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Friday, December 31, 2010

She's ALIVE!!!!

Stella is on the move!!!

For the past few weeks, I have been feeling what I call "twinges" around where the baby is and my doctor confirmed that is most likely the baby moving but it hasn't been consistent or very noticeable at all.  Lately, the twinges have turned into an almost bubble like feeling.  Its a similar feeling to having rolling gas (sorry if that is TMI!) but more isolated.  I've been going back and forth in my mind on whether its gas or the baby and, this morning, I finally determined that I think it is Stella moving around like crazy in there!

I woke up this morning at around 5:45 and she was moving every 30 seconds or so.  I put both of my hands on my belly and every once in a while could feel a little pop on the outside.  I almost woke Matt up to feel it too but, being the nice wife that I am and seeing how he has today off from work, I let him sleep in.  I'm sure there will be plenty of moving to feel in the future!

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Flu or Not the Flu?? That is the question...

Matt and I drove back from visiting family over Christmas and were settling back in to the daily grind of things.  Come Monday night we realized that we had nothing in our cupboards for dinner so we decided to venture out.  Some of you know that we have been on a quest to find good Chinese food in Spokane and so far we haven't had much luck but we decided to try again.  We went to a local Chinese restaurant and had dinner there.  Dinner was ok...food was decent but not great.  I didn't eat very much just because I get so full so quickly now and we both took home leftovers.

Within about 2 hours of returning home, Matt started saying that he didn't feel well so we headed to bed a little early.  Sure enough, Matt started to get sick around 10pm so he went downstairs on to the couch so he wouldn't get me sick too.  And wouldn't you know it, I woke up at about midnight and had the same symptoms.  The lovely symptoms of the stomach flu or food poisoning.  Thank God for a house with more than 1 bathroom!!!

Needless to say, the past 24 hours have been pretty miserable for both of us.  Thankfully we started to feel somewhat better about half way through the day and were able to at least keep fluids down and stay hydrated.  And my temperature never rose above 99.6 so the baby didn't fry (thank goodness). 

I guess there were a few people that we saw over Christmas that were "getting over the flu" which I didn't know at the time and Matt's sister also came down with something yesterday.  Was it the flu?? Or food poisoning?? I guess we'll never know...but I do know one thing - I'M GLAD ITS OVER!!!

Monday, December 27, 2010

What are the chances?!?!

Here we are, Christmas morning...waking up excited for what the day will bring.  Matt and I start the day by heading to his Grandma and Grandpa's home for Christmas breakfast, as we do every year.  This year we were one of the first few to arrive.  We were greeted by Grandpa and then Grandma and then the Thomas family (Matt's aunt, uncle and cousins).  I was really excited to see them this year because Matt's cousin is also pregnant - about 8 weeks ahead of me. 

I don't know why but I had it set in my mind that she was having a little boy and I thought how fun it would be to have two little ones crawling around this time next year.  When we got there, we immediately started talking about our pregnancies because when you are pregnant that is pretty much all you think and talk about.  I found out I was wrong and she was having a little girl.  My next question was, "Do you have a name picked out?"  She said yes but that they were keeping it a secret but then she said she would tell me.  We hurried off to another room and she whispered her name to me.  My jaw must have dropped to the floor because wouldn't you know we have the same first name!!

Now, Matt and I have had 1 boy name and 1 girl name picked out for years.  If we had a boy, it would be Mason Matthew and if it is a girl, it would be Stella Grace.  Many of you even nicknamed the baby Stellson before we knew the sex as a combination of Stella and Mason.  We have never kept those names a secret and they have been pretty well known amongst our friends and close family.

Anyway...back to the story - so my jaw dropped as she said her name was Stella Jean.  WHAT?!?! I think my exact words were, "You have got to be kidding me" and I laughed out loud.  I mean really...what are the chances of two family members that only see each other at holidays being pregnant with little girls at the same time and both picking the name Stella! It isn't like its the most common name on the face of the planet!!!!

After we had picked our jaws up off of the ground, Jess (Matt's cousin) told me that she had a dream we had picked the same name.  She must be clairvoyant!  We wandered back into the kitchen and her mom said, "It isn't the same name, is it?" and we both just stood there with a stupid look on our face.  Then the hub bub began and pretty soon her mom, dad and sister all knew we had picked the same name. 

Her dad had offered her $1000 to give up the name the night before and she still kept it a secret so here is where I start to feel bad.  As I said, we have never kept the name a secret so her dad ran into the room where Matt was sitting and said, "Matt - what are you naming your kid?"  Matt replied, "Stella."  And there it was...secret was out.  POOR JESS!!!  As if it weren't bad enough that we had the same name, now we go and ruin her 1 secret that she had about the baby.  I genuinely felt horrible about that but Matt didn't know what he was doing and we had been telling the names since before we were pregnant so I'm not sure what else could have been done to avoid it.

I'm still in shock that we will have babies within 2 months of each other in the same family with the name Stella but, ya know what, I don't think it is a big deal...I just kept saying it will bond them for life and realistically we do only see each other on holidays so I don't think it is worth rethinking our name that we have had picked out for years.  I just hope that we didn't ruin it for Jess and Brent because I could tell they were bummed about it - just not sure if it was the release of their secret or the duplicate names - but what could I do?!

So...if you didn't know our name, you do now...Stella Grace :) Due May 11, 2011.

Ultrasound Pics - 19 weeks

Here is our baby girl's profile picture - I think she has very "Angelina Jolie-esque" lips





Here is her "girl" shot - boys don't look



And for those of you that know me from my gymnastics days...here she is taking after her mommy being very flexible with her little feet all the way up above her head

Hello! It's nice to meet you!

My name is Ally.  I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and wanted a way to share the information of my pregnancy and our family as it progresses.  Since I am still anti-facebook, I am starting this blog to keep family and friends in the loop (per the great suggestion of my friend Megan - the blog queen). Unlike Megan, I am new to the blog world so forgive me if this is not as entertaining as other blogs you might read. 

Here is a quick introduction to bring you up to speed...

As I said, my name is Ally.  I am a 28 year old married mother to be.  I have been married to my amazing husband, Matt, since July of 2006 and we have 1 dog (a shiba inu) named Coach.  Both of us grew up in Western WA but in June of 2010, we moved to the Eastern side of the state (or a whole other country as Matt would say).  So far we have really enjoyed our time in Eastern WA but we do miss living near our families and friends we grew up with, especially as we are expecting this little one.

We found out on August 31st that we were pregnant with our first baby.  After only 1 month of trying, we were slightly shocked to get the news.  Things have progressed nicely through the first trimester, minus the constant nausea and loss of appetite, and into the 2nd.  We found out on December 14th that our little bundle of joy will be a little girl.  She was measuring perfectly and looked very healthy.  She was moving around quite a bit during the measurement portion of the ultrasound but the moment the tech began the DVD recording, she became completely still.  Maybe she is shy and mellow but between Matt and me, that would be strange for our child to be shy :) hee hee!  We also found out that I have a low lying placenta after that ultrasound so the doctor called and ordered that I immediately cease all strenuous activity and heavy lifting.  No more taking out the garbage for me - YAY!

Anyway...that is who and where we are in life. Welcome to our blog :)