Updates: Pickles' pictures & registry

We went in for another ultrasound on Thursday to take a better look at the left kidney that looked enlarged after the 20 week ultrasound. It still looked enlarged and we are headed to another hospital that specializes in high-risk pregnancies to check out Pickles' kidney on Monday. On the positive side, we got a few more pictures of our little one:

Foot - (click to enlarge)

Kiss - nose on top & lips below. (click to enlarge)

Profile with a slightly open mouth. (click to enlarge)

The ultrasound tech tried for a long time to get the kiss pictures. I'm personally partial to the profile shots, but the foot one is kind of fun. A special thanks to Nancy for scanning the pictures and emailing them to us!

Since we started our registry, I've been asking other new moms for recommendations. I've heard several times that most people go to Target vs Babies R Us, just because it's more convenient. So I've updated our registries by moving many items from Babies R Us over to the Target registry and noted only if we are registered for the item in more than one location. While many of the items are the same price at Babies R Us and Target, Babies R Us has the coupons so that's probably where we'll shop but I want to be sensitive to other people's needs as well.

Registered

We have completed our registry at two stores with the expection of a few winter items that aren't available yet (snow suit, jacket, hat, etc). We're registered at Babies R Us and Target. Target has the onies & socks plus diapers & toiletries (wipes, shampoo, baby powder, etc). We are registered for almost everything else at Babies R Us.

We've heard that people tend to just buy what they like anyway when it comes to a few key items and since we're not picky & trust our friends & family's judgement, we really didn't register for the following:

*Books
*Toys
*Clothes

We are completely open to gently used items with the following exceptions:

*crib
*car seat
*play yard (or Pack & Play)
*breast pump
*infant carrier (like those kind you strap/wrap to mom or dad's body)

I was a little bummed to hear that some of these things made the Consumer Reports list and after reading why, we agree with the reasoning. So unless we can find those items above from a friend or relative, we won't be buying them at a random garage sale or online. If you have anything else or know of someone who does - let us know. We are all about saving money where we can.

Speaking of saving $$$, Babies R Us frequently has 20% off coupons. We plan on using these to the fullest extent and would love it if other people would save/send them to us to use too. As of right now, we haven't purchased much in the way of baby items. So my search now begins for good deals. Garage sales, eBay, Amazon, Craigslist - here I come!

Starting to look the part

I had several coworkers tell me that I actually looked pregnant yesterday with comments like "Wow, what a difference a week makes - you're really starting to look pregnant" or "I see you have the baby bump". I think it had to do with the new dress I had on - it was a maternity dress so it's cut differently than the rest of my clothes. Either way, it made me excited and happy to hear that. Here's the picture:

(Almost 24 weeks)

Pickles' Kicks

Pickles has been kicking me a lot more lately. I'm fairly sure that I know that these feelings are kicks or movement versus gas. Originally I wasn't so sure but I'm starting to see a pattern when I feel them. It's generally about 1/2 hour - hour after eating or when I am laying down to go to bed. I generally feel them pretty low in my belly, but every once in a while it's on my side or near my chest.

We're still not consistently feeling the kicks from the outside due to the placement of the placenta. I *think* I have felt them once or twice over the last week, but I'm not really all that sure. Hopefully soon!

Better late than never

Well, little did I know that after our 16 week appointment, we were supposed to schedule BOTH our ultrasound and doctor's visit for 20 weeks. We only scheduled our ultra sound. I know were were supposed to meet to follow-up with the doctor to read the ultra sound results and give us an official due date, but I was completely under the impression that they were going to call me after the test was completed and the results sent over to the doctor. (Granted, the two departments are literally right across the hallway from each other in the same building, but hey, it's the medical field....you never know how long it will take to get records written up and transferred).

So this morning we went in for what should be our 20 week appointment at 22 weeks. Pickles is doing well. Dr. Sable explained to us why we weren't able to feel Pickles' move & kick from the outside yet - my placenta is in front and creating a barrier between Pickles and my belly. He said the positioning varies from person to person. He confirmed this inital theory by the combination of my "symptom" of no kicking yet with the results of the ultra sound that show my placenta in front and the "windy" effect he hears when listening to the heart beat. I honestly can say I didn't hear the "windy", but I do like to listen to the heart beat. Pickles is now officially due on December 15, 2010.

We scheduled our next appointment for two weeks (to get back on track to seeing the dr every 4 weeks). This appointment will also be a ultra sound/dr appointment combo. They will be doing a level 2 ultra sound to re-check the left kidney and hopefully will see that it's draining properly. I'm taking the approach of being excited that I get to see my baby again, rather than nervous because something may be wrong. Let's hope my feelings are confirmed in two weeks.

Right now Pickles is 22 weeks and is actually starting to look like a miniture baby. Dr. Sable said that up until this point Pickles has been developing into a person, from now on the growth stage begins. It took Pickles 22 weeks to weight approximately 1 lb, so to get to a healthy delivery weight Pickles will have to gain another 6-8 lbs in only 18 weeks. That means I'll need to gain that plus all the weight of the blood, water, fluid, placenta, etc. In the next 5 weeks alone, Pickles will double in weight. Even though I haven't gained any weight up until this point (because I lost some initially and then it came back to be neutral now), I'll sure start to in the upcoming weeks/months and probably start to really look & feel pregnant.