Drum Roll Please . . .

. . . Jordan and I woke up very early yesterday morning in anticipation of seeing our little peanut on a screen! We were excited to discover the gender, yes, but I was more excited to discover if everything was okay.

Friday evening I came down with an awful bout of the stomach flu. Eoin had been sick on Thursday and as I precaution I stayed home on Friday with him too. Friday night I had to run into work for a little while and the minute I got home I just didn't feel well. It was the worst! I rarely get sick like that. I was moaning and crying and just wanted to feel better. The stomach virus took everything I had from my body! I slept. Unfortunately I was woke very early with Jordan's take on the virus! We went to the doctor as soon as we could on Saturday morning. I was feeling terrible and just wanted to feel better but moreso I was worried about the baby. We left the doctor still feeling terrible, but thankfully with some Zofran in hand (anti-nausea). My mother-in-law had picked up Eoin before we left for the doctor because we were in no shape to care for him, but we also didn't want to pass it back to him! Saturday, all day, we slept! I was a little concerned about the baby, but who wouldn't be after feeling like death himself had hit me with a truck?

So. . . .after all of that, I waited patiently to be called by the ultrasound tech to see peanut. There is was, a healthy beating heart, beating away at 152bpm. We also got to see a full tummy and a full bladder, both very good indications. Jordan thought I was being silly, but I let out a huge sigh of relief! Then it was onto the other business, boy or girl? Wouldn't you know it the lil' had its legs crossed! No biggie, we had to see the doctor and so the ultrasound tech said we could come back in afterward! I had another chance. While Jordan waited for us to be called back, I ran to the closest pop machine. I was hoping the movement plus a little caffeine would jerk the baby into the 'showing the goods' position. We were called back, the doctor walked in, told us everything was fine and then walked out! So back to the ultrasound room it was.

Legs still crossed. Stubborn.

Another chance! The ultrasound tech had another patient, but she said she had time afterward if we wanted another shot! Of course we did (or I did!) So we headed out to the waiting room. I walked, squatted, jumped, urinated, drank, pushed my tummy - basically did everything and anything to get these legs uncrossed. Back into the room and the legs were still crossed! It should be stated that each time I was in the tech had me move around on the table, pushed on the baby herself and was patiently waiting for the baby to move (side note: I really need to send her a thank you). She was also unable to get some of the measurements that she needed, so we were told that another ultrasound in 4 weeks was inevitable. Incidentally all of the measurements she had already taken were great! Phew, okay, I was thinking at least we would get another chance. But I wanted to know right then. My phone continuously 'dinged' with text messages from other people anxiously awaiting the result! The tech was so incredibly patient, she asked if I wanted to go and get something to eat and come back in awhile. I reluctantly said no, explaining that I should get to work. She gave the baby another chance. I needed to use the facilities, so she would try again after that.

After using the facilities, jumping around and pushing my tummy all in a matter of 2 seconds, I headed back to the room where Jordan was waiting. This was it, it had to be it! As I held my breath, I could blatantly make out crossed legs! We certainly had a determined ultrasound technician, though, she worked and worked at getting the angle just right so she could give us a definite answer.

At one point she stopped, I looked at her face and I knew that she knew. She confirmed my suspicion with a smirk.

We will be having a stubborn little BOY!!!!

I am so happy I found out! I truly believed that I was having a girl. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT disappointed, I'm absolutely thrilled. I get to have two little men! Eoin gets to have a little brother. Jordan will be the proud daddy of two little boys! My shock has subsided and my bonding with my little man has begun!

18 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby K is the size of a sweet potato!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 11lbs (should I stop updating this already?)

Maternity Clothes: I wore a pair of maternity pants and I was walking out them all day, so sticking to my regulars for a little while longer :)

Gender: I know what it is!!

Movement: I was afraid I wasn't feeling tons of movement, but the ultrasound tech confirmed today that my placenta is in the front (as with my pregnancy with Eoin) so feeling the movements will come a little bit later for me!

Sleep: I'm so tired - that I sleep pretty good!

What I miss: a glass of wine!

Cravings: hmmmm, nothing at the minute

Symptoms: Just feeling tired, gaining weight, thankfully my skin has settled down for a little while!

Best Moment this week: Definitely this morning, finding out the gender!!!

Festival of Trees 2010

Although I was still feeling a little under the weather, I couldn't pass up the tradition of walking around the Festival of Trees on Sunday morning with my mother-in-law, Lisa, and little man! We arrived too early for Santa but still walked through to see some of the beautiful decorations. Is it too early to put them up at home? I might have some free time this weekend! I once again decorated a tree for McDonald's and loved how it it turned out. I stuck with a McDonald's theme this year. The ideas are already swirling in my head for next years!

Boy or Girl

It's crazy to think, but this time next week Jordan and I will know if we are going to have another son or a daughter. If Eoin is going to have a little brother or sister. Well, we will hopefully know, if the lil' stinker decides to cooperate :)

In the meantime, I thought a fun little blog would be to bring up the old wives tales regarding the pregnancy correlating to gender of the baby . . . let's see which are squashed next week and which hold true.

• How the baby is 'carried.' Apparently carrying high means a girl and carrying low means a boy. If this one is true I think girl. Jordan tells me I am carrying this baby higher than how I carried Eoin.
• Hearbeat. Apparently if the heartbeat is over 140 it means girls, but below 140 that would be a boy. If this one is true, it is a girl. The nurse practitioner even told me this one ;) The heartbeat has been consistently in the 150s.
• Hair on legs. If the hair on the legs grows faster than normal, the baby is supposed to be a boy and if it is the same or slower, then a girl. I have to make the call this one as team green! I honestly have not paid any attention.
• Food cravings. If you crave salty food it is a boy, if you crave sweet foods it is a girl. I have been craving white bread. I don't know if this is sweet or salty or both? Another team green?
• Conception month/mothers age math. According to this, one would add the conception date (July in my case which would equal 7) with the mother's age at conception (27). If the total is odd it means boy and even means girl. This one is definitely girl as it equal 34. I had to do this one with my pregnancy with Eoin to see if it worked. My conception date then was September and my age was 24 which equals 33, odd, meaning boy, so it did work for Eoin!

We will know either way very soon, but according to this, I would say that a little girl. I'm not buying bows yet (or maybe I have, but that is another post), but all shall be revealed on Monday November 15th!

17 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 17 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby K is the size of an onion!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 6 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I received a super cute shirt/jeans/cardy for my birthday and thanks to two friends my maternity wardrobe is huge! I am not wearing it yet though, I wore one dress this week and my tactful receptionist commented on how big I looked :) Maternity clothes definitely emphasize the bump, for now, I'm sticking to my leggings!

Gender: Can't wait to find out . . . one week from today! wow!

Movement: Pretty sure I have felt the 'movements,' the bubbly feeling ones, but I am looking forward to some good kicks (or punches)

Sleep: I sleep really well; I continue to wake up a little b/c I am afraid to sleep on my back, but otherwise, I'm out like a light early!

What I miss: Sushi . . . I may have eaten a small, cooked piece at Fresh Market yesterday

Cravings: Food! I'm hungry this week!

Symptoms: Getting bigger! I'm also really ravenously hungry.

Best Moment this week: All the moments are good :) haha, just playing with my little man! His personality has developed and he is so cute! He makes me laugh all the time!

Shaving Cream = Fun

I know that I rant and rave about how amazing Little Jewels is and here I go again. We are thrilled with not only the opportunities that present themselves to Eoin and our family through Eoin's attendance at Little Jewels, but the staff is amazing! Seriously! They are incredibly passionate and truly love going to work every day. Eoin's main teacher, Ms. Deanna, is actually director certified but chooses to remain in the classroom because she loves the interaction with the children. Yesterday, while working diligently, I received the daily update from Ms. Deanna (we receive an email daily with their activities, what they are currently working on, what they played with, what is on the menu that day and any upcoming reminders) and there were pictures attached. I spied this one with Eoin! Look at how content this room full of two-year olds is!! I always swear that the teachers work some sort of magic to get 16 two year old to listen and to take naps in the same room! Clearly they were having fun! Maybe a little messy, but totally worth it!

Eoin-isms

Eoin's speech abilities have grown tremendously as of late. Not coincidentally the amount of time that he actually spends talking has also increased. He talks and talks and talks. And while we can understand what he is saying for the most part, some of it even makes sense!

Same conversation every morning:
Eoin: Where is Daddy at?
Ciarra: Where do you think he is?
Eoin: At work.
Ciarra: Yep, he is at work!
Eoin: No he isn't! He's at a baseball game!

Eoin has been to exactly 4 baseball games in his life (4 Peoria Chiefs, 1 Normal Cornbelters) and it has stuck!

Today in the car:
Eoin: I see more tractors!
Ciarra: You do? Do you like tractors?
Eoin: yah
Ciarra: What do you want Santa to bring you? (we are getting closer to Christmas and I feel the need to start talking about it with Eoin, don't judge)
Eoin: TRACTORS!!!!
Ciarra: Now, you know in order for Santa to bring you tractors, you need to be a really good boy and ask him nicely for some tractors, right? (yes, I think he gets this!)
Eoin: I'm a bad boy.
Ciarra: No, you are a good boy! I think you are a good boy.
Eoin: I'm a bad boy at school.
Ciarra: (thinking: my child is golden, who is telling him that he is bad!) You need to be a good boy, say, "I'm a good boy."
Eoin: I'm a good boy.