12 week ultrasound pictures

Here I go being impatient again, can't wait for Ryan to get home, plus I want Ryan to be able to see these right now :) These are pictures of a picture, so definitely not very good quality, but you can definitely see a little baby in there!

Genetic Screen

Sorry no pictures, I do have 3 ultrasound pictures to share, but can't scan them until Ryan gets home from his business trip on Wednesday! I went to my genetic screen today or what was suppose to be a genetic screen. I had to go to a different facility for the test, not my doctors' office. They brought me in to do an ultrasound first before all the tests, and the ultrasound tech told me I was only measuring at 11 weeks, and they were unable to complete the test because of this!!!!! Of course, she did not really explain herself to me even with all my questions, and I was kind of freaking out because I didn't understand what was going on. On top of that, she found two cysts in my left ovary, so that made me even more scared!!!! Now, being a healthcare professional myself, I would never give a patient information without completely explaining myself as well as being a little compassionate, so I was really upset by this lady's professional behavior. I have my 12 week appointment with my actual Doctors tomorrow so I know I will get further explanation from them. I called my mom right when I left, and she was able to explain everything to me, so I stopped freaking out as much! I am still considered 12 weeks pregnant, but our baby is just measuring a little smaller than the average baby at this time. The tech needed him/her to be at least 4.5 cm long crown to rump, and our baby is only 4.3 cm, so not too far off. But unfortunately, I had to reschedule and come back in two weeks. My mother also explained that the cysts are something very common and they usually slowly shrink and go away throughout the pregnancy. I will get another ultrasound in two weeks for them to check this and see if that is happening. I will be 14 weeks by then, but probably measuring 13 if this little bean doesn't start to grow more! NOW, I wonder if this baby is a GIRL because it is measuring smaller AND the heartbeat was 153 bpm...a wives' tale says if the heart rate is over 140 bpm it is a girl :) hahaha! It was amazing to see the little bean flopping around in my belly, it looks so much different than the last ultrasound I got. It is starting to definitely look like a baby!!!! I will post the pics as soon as possible!

It's a BOY...I THINK! :)

I am ending my 11th week, and heading into my 12th week feeling a lot better!!! I am still tired, but not that EXHAUSTED feeling anymore. I also don't feel that "all day" sickness anymore, just a random dry-heave once in a while. The only reason I am still so tired is because I get up 3-5 times a night to use the bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry if that is TMI, but it is the truth!) Soooo, as most of you know, I am not the most patient person, especially with things like waiting to find out the sex of our baby. So I mention how impatient I am on my Facebook status yesterday, and asked friends if they knew of any old wives' tales that would help me guess what we are having. Tons of people emailed me all sorts of things, including information on this gender prediction kit you can get now at any pharmacy! The people that emailed me about this product all said it was right for them, so OF COURSE I had to try it!!! I took the test this morning, and the results are.......WE ARE HAVING A BOY! hahahaha, Ryan thinks it is a bunch of bull, but only time will tell. All the old wives' tales including the Chinese gender calendar scream boy as well...but I still have this feeling we are having a girl. I go to my 12 week appointment this coming Monday, so I am sure I will have an ultrasound picture to send out to you all, as well as FINALLY get to hear our baby's heart beat!!!!!!!!

Riviera Maya, Mexico

early morning run and beautiful sunset

view of our hotel from beach

sunrise on beach

getting some sun

cool walk way to the other part of the resort for dinner with co-workers

swimming with the dolphins!

below is Ryan and I at the Farewell dinner on the beach under a tent

Ryan and I just got back last night from our all expenses paid, all-inclusive beach resort vacation in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Ryan made his annual sales quota last year, so as a reward, his company invited him to this amazing "President's Trip". I have never felt like such a queen before. The service at this resort was amazing, as well as the resort itself was absolutely beautiful! Our room was as big as our condo in Chicago, with a huge bath tub in the middle of the room as well as a shower room with the water coming out of the ceiling! With the all-inclusive we were able to order room service whenever we wanted, as well as raid the mini fridge:) BIG DEAL PEOPLE for a pregnant lady:) The weather was mostly cloudy most of the days, but the sun did peak out throughout the vacation. We were really busy with parties and activities so we really didn't notice. Included in our trip, Ryan's company gave us spa treatments, and they were amazing! We both got massages and participated in the hydrotherapy program they had. I wasn't allowed to do all of it, but Ryan definitely got to enjoy it! We also got to do an excusion and we chose to swim with the dolphins. It was a lot of fun, something we both have never done. They didn't let me do any of the major stuff though, I was allowed to kiss and pet the dolphins. Ryan actually had two dolphins stand him up under his feet out of the water, and swim him like 20 yards on their noses!!!! It was awesome! There was 33 Latin American presidents staying out our resort because of some world meeting, so security was very high! But they were not annoying about it, it made you feel safe actually. There was also the PGA Golf tour going on down the beach from us, so we got to hang out by hole 15 for a bit and watch. All in all, it was just an amazing trip and it made me so PROUD of Ryan for his hard work and his acomplishments! Cannot wait for him to win another trip :) :) :) To check out all our photos ( I actually didn't take as many as I usually do!) click on my facebook link below.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2193930&id=27310563&l=39c7c63f90

First baby bump picture and some Valentine love

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY weekend everyone! :) I came home today from a busy day at work to a bouquet of beautiful flowers from Ryan which just made my day! Little did he know, I know the way to his heart as well, LOU MALNATI'S deep dish pizzas shaped as hearts were on their way as a surprise for my amazing hubby:) haha, so we both surprised each other with early St. Valentine gifts. Above is what I like to call our first official baby bump picture! It might not seem like anything to you all, but that little pooch there was NOT there last week, so I officially think I am starting to show now at week 9 (almost week 10). I have been feeling better the last half of this week, I have been working out (still running when I am feeling okay). Ryan and I signed up for a 10 mile run in May BEFORE we found out we were pregnant, but I discussed it with my doctor, and he said as long as I feel good and don't overexert myself, I can still train and participate in the run. What I think I am going to do is train for a walk/run, and try to do as much of the 10 miles as I can...and if this prego has to get picked up by the bus at the end of the race, so be it!!!! haha.

Our first houseguests and some home decor :)

This weekend we had our first houseguests! Ryan's parents, Steve and Lu, came up on Thursday night after a business conference Steve had here in Chicago. Ryan and Steve were able to do house projects all day on Saturday. They took our basement toilet completely apart, and were able to fix it so we didn't have to get a plumber, which was awesome, as well as many other small little odd and ends. Ryan definitely learned a lot about being a handy man this weekend. It was really nice to have them around this weekend, but my "all day sickness" has definitely kicked into full force. ************************************************************************************** The only way I can best describe the feeling I have is having a really bad hangover ALLL day!! ha! kinda ironic since I can't drink!! haha...So Lu and I enjoyed relaxing and watching a movie while the guys worked;)
Thanks Lu and Steve for coming up, hanging out, and helping out around the house. We really appreciate it!!!

Here are a couple pictures of some home decor we are slowly getting for the house...The painting by our dining room table is one that my best friend ALI painted in college, and I LOVE IT:) we used the colors to find our home decor stuff :) We still got a lot to do, but it is slowly coming together :) :) And definitely feels like home now :) HAPPY 29TH BIRTHDAY TODAY TO MY SISTER ERIN! Wish I could be there Er! love you and miss you!!!!

It is starting to look like HOME...

Well, our house is coming together, slowly but surely!!! We went to this huge furniture store, DARVIN'S, on the southside of Chicago last weekend, and found the rest of the furniture we needed!! It all got delivered today. I LOVE IT! We still need to hang a lot of things, but we were waiting for the furniture to come so we can start to work around it with decorating. Ryan, OF COURSE, now wants another BIG TV for the living room, which I must admit, would look good...but that will have to wait a little. We finally got a kitchen table as well...no more eating on the floor!!! I love our bedroom furniture, it looks really nice, we never had a headboard before!!!! We also got our guestroom all set up for our very first houseguests: Ryan's parents are coming to visit tomorrow through the weekend!!!!!!!!!
NOW some Baby NEWS! :) We had our 8 week appointment today. Ryan came along again, we were hoping to HEAR the baby's heartbeat, but instead, we just got to SEE the little bean's heart beating. The doctor said everything is looking great for 8 weeks, and the little bean's heart is beating strong. I got my H1N1 shot today as well, I never got around to getting it, and since we are going to Mexico in a couple weeks, I would rather be safe then sorry!!!