17 Weeks Pregnant

Today we had our latest OB appointment. I've gained 1.5 pounds so far in the pregnancy, but as you can see, I'm definitely "showing!" Over the last few weeks I've pulled together a whole new maternity wardrobe from consignment shops, Mom Neve, and a JCPenney's sale.
Since October started, only traces of nausea remain and I've begun working some small jobs. The doctor says since I'm still feeling a little yucky, I'll likely feel that way until the end (40 weeks).
At 17 weeks pregnant, my heart is now pumping 40% more blood than normal. The baby is 5-6" long; its major organs are functioning, and its bones are hardening. Finger nails have developed and the baby's fingers and toes are separated. The baby can make facial expressions and is moving some, but only involuntarily as it doesn't yet have control over its muscles. As a first time Mom, I should feel the baby moving by 22 weeks.

Preparation..Preparation..Preparation

"Practice makes perfect" is what we all have heard at least once in our lives. Over the past month Andrea and I have been in "preparation" mode, anxiously awaiting the next exciting chapter of our lives when Baby Neve comes to town in March. So how do first-time parents prepare? Accumulate knowledge from books, gain advice from those who recently have had children, and, the most critical, further develop the lines of communication between one another to allow our relationship to grow stronger daily.

Andrea really deserves a tremendous amount of credit on these fronts as she has put this preparation time to great use by reading alot of great information on pregnancy, baby's first year, and several other items that she has relayed to me. Her focus is amazing and truly shows me how blessed I am to have such an exceptional woman as my wife. The time and effort she is placing into this entire process really shows me and everyone else that she will not just be a good mother...she will be a GREAT mother.

This past month has also really helped us hone our communication skills so we can operate on the same wavelength and stay in unison on several topics. It is like the quarterback (Andrea) who constantly practices throwing to a receiver (Will) so that they develop great timing and chemistry. Then when they are thrust into a game situation they are not easily rattled because they have been practicing nonstop and thus are able to score a touchdown like clockwork (I just finished watching Monday Night Football so pardon all the football analogies). It requires patience and flexibility to develop strong communication skills between members of the opposite sex however we are willing and care and love each other so we find the way.

We are also blessed to have friends and relatives that have little ones right now who are sharing with us the good, bad, and ugly of their first year baby experiences. Therein lies the irony of preparation in that you think you know only to realize you pretty much don't know anything until it is there. The key is that every new parent finds a way..some easier and possibly better than others. I know Andrea and I will find our way and the journey will have an incredible amount of good, some bad, and very little ugly in it.

Preparation..Preparation..Preparation

"Practice makes perfect" is what we all have heard at least once in our lives. Over the past month Andrea and I have been in "preparation" mode, anxiously awaiting the next exciting chapter of our lives when Baby Neve comes to town in March. So how do first-time parents prepare? Accumulate knowledge from books, gain advice from those who recently have had children, and, the most critical, further develop the lines of communication between one another to allow our relationship to grow stronger daily.

Andrea really deserves a tremendous amount of credit on these fronts as she has put this preparation time to great use by reading alot of great information on pregnancy, baby's first year, and several other items that she has relayed to me. Her focus is amazing and truly shows me how blessed I am to have such an exceptional woman as my wife. The time and effort she is placing into this entire process really shows me and everyone else that she will not just be a good mother...she will be a GREAT mother.

This past month has also really helped us hone our communication skills so we can operate on the same wavelength and stay in unison on several topics. It is like the quarterback (Andrea) who constantly practices throwing to a receiver (Will) so that they develop great timing and chemistry. Then when they are thrust into a game situation they are not easily rattled because they have been practicing nonstop and thus are able to score a touchdown like clockwork (I just finished watching Monday Night Football so pardon all the football analogies). It requires patience and flexibility to develop strong communication skills between members of the opposite sex however we are willing and care and love each other so we find the way.

We are also blessed to have friends and relatives that have little ones right now who are sharing with us the good, bad, and ugly of their first year baby experiences. Therein lies the irony of preparation in that you think you know only to realize you pretty much don't know anything until it is there. The key is that every new parent finds a way..some easier and possibly better than others. I know Andrea and I will find our way and the journey will have an incredible amount of good, some bad, and very little ugly in it.