Joleen was more than up to the task of helping us surprise the B's. We were concerned, since it was the weekend, that Nance and Andy may take one of their usual day trips to Annapolis or Berlin, and we'd end up waiting outside the house for hours until they came back. Joleen crafted quite the plan to ensure that the Benjamin's would be home together upon our arrival.
We opened their door to first let in our dog, Luci-- she also joined for the visits. We could hear Nancy saying, "Is that Luci? What's she doing here?" And as we rounded the corner this look of shock came across Nancy's face. I think at first she wasn't sure if our spontaneous visit was bringing good news or bad news.
Instantly, it clicked when we asked what they were doing on or around September 1st. Tears, hugs and a few high-pitched screams later, we also showed them the pictures of our little speck, and they couldn't have been more delighted!
What wonderful reactions!
Monday, March 3, 2008
We begin the countdown to Baby B!
By this point, many of you have been told the wonderful news that Corey and I are expecting our first child! We are thrilled, and are hoping that this blog keeps you up to date on all the latest and greatest as we begin the countdown to meeting Baby B!
To give a little history...
It was January 2nd when I got my first positive home pregnancy reading. A reaction of, "are you sure?" prompted a second testing, and sure enough, the Error Proof Test did not lie-- I was pregnant!
I called my doctor, who I absolutely adore, and made an appointment to come in right away to confirm the results and get a check up. Given the timing of my last cycle, the doctor thought I would be a lot further along than I was-- they thought about 10 weeks-- but the "crown-to-rump" length measured during the ultrasound indicated I was only about 6 weeks along.
The picture that came up on the ultrasound screen was really funny. My doctor was going nuts, "Oh, this looks great! Just what we like to see!" And here I am thinking, "Is this guy on something? I don't see anything."
Just as I'm beginning to question his qualifications and ask to see a medical license, he explains that the large black blob in the picture is the amniotic fluid, and that the little white speck is the rapidly dividing cells that will eventually become our baby.
With the news confirmed, we proceeded to ask a million questions. Some of the funnier questions on the list are below:
Q1. Can I still get my hair highlighted?
Answer was No. At least not until I made it thru the 1st trimester.
Q2. Can I still get laser hair removal?
Answer was No. I guess next year will be the year that I will never again have to endure a bikini wax.
Q3. Alcohol consumption-- is it totally off limits?
Answer was Yes. At least for now. In the 3rd trimester, Doc said he encourages drinking wine to get a good night's sleep. But until then, I have to lay off the sauce. I can have a glass of wine on a special occasion but that's it. I try to convince Corey that lots of things constitute special occasions-- getting to work without cursing out some crazy driver, abstaining from chocolate for a whole day, the fact that it's Tuesday and I'm alive-- but so far, he's not buying it.
Q4. Can I still play dodgeball?
Answer was No. No contact sports. I tried to explain that we play with a nerf ball, and that this year, the rule changed so that you couldn't smush the ball and throw as hard, but that didn't convince the Doc.
After patiently answering all of our questions, the Doc congratulated us, told us I had to get some bloodwork done, and that he looks forward to meeting our little critter on September 1st. Which, ironically, is Labor Day this year. Ha Ha!
So, with that exciting news, we headed straight for Barnes & Noble to get some reading material. We thought we'd better figure out what the heck we had gotten ourselves into. I think Corey and I both read "What to Expect When You're Expecting" in its entirety that same evening. Many comments like, "Oh my gosh, that's disgusting!" or, "I had no idea that's what actually happens" made us realize that all those family life classes we sat through in school were absolutely useless. Regardless, we are looking forward to this new adventure-- disgusting or otherwise-- as we become new parents!
To give a little history...
It was January 2nd when I got my first positive home pregnancy reading. A reaction of, "are you sure?" prompted a second testing, and sure enough, the Error Proof Test did not lie-- I was pregnant!
I called my doctor, who I absolutely adore, and made an appointment to come in right away to confirm the results and get a check up. Given the timing of my last cycle, the doctor thought I would be a lot further along than I was-- they thought about 10 weeks-- but the "crown-to-rump" length measured during the ultrasound indicated I was only about 6 weeks along.
The picture that came up on the ultrasound screen was really funny. My doctor was going nuts, "Oh, this looks great! Just what we like to see!" And here I am thinking, "Is this guy on something? I don't see anything."
Just as I'm beginning to question his qualifications and ask to see a medical license, he explains that the large black blob in the picture is the amniotic fluid, and that the little white speck is the rapidly dividing cells that will eventually become our baby.
With the news confirmed, we proceeded to ask a million questions. Some of the funnier questions on the list are below:
Q1. Can I still get my hair highlighted?
Answer was No. At least not until I made it thru the 1st trimester.
Q2. Can I still get laser hair removal?
Answer was No. I guess next year will be the year that I will never again have to endure a bikini wax.
Q3. Alcohol consumption-- is it totally off limits?
Answer was Yes. At least for now. In the 3rd trimester, Doc said he encourages drinking wine to get a good night's sleep. But until then, I have to lay off the sauce. I can have a glass of wine on a special occasion but that's it. I try to convince Corey that lots of things constitute special occasions-- getting to work without cursing out some crazy driver, abstaining from chocolate for a whole day, the fact that it's Tuesday and I'm alive-- but so far, he's not buying it.
Q4. Can I still play dodgeball?
Answer was No. No contact sports. I tried to explain that we play with a nerf ball, and that this year, the rule changed so that you couldn't smush the ball and throw as hard, but that didn't convince the Doc.
After patiently answering all of our questions, the Doc congratulated us, told us I had to get some bloodwork done, and that he looks forward to meeting our little critter on September 1st. Which, ironically, is Labor Day this year. Ha Ha!
So, with that exciting news, we headed straight for Barnes & Noble to get some reading material. We thought we'd better figure out what the heck we had gotten ourselves into. I think Corey and I both read "What to Expect When You're Expecting" in its entirety that same evening. Many comments like, "Oh my gosh, that's disgusting!" or, "I had no idea that's what actually happens" made us realize that all those family life classes we sat through in school were absolutely useless. Regardless, we are looking forward to this new adventure-- disgusting or otherwise-- as we become new parents!
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