I Love my Midwife

My Growing Belly

Yesterday was our first prenatal check-up! Of course I was excited to make sure that baby is healthy, and hear the heartbeat, and get my cervix examined (ha), but really, I could not wait to see Deana. My midwife.
Corey and I decided when I got pregnant with CR that we wanted to be in a hospital, but we didn't really want to deal with doctors. In my opinion, I have the best of both worlds: The safety and security of a hospital in case anything goes wrong, and a laid-back, relaxed birthing coach without a god-complex. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not against home-births OR doctors. This is just what fits us best.
Deana is in her mid-thirties, has regular brown hair styled in a cute, short do. Probably so it doesn't hang in her face as she's yanking babies out of their mothers. She's got a slight build at 5'5", and nice soft hands. And she has the most magical voice ever. She knew exactly what to say as each contraction hit, with a combination of authority and comforting words. No, I am not in love with her. I am just in awe that someone can be so comforting during the trial of child-bearing.
Now back to the check-up yesterday. Everything looks and sounds normal. Apparently my uterus is positioned so that I will probably show earlier. Cool. Looking forward to wearing my maternity clothes as soon as possible! It was a tad early to talk about our birth plan, but we agreed that I would try a water-birth again since it worked so well with CR. I go back in another 4 weeks to get everything checked again.

Week:10

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches. - babycenter.com

My Daughter

Today is CR's first birthday! But grandparent's were busy today, so we celebrated last night. We had just close family and friends over- simple and small. CR was able to eat pasta salad and black olives for her birthday supper out of the food provided, and actually taught herself how to stick the olives on her fingers like we all loved to do as little kids. I allowed her a few bites of cake (yes, some would call me mean for not letting her eat a whole piece.) After she finished her cake, she wanted down off my lap, but only to go to the g-rents to beg for more! So of course, she really did end up eating a whole piece PLUS ice cream. Sigh. So spoiled. She received several nice gifts, including shoes from Uncle Artie since she has now mastered the art of walking. I think her two favorites though were a train that she can push that makes noise, from great grandma and grandpa, and a wooden rocking horse from Corey's mom. Thankfully CR still went to bed on time, even after all that sugar.