Long time, no post! Things are slow in the baby news department, so I haven't been posting as often. Hey - no news is good news in this department!

Today was interesting though. The girls advised we start looking at cribs. They can take 8 - 10 weeks to order, as would a chair for the babe's room, so we need to start looking, know how much they are, see what features we want, decide what color scheme we may want, etc. There's a LOT more to think about than what style looks cute - which would have been the basis of my decision. So we went to a baby store today - I think Jeff's first time ever - to check this stuff out. Jeff handled it very well. I was happy to see his interest in this stuff. Yeah Jeff!!

Anyway, we left there liking three different ones - just a good starting point.
The Bonavita Metro
The Munire Deco
The Baby's Dream Kathryn

Who knows what we'll end up with, but it was nice to see there were things we liked and we weren't totally blown away by the cost.

In other baby news, we have been talking more about the nanny situation with the Klebbas. That's progressing really nicely and we're scheduled to meet Wendy, the potential nanny this Wednesday night. Again - strange to be making these plans SOOO early, but it will be nice to have this potentially settled and out of the way. I hope everything works out.

Well, this is week 15! I have a doctor's appt on Thursday afternoon. SEVERAL things I've read said that a doctor MAY be able to determine the baby's sex by now. SOOOOO . . . fingers crossed that we learn something this week. The baby Website says this week . . .

My growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). It's busy moving amniotic fluid through the nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in the lungs begin to develop. The legs are growing longer than the arms now, and the baby can move all of its joints and limbs. Although the eyelids are still fused shut, it can sense light. There's not much for the baby to taste at this point, but it's forming taste buds.

The big plans for the weekend - in addition to looking at baby cribs - is to clean out the loft so it can be ready for construction when the contractor is ready to start finishing it into a 3rd bedroom. April and Rob are coming to dinner tomorrow night. We're looking forward to seeing them again as well.

XOX
Liz

My good friend Suzanne asked a good question . . . you saw all the girl names, but what about a boy name?!?!? Well, the "drama" is around a girl name only because we don't know what we'd name a girl, whereas we're already 100% on a boy name. If we have a boy, we plan to name him George Vincent Kegg. George is Jeff's dad and Vincent is Jeff's maternal grandfather. Makes sense we'd name a Kegg son after the Kegg family.

It has always been the girl names that have been difficult. It would be nice to name a girl after someone from my family, but I just don't see that happening. No offense Mom or Dad, but I just don't LOVE any girl names from our families . . . Elma, Pearl, Luvina, come ON!! Elizabeth will definitely be the middle name - mostly because of Honey, but also because this will be a fourth generation Elizabeth . . . Elizabeth Jackson, Judith Elizabeth, Elizabeth Kathleen, and now _____ Elizabeth. I like that it flips from first to middle name.

But the question was good timing. Last night a light bulb went off with my NEW favorite girl name. Don't go monogramming anything yet, but I am REALLY liking . . . . drum roll please . . . .

Lauren Elizabeth Kegg.

We'll see how things shake out. I have light bulbs with girl names about once a week. The other one this week I liked a lot was Kate Kegg. Who knows what we'll end up with. But that's the baby name news for now.

XOX
Liz

Alright - maybe I'm ready to believe in acupuncture! Yesterday it seems all the things I was treated for last week kicked back in . . . pain in my lower back, headaches, and today - nausea too. YUCK!! Luckily I am scheduled to go back tomorrow afternoon. I need some help again.

Today I headed to my doctor for a quick chat and visit. We were scheduled to review the results of my first trimester screening. Clearly there was nothing to talk about there since I had no results. Oh well. We agreed I wouldn't reschedule that test, but instead we'd look forward to a quad screen when I'm 16 - 20 weeks along. I did get to hear the heartbeat - it was in the 150s - and then she let me see the little shrimp as well.

Yeah - now it's the size of a shrimp. Here's what the Website says about week 13 . . . Fingerprints have formed on our baby's tiny fingertips, the veins and organs are clearly visible through the still-thin skin, and its body is starting to catch up with its head — which makes up just a third of its body size now. If we're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. The baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Good stuff!
XOX
Liz

It's a STRANGE day. The high today was 57 degrees - in Denver. Chilly. It rained on and off - mostly on - all day. We were supposed to go camping this weekend, but after seeing the weekend forecast, we stayed home. It's a good thing. We just saw the news and they showed a picture of Loveland Pass, where it's 12k feet or so. It SNOWED in the mountains today. There were people snowboarding down the mountain. Yeah. Instead, we made hot tea, cooked biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast and got the fireplace lit for the first time this season.

Thursday night we made dinner for our camping weekend - a big batch of our green chili. It's a PERFECT night for that. So in about 15 minutes we're heading to a neighbor's house with green chili, cornbread, and all the fixins to share. It will be a fun night. I think some Olympics and maybe some cards are also in the plan for this evening.

Oh - and no news on the babe front. It's just chillin and hopefully growin! Today I am 13 weeks.

XOX
Liz

Today we got our first gift for baby! It's a peanut bib! CUTE!! Kristine brought this back from her NC vacation. Something for my peanut.

In other news . . . I know this is strange and REALLY early, but yesterday I think we resolved our daycare needs!! We have been speaking with Dave and Gwen about doing a nanny-share with them. For two families to share, the price is comparable to daycare and it's usually a much better quality of care. We figured late this year or early in '09 we'd call agencies and start the search. Well . . . yesterday, Gwen's neighbor emailed Gwen letting her know that in the spring of next year she'll quit her job and start staying home with her kids. So, they're letting their nanny go. Gwen has met the nanny many times and LOVES her. We'll start talking about it casually and Jeff and I will meet her ourselves, but this could be perfect! Stay tuned.

XOX

Liz

So yesterday I told my boss Eric about the pending babe. Then this morning I shared the news with the rest of my colleagues. Everyone was really supportive and excited for Jeff and me. So that's all done. It's still scary to tell people. It's as if I'm jinxing it. Now I'm waiting for something bad to happen. Sad, I know.

This afternoon I went to an acupuncturist to see about helping with my pain. It's a cousin of a good friend of mine. After one treatment I still have some issues, but I will give it another few sessions before I pass judgement.

Tonight is more chilling on the sofa with Jeff, watching the Olympics. Tomorrow night we hope to go to the Rockies game, weather permitting.

XOX
Liz

Today was an unproductive baby day. Where should I start . . . . well, I went in for a 1st Trimester Screening. Today I am 12 weeks and 2 days pregnant - due on Feb 21. Even after several jabs in my stomach the baby wouldn't move into the position needed for them to complete the screening. Sooooo - no test results for me. The babe was moving all over the place - just not into the right position. Heart rate was 162. Things are still looking good. Anyway, after the ultrasound tech had no luck the perinatal doctor came in and chatted with me for a few minutes. Said she understood I was just trying to get more info, but I shouldn't have a reason to worry about Downs or other chromosomal disorders. She suggested I wait until 16 - 20 weeks for a quad screening instead. That would tell me the odds of those things PLUS some other stuff too. So, I guess that's what I'll do.

So, on Saturday morning I woke up with stabbing pain in my lower back. I thought it was strange, but whatever. Then when Gwen came over she said she'd had similar issues. I looked it up online and someone suggested it could be nerve issues. Sunday it was worse. Tylenol (the only pain reliever I'm allowed to take during pregnancy) helped numb it a little but it was still bad. I almost called the dr, but decided to wait it out. This morning it was bad again, so I called. After some phone tag with the nurse, I just stopped by their office - I was in the building already for that screening. They didn't see any connection to that pain & pregnancy. She suggested Tylenol, heat, rest, and maybe a massage and/or physical therapy. Basically - suffer through it. Ugh. It's bad. Sitting, laying down, and standing up are all alright. It's GETTING into or out of any of those positions that's painful. Stabbing pain. Eyes welling up with tears pain. OUCH!!

This afternoon I had a dentist appointment. Geez - I have been in doctor city today! All good news on the dentist front. No cavities. There were no x-rays or fluoride treatments for the mom-to-be, so that got me off a little cheaper than usual. ;)

Now, it's time to listen to my doctor's orders . . . rest!

XOX
Liz

The babe is 2 inches! I saw my peanut today. I've turned the pics (see below) so you're looking at it more straight on. The first pic is my martian baby - the one on the left. It's looking right at you. The head is on top. It was moving during this picture, so it's got its left hand up by its head. The right hand is down by it's belly. The face just looks kinda martian-like to me. ;) The right one is a side shot. Again the head is on top. If you look REALLY close, you can make out its spine!



Today I measured 11 weeks and 6 days. WOA!! I'm starting to worry that I will have a 30 pound baby!! Its head to rump measurement was 5.17 centimeters. That's just over two inches. They're still showing a due date of 2/22. That's not a bad due date but I got some interesting news from the doc yesterday . . .

Because I will take a blood thinner throughout this pregnancy, they will want the delivery to be a fairly controlled process - for my safety. Sooooo . . . she said once we get closer, we'll pick a birthday and schedule an induction. That's kinda nice actually, because then I know I'll get my doctor versus someone who happens to be on call at 2 am on a Saturday.

At the office yesterday I made FIVE new appointments. They start on Monday when I go to a Perinatal specialist for a 1st Trimester Screening. This is a combination of a maternal blood test and a special ultrasound which identifies if our babe is at risk for certain chromosomal disorders, like Downs syndrome and Trisomy 18. So, I am doing that Monday morning.

I'm seeing my regular doctor again on Aug 18 (to review the 1st trimester screening results), Sept 4 (before I go out of town for two weeks), Oct 9 (this is the 20 week ultrasound when we'll find out the sex), and Nov 3. If there are any mother-in-laws out there who want to come for a doctors visit . . . now's when you can book a trip. Maybe that November visit would be a good time to come. Maybe the baby's room will be started by then . . . well, at least walls would be up. ;)

I also got the OK to travel to Ohio for Christmas, assuming everything with the pregnancy is going fine up until then. So, I will start looking at airfare to finalize my ticket shortly.

Our pregnant friends, Dave & Gwen, are coming for dinner tonight. We're going COMFORT FOOD with Judi's meatloaf and a potato casserole. For dessert a strawberry shortcake casserole. YUMMY! Tonight Gwen and I will look at the hospital's birthing classes while the boys watch pre-season football. Just another day in the Kegg house!

XOX
Liz

Not a lot new on the baby front around here. I'm still taking it easy and looking forward to the end of the first trimester. That's coming soon. Based on last week's measurements, today I would be measuring eleven weeks. What happens at eleven weeks?

The baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. The hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under its gums, and some of the bones are beginning to harden. It's already busy kicking and stretching, and its tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as its body grows and becomes more developed and functional. I won't feel the baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will I notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that the diaphragm is forming.

What else with me? My pants are starting to tighten. I bought a few pairs of pants yesterday that are a touch bigger that I can hopefully grow into for the next few months. I'm still suffering from nausea, but hopeful that will come to an end soon.

We started a list of girl names. It's posted to the fridge and we'll add and delete names as we progress. Who knows if we'll even need to use one of these. It's just nice to have a starting place. Right now the list is . . .

• Hannah
• Paige
• Emily
• Lucy
• Judith
• Sophia
• Rachel
• Megan
• Jane
• Mia

So, Jeff and I are headed to the doctor Friday afternoon. Look for more news then!

XOX
Liz