baby registry

I just had an email from someone asking about the baby registry and requesting me to post details on the blog. You can access it online at www.babiesrus.com Go to Find a Registry and select an option to search by. I think you can find it by my name, Arthur's name, my maiden name, or the grandparents' names, and if for some reason none of those work, the registry number is 76758782. My aunts Carolyn and Sandra (the ones who did all the food for the wedding reception if you were there) are inviting all the family over for a shower Sat. Jan 24 at my parents' house. I assume I'll have other showers that people will be invited to, but none have been mentioned to me yet. But you don't have to wait for a shower to give us gifts! :) We finally got the nursery started last week. The crib is up at least, but the rest of the room is pretty bare for now. Arthur keeps scaring poor people telling them it's painted charcoal gray. It's not that dark of a gray I keep saying, more like an ELEPHANT gray. But when it looks more like a nursery, I'll get him to take pictures to show you. Speaking of Arthur, I don't think I've shared any of his latest columns about the pregnancy.

November 13, 2008
Where does the time go? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the folks who talk about the slower pace of life in small towns just don’t know what they’re talking about, or they’re not trying very hard.
Bridgett and I caught a movie out the other night for the first time in a long time. We got to talking about it and realized it was a very long time. How long? Well, I’m not going to tell you that. It just made us realize how hard it can be to find time to fit everything in to our busy lives.
How are we going to do it with a youngun? I have no idea. I’m also told I have no idea how much my life is going to change once the youngun makes his or her way into the world. I’m sure they’re right, but you adjust eventually. I know one thing, that time is getting closer. We’re just now barely able to feel him or her kick. Well Bridgett’s been feeling it for a while, but it’s gotten to the point where you can feel the occasional kick outside now too. Things are moving fast!


December 18, 2008
People have at times called me an impatient person. I still have no idea what they’re talking about. OK, maybe sometimes.
But I can be a patient man. There are times in photography and journalism where it pays to be patient.
Recently, I’ve had to be patient and learn to concentrate more effectively. There have been nights now when Bridgett and I will sit contorted on the couch, concentrating and waiting.
We’re waiting and concentrating, waiting for something to happen, something very specific. I hold my arm up, pressing my hand against her belly and we wait.
“Did you feel it?” she will ask. I am unsure. We continue to wait.
A minute or two passes with us frozen in our poses. “Surely you felt that,” she then says. And perhaps I did, or maybe I didn’t. I want to feel it, but I am unsure. Perhaps I was expecting too much.
We discuss my expectations, and yes, I was expecting too much. We continue the vigil.
Then I think maybe I feel something, but she says nothing so I begin to doubt.
Then she asks me again if I feel it, I had lost my concentration and missed it.
Then it happens; we both feel it; a movement coming from inside.
The word “kick” is really a misnomer. It’s more like a “lump that comes and goes.” But regardless what it is called, it is there. It is a child. Our child. Less than three months from making his or her way into the word and these are our very first interactions.
They say the movements will get more vigorous and will actually become more like kicks as time goes on. We’ll be there, waiting for them.
Still a mystery
If you’re wondering, we still don’t know if we’re having a girl or a boy. We’ve decided to keep it a mystery until the birth. At the doctor’s office the other day, it seemed like everyone was about to say something but remembered our request just in time. I’m sure so many people these days go ahead and find out, it’s easy for the pros to forget that not everyone finds out beforehand.


Ok, I think that catches you up on everything. I've gone and blogged twice in one day now, haven't I? Well, don't be upset and start sending me nasty emails again if a week goes by before I add more! ;)

baby's first christmas

Here's an almost 30 week shot by the Christmas tree.

Hospital Lab closed Day after Christmas

I got a call this morning from Springhill Medical Center. Apparently Central Scheduling wasn't aware that the hospital lab would be closed the day after Christmas when they booked me an appointment for my glucose tolerance test. So, I had to reschedule it for New Year's Eve. So, I get to endure 5 more days of avoiding sugar with the hope that it will help me pass the second test. You don't realize how much sugar is in stuff, or how badly you want it til you can't have it. Now I know how it is for my diabetic brother. He had to go "cold turkey" five years ago. At least right now, I still have the option of drinking that sugar-laden juice if I want to. Here's our pic with Santa. Hopefully that catches me up on everything I needed to share. Enjoy your Christmas! Sorry I didn't get cards out this year!

maternity shoot take 2

glucose screening

I failed my glucose screening test yesterday. Which means the day after Christmas I have to go back for a 3 hr glucose tolerance test. Being at the hospital at 6:30 am after not having had anything to eat or drink since midnight and having your finger stuck 4 times in about 4 hours and drinking nasty orange liquids sounds like so much fun doesn't it? If I fail the next one, I'll get dr's orders on diet, exercise and insulin for gestational diabetes. The good news was that my blood pressure was down from the last visit. My hemoglobin count was fine. I went from measuring 25 weeks (at 24) to 30 weeks (at 28). So, even if belly shots don't show a huge difference in the last month, apparently the baby's growing. And I had finally gained a few pounds. Although I shouldn't be complaining that I haven't packed on the pounds. Hopefully I won't have to worry too much about trying so hard to lose the weight afterwards.

28 week shots

picture with santa

Ok, I know I'm behind, but you know how it is when you're waiting on someone else to do their part. So, I still owe you pics from the maternity shoot and maybe tomorrow we can take a 28 wk pic so that you'll have a new belly shot. And now I also owe you the baby's first picture with Santa. McLean Photography did Santa pics in Thomasville Thursday night at the downtown stroll. The last 15 minutes were pretty slow and Arthur's protege Ryan came in, so Arthur asked him to take a pic of us with Santa. Apparently, we broke the camera. Or at least broke the connection of the program set up between the camera and the computer (that allowed us to print photos on the spot). So, two more customers walked in at the top of the hour when we were supposed to quit and we couldn't print out their photos!!! Then last night, we had Santa photos at another location in town, and the program still wouldn't work. So, Arthur had to come up with a creative solution to be able to print photos on the spot. We still don't know what RYAN did to mess it up! haha But maybe one day I will get my hands on the jpg and can upload it for you to see the first official picture of the baby with Santa. I'm sure this year's photo for the baby went a lot smoother than it will every year from now on. Santa really is terrifying for poor children.

pics from shoots

In case you were wondering, that was just a teaser yesterday with the 26 wk pics! :) I thought that Arthur had finished editing the photos from the maternity shoot, so I started uploading them. Then I realized that he was not finished, so I quit after a couple of pictures. So, there really are more photos than that, and they will eventually make it on here. Some of you may be glad to have seen something already, and others may be mad that there wasn't more. What can I say?

26 weeks

maternity shoot

We finally got around to doing a maternity shoot this afternoon. It will be a few days (weeks??) before Arthur will get around to editing them for me to post of course. And you know us, we didn't do much of typical shots. So there should be some pretty cool ones for you to see. We saved some of our ideas for another day, sometime in the third trimester, when I'm a little bigger. So, keep a lookout for the baby bump appearing again soon!

baby registry

So, I went online and started a baby registry at Babies R Us. It doesn't have much on it right now. I hate making decisions to begin with, but I've found it especially difficult now that a child's involved. I have this desire/fear that I need to make sure I choose the best product that's out there (for the most reasonable price of course). So, there I was on consumerreports.org checking out the recommendations before I click "add to registry" for bathtubs, high chairs, monitors, you name it. But then there's that other part of me that makes it even more difficult to make decisions because I don't want to come across as the mom who only wants certain brands/items. I'm all for the store brand cheap diapers and will use whatever I'm given, even if it's not the digital thermometer that reads rectally, orally, and under the arm that's recommended by choosy moms. At this point in time, we have a bassinet, some blankets, a couple of clothing items, a few toys/books/CDs, 3 4 oz bottles, some bibs, silver cups and spoons, crib sheets, some hand me down socks and washcloths and whatever else I might be forgetting that's in my little stack so far. So, don't think you have to pick a registry item because I'm here to tell you anything would be useful. If you're a mom and there's a product you really liked, let me know what it is! And for all of my friends out there who say payback is hell and can't wait to return the favor of all the musical, noise making gifts I've given over the years, I say Bring it on!!! I think that's what I'm looking most forward to---having all those educational toys to encourage creativity and learning! haha

24 weeks

Caught a cold last Thursday and am still trying to get rid of it. Went to the dr. this morning and he had one too. The nurse said they've had several people come in with one in the last few days. Blood pressure was up today. I get so anxious when they take it because I'm always afraid it's going to be high, so naturally it is. And I didn't have my usual nurse who lets me lay down for a few minutes and relax before taking it, so I didn't get a second chance at lowering it. :) I had actually lost a pound, which didn't surprise me either after being sick the last few days. It didn't seem to be a cause of concern though. Dr. G said I had an active one this morning. He had to tell the child to be still so he could listen to the heartbeat. He checked me for swelling, which wasn't a problem this morning. He wasn't worried yet about the swelling that I have been having the last month. Next visit I get to drink the nasty stuff to test for gestational diabetes. Won't be surprised if that's a problem with the history of diabetes in my family. We sold the pool table, so during the Christmas "break" we can move the music room out to the game room and start working on the nursery. Guess that's all the news for now.....

increasing in several ways

Well, the baby's movements have certainly been increasing in number and strength, so I'm assuming the baby's increasing in size as well. Last night I felt my first actual "punches" but every time I tried to put my hand on my belly to see if you could feel them from the outside it wouldn't happen. But as soon as I moved my hand away, boom another one. So when Arthur came in, I got him to "aggravate" the baby by pressing on my belly and then stopping, and he got to feel the baby wriggling around for the first time. My appetite also seems to be increasing. So far, I had been eating more often, but not really eating more. I would get full too fast at meals to eat too much. But the past few days, I have felt like I could eat a horse! At this rate, I guess it's a good thing I haven't gained a lot of weight yet, cuz I might start packing on the pounds now.

22 weeks

We didn't get to do a maternity shoot this weekend, so we'll have to save that for another day. But on another topic....It amazes me the difference in people's perspectives. One person will say "oh you're not that big yet" or "you don't really look that pregnant yet" while another will say "you look like you're carrying triplets" or "are you going to make it til march?" One person says you're carrying high while someone else says you're carrying low, etc. Everyone has their own opinions and they certainly don't agree! :)

I know everyone's itching to read/see something, but I don't have much to report. No belly photo yet. Arthur and I were planning on doing a maternity shoot this Saturday, but my uncle just passed away and I don't know the funeral plans yet, so that might get put on hold. These pics show what my feet looked like after two weeks of non stop on the go action, including a weekend church retreat. Luckily, I have taken the time this week to rest a little more and they look a lot more normal again.

20 weeks

Well, I've officially reached the halfway mark. I can definitely feel the baby move now, sometimes more than I would like! haha Last night, he/she was not happy with any position that I tried to lay in and let me know it. And to think I'm not even close to feeling the powerful punches it'll pack in the upcoming months when it's several pounds heavier and a few inches longer! I go back to the dr. Monday for a monthly visit. I've had some swelling this week, but I checked my blood pressure yesterday at my parents' house and it was all good, so we'll see if Dr. G says anything about it next wk. We'll see how I do tomorrow being out at an Alabama football game all day! :)

arthur's latest column

For those of you who don't read the Thomasville Times, here's what Arthur put in his column yesterday. Most of you who know him won't be surprised that he tried to find humor in expressing how HE's feeling during the pregnancy, nor will you be caught off guard by the fact that he still has a hard time understanding that this is not a dream.

"We’re about midway through Bridgett’s pregnancy. Being about halfway through with it, I have to say, I’m feeling fine, a little more tired than usual, but overall I’m feeling pretty good. So far, I think I’ve done pretty well. But, seeing as we’ve more or less settled into the new routine of things, every once in a while, the mind will play little tricks and kind of send the whole pregnancy thing into the realm of theoretical concept rather than living breathing reality. But, as soon as it happens, the mind reels once again and jolts back to reality of what’s really happening. I guess I can liken it to drifting off the side of the road, only to be snapped back to reality by the feel of the car tire slipping off the pavement.By now, we could know if it’s a boy or a girl, but we don’t. The evidence is on a little ultrasound printout sealed in a envelope sitting on a table in the house. We’ve actually managed to forget about it lately. I swore up and down that Bridgett wouldn’t be able to handle not knowing while the information was at her fingertips, but she has so far. Friends and in-laws on both sides however, want to know now. So far we haven’t caved to the pressure."

almost 19 weeks

Arthur and I have been neglecting our weekly photos lately, just about the time that I actually feel like you can see some progress! So, I went ahead and took a pic today (in the only place in the house I've discovered that I can set my camera on self timer and get a shot). So, I'll have to get Arthur to take the usual shot some other time for you. But I knew some people were getting anxious that I haven't posted a blog in over a week....haha

We're almost halfway there!!! :)

assumptions

Well, I didn't hear back from the doctor this week so I think it's safe to say that my quad test came back negative for defects and I won't need an amnio. I read in a pregnancy update this week that a month from now the baby will be 6 times bigger than it is right now. I feel 6x bigger today for some reason. I'll have to take a photo cuz I feel ginormous! But, it'll probably just look the same as usual though. Still, I have a feeling if the baby's going to grow that much in the next few weeks, I might do a little growing myself. We'll see won't we!

almost 17 week shots

We were a little late getting the 16 week shots done, so they're almost 17 week shots instead. The usual outfit wasn't clean the day we normally take pics, and then I was under the weather for a couple of days. But here it is so that you won't start bugging me about where the pics are! :) Still no magical difference in size, though.

ultrasound #2

I survived bloodwork

Well, Arthur worked late Tuesday night to prepare the paper so that he could go with me to the dr. yesterday. And as expected, I was not on the list for an ultrasound after the girl that I don't like in the office screwed up my appointment. I can't remember if I mentioned that last Wed my nurse called asking why I missed my appt. I told her that my appt card said I was to come on the 17th, not the 10th. So, she transferred me back to rude girl who simply said in a tone I didn't appreciate, "Well, we'll see you next Wed then!" So, I went anticipating that I would be worked in for the day. But it really didn't take us that long to get in. The ultrasound tech said everything looked ok. She sealed the photo of the baby revealing the sex in an envelope for us, so we don't know what it is. But Art and I both came out of there saying we think it's a boy after seeing what we did during the ultrasound. I'll get the pics scanned that she did give us ASAP but you can't tell anything on those. Then, I had to go see Dr. Gallaspy and of course get my bloodwork done. Arthur got to experience firsthand how grueling of an experience that can be for me. The nurse did a good job and I didn't pass out on them, but I sure felt like I came close there at the beginning. I went ahead and consented to the quad test and should know the results early next week. Pray that it is negative, because I really don't think I can handle amniocentisis. The nurse joked that they'll have to put me completely under for that one after the way I acted about them taking my blood! :)

maternity dress

I was trying to figure out what to wear this evening and I tried on my first maternity dress. Needless to say I was a little surprised and decided to take a self portrait to see if my eyes were seeing things the way they really were. So, I figured I would post them for you to form your own opinions of my 15 wk belly in a maternity dress.

14 weeks

Well, not much has changed in the last month's worth of pics. I thought you were supposed to start gaining an average of a pound a week once you hit the second trimester. I've actually lost a couple of pounds this week.

fabric swatches

Now you have to remember here, I am not the photographer, so these are not great pics. If I can get Arthur to take some more, I will. The photos with stripes are the actual fabric that Arthur picked out for HIS chair that will go in the nursery. We had asked mom and dad to recover a danish modern chair from his old place and suspected we were pregnant when we went fabric shopping. So, Art in true fashion picked his favorite neutral colors since we didn't have a clue what the sex could possibly be. Mom was a little surprised at our color choices (since it didn't match the rest of the house and I didn't tell her at the time the exact nature of the room it would be going in). So, the stripes are our inspiration for the nursery theme. The pics with squares and circles are from fabric swatches that I got for the Flashback bedding by Glenna Jean. It's the bedding choice that we've liked the best so far, but apparently the creators like it a lot too considering the price they put on it. But it's safe to say that the room colors will be in the grays, creams, browns, black family. We ended up with enough fabric that mom and dad are able to make window treatments out of the striped fabric as well (and possibly a seat cushion for the window seat). But with or without the Flashback bedding, it will be a very mod room to say the least.

missed the 13 wk shot

Sorry, we missed taking a 13 week belly shot while entertaining hurricane evacuees this weekend. So, in a few days, we'll take a 14 wk shot and post it for you. In the next day or so, I'll post photos of the fabric choices we are looking at for the nursery bedding. So, stay tuned...I promise there's more to come!

next ultrasound

I forgot to mention that Dr. G scheduled a 16 wk ultrasound for me for Sept 17. This is the one where they check for any defects. This is also the one where I could possibly find out the sex. The nurse who made the appointment was not very cooperative in working with mine and Arthur's schedule, so she booked me on a Wednesday morning which means Art probably won't be able to go. So, we'll see what comes out of my mouth that morning when the tech asks, "Do you want to know if it's a boy or a girl?" I may stick with my gut and say, "NO!! I want it to be a surprise!" and then spend the whole session trying to figure out for myself if I can tell whether it's a girl or a boy. Or I may give in to the pressure and be like OK, just tell me! This is also the appt where they can take blood and do prenatal testing (more screening for defects). Now, anyone who knows me well enough is aware that I pass out every time someone takes blood from me (a habit I developed in high school). So, I don't look forward to this at all. And they actually give you the option of whether or not you want to do the triple/quad screening test (since I'm not yet 35). Which you also know I hate making decisions. When the doc asked if I wanted it done I said "If I knew it would come out negative, I'd do it!" and his response was "If I knew it would come out negative, I wouldn't have to do it!" (Such a smart guy!) So, after all my years of working with children with special needs and knowing the ins and outs of disabilities, the dilemma is---Do I not do the test and worry for 6 more months that there could be something wrong, or do I take the test and if it's positive worry for 6 months that there's a good chance that there's something wrong??? If it comes out positive, then they do amniocentisis, and you should be well aware that I also have panic attacks when you stick a needle in me. So, there's nothing about this process that brings me comfort. But I still have a few weeks left to make the decision. Oh! And they really surprised me at the last dr visit asking me all these questions about whether I was going to want.. an epidural, to breastfeed, to circumcise a boy, etc. I mean, I'm supposed to make decisions on all this stuff in the first two months I'm pregnant???? Wow!

12 weeks

11 week shots

ultrasound pics

10 week shots

Ultrasound

I'll have to scan in the ultrasound pics before I can upload them, but here's what we know......There is only ONE baby, and it is 10 weeks old. The ultrasound tech said she could already tell I was carrying the baby high. We got to see the baby moving around, kicking its legs and waving its arms, which the tech said was good to see. We heard its strong heartbeat. She said the doctor would probably schedule another one in about 6 weeks and to tell her if we didn't want to know what it was, because she would be able to tell by then. I have to go back again next week for my monthly visit. The doc had delivered a baby yesterday morning and was behind already on appts and I wasn't on the list to see him after the ultrasound, so he just said he'd see me next week. So, in the next day or so, I'll post a belly shot and let you see the little thing for yourselves! But I knew how impatient some of you were to know how things went! :)

Hold your horses

Wow! I keep getting all these nasty emails (not really, but I have had several emails hinting) that I need to update my blog. The ultrasound is tomorrow, so I was simply waiting until I had information from that dr visit before I gave an update. So, calm down, before the weekend is over you will know everything that Arthur and I know! :) Don't worry, the belly hasn't expanded drastically over the last week, so you'll get the 10 week shot this wknd as well. I promise! Just give me another day or two, ok??? ;)

Back from the mission trip

Well, I survived the mission trip/day at Six Flags. It was a lot harder than I expected it to be though. I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life. Here's an 8 1/2 week shot, but there's really not a lot of change. (I probably lost weight sweating and walking so much the last week!) But I must be showing, because an employee at Six Flags asked how far along I was. When I told her she said "You're going to be huge! I wouldn't want to see you walking around here in the next 6 months!" Some people know how to make you feel good, don't they? Some think the doctor's timing is off, but mom said that when she was pregnant with us she was already showing before the pregnancy test had time to dry! Besides, the doctor can't be off by too much! haha But we'll know for sure with the ultrasound next week. But I might as well come to grips with the fact that I'M GOING TO BE HUGE!!!!

I'm pregnant!

Well, I have to start back at the beginning...well at least a few weeks back. It was June 27, 2008 and we had a church lock in I was preparing for. I knew I should be starting (and I knew we had been doing things that made babies) so I thought I would humor myself and take a home pregnancy test to see if I needed to take any "products" with me to the church for the all nighter. (I was prepared in that I had already purchased a few tests in advance for whenever the moment would come that I would need one) Lo and behold it came out positive. Arthur said that we proved we were a modern couple because I emailed him photos of the test to let him know what was going on! :) I am warning you that photos I post may not be appropriate for all to view. We took a photo as soon as we found out, so that we would have a 4 week (almost pre-pregnancy) shot.

So, Monday Arthur and I researched OB/GYNs in Mobile (I've always used a family practitioner in Tville for female visits) and Tuesday I called Dr. Gallaspy's office for an appointment. They couldn't get me in until July 16, so it was a long wait to confirm what the test said. July 4th Arthur took the 5 week shot and it was quite surprising the difference a week made.
By this point in time, I'm freaking out that everyone will figure it out before I even make it to the doctor and decide to tell people myself! I've been feeling good, a few days of not feeling the greatest (maybe once a week) and I've discovered I can't eat beef right now. Too much information I realize, but it gives me gas cramps that are unbearable!! Only one day have I been a roller coaster of emotions, literally laughing one minute and crying the next without any explanation why! There was one day that all these people kept calling me and asking me to do things (some as far out as 6 months) and I keep thinking, should I say yes?...I can't tell them why if I say no!, etc. But luckily there wasn't a lot of change in week 6.
So, I finally get the doctor and of course I'm pregnant. 7 weeks by now and he scheduled an ultrasound in 3 weeks (Fri Aug 8). The estimated due date at this time is March 5, 2009. So, we tell the families the next day as we head to the beach for summer convention. We went ahead and told the owners of the newspaper while there (I may can hide the belly in some outfits, but it's real hard in a swimsuit!). And we told the youth when we got back on Sunday. They were excited to be Number 3 on the list. Then of course, I hit myspace and facebook and my email contacts to share the news with everybody. And drumroll please, here's the latest belly shot from week 7.
So, that should catch you up on the last few weeks. We head this week on a mission trip with the youth and I get to not ride any rides at Six Flags. So, stay posted for week 8's belly shot. We're excited and nervous at the same time but we knew what we were getting ourselves into. haha But as our defense, with our ages and my medical problems the last 12 years, we honestly thought it was going to take us a while, so we figured we might as well get started. But I guess we proved all those doctors wrong who said they didn't know if I would ever be able to get pregnant. Happened on the first try! lol

wedding photos

Here's a few photos from the wedding at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. There were too many and it takes too long to upload them all here, so if you want to see all of them go to my myspace page (www.myspace.com/bridgettmtbc).