We're expecting... a girl!

8/20/2008 - With much anticipation, we had the first fetal sonogram in 2-D. We saw that baby waved "her" hand across her face. A little person growing inside. It's very exciting. And it's very exciting that everyone is excited for us :) The baby was very active and the technician was trying to capture the views. The doctor said all of the tests and blood works came out normal which is good. The baby's heart beat is normal. We're on track. The expected due date is around Jan. 18, 2009. Now we have to start thinking about the baby's name. We know many people had girls last few years, luckily we won't have to buy clothes for a while :) We're signing up for the birthing and baby classes. We're researching about the cord blood bank because of all the wonderful medical break through with the new technologies. My belly continues to have aches and pains. The doctor said the pain is normal as long as I rest a little bit and it goes away and there's no bleeding. The baby is growing out, the muscles are pulling, and my organs are getting squeezed. My friend thinks I'm in trouble because I'm not even in my third trimester yet and I'm already complaining :) hahaa. We saw some samples of 4-D ultrasound on youtube and this technology is very exciting. We're getting ready to trip across the globe. Let's see how we do...

8/17/2008 - I get cramps and short sharp pains around my tummy every other day or so, or when I do too much activities. So I would have to lie down and rest a little bit. Then the following day, I would notice my stomach gets bigger and bigger to the point my belly button pops out and my belly accidentally bumps into the counter :)

Once, we were window shopping, Wesley saw the reflection on the glass and said whow, is that my stomach?! Oh thank goodness, it's yours.... Thanks honey!

My hormone level is so high, I have tears over the stupidest thing. If it's any consolation, it's great to have bigger boobs and not to have period for the time being :) Other than the discomfort, my sleeping pattern has changed. I used to sleep soundly through the night. Now I wake up really early to go to the bathroom (actually I have to go to bathroom all the time now.) Then I try to get myself to go back to sleep. I think my body is getting used to wake up early to feed the baby. Luckily I work from home part time so I can take small naps if needed. I'm amazed how women can do it when they're working full time. Someone told me she just has to take lunch naps in her car. Carrying and raising a child is so much work, a supportive community is really important. Even though many of our family and friends are a long distance away, their good wishes mean much to us.

Wesley would try to hear the baby's heart beat and put his hand on my belly. Wesley would also give me helpful tips that he learned from reading What to Expect when you're expecting book. We went to swim a couple of times in our junior Olympic size community pool for me to stay in shape. It's fun. We're been watching Beijing Summer Olympic and it was very exciting to watch Michael Phelps break the records. Wes also enjoyed watching beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, table tennis, badminton and tennis.

I've been craving good Asian food, soy sauce based. Good thing we have the Taipei trip coming up. I thought we just planned it and it's coming up already. The doctor said the best time to travel while we can is during the second trimester. Getting ready for the trip and trying to figure out what clothes I can still fit in to pack for the trip, we realized I don't have many summer maternity clothes so we went to the outlet shopping. Wes is so sweet, he helped me pick out pretty clothes from the racks for me to try on. I think he just loves to go shopping :) another thing that changed in our life is that we don't buy too many things for ourselves anymore in order to save money for the diapers and college tuition.

We saw Father of the Bride, Part II movie on the cable. We enjoyed watching how others react to the whole pregnancy experience. The movie was funny. I think Steve Martin (the husband at age 50) said to his wife close to menopause, 'what! you're pregnant! Whom may I ask is the father??' :)

My body temperature has been high and my tummy feels like it's on fire. To keep cool, I eat more fruits than I ever did, especially chilled naval oranges. I just love it. Watermelon, nectarine, grapes, and cherries are also delicious. I also drink a lot of cold orange juice, chocolate milk, and soy bean drink. Wes has been cooking yummy food and help with whatever we need to do around the house. I was worried that we're not ready and there are still many things we have to do.

Luckily Tina & Pi and Cristina & Kent gave us a lot of baby stuff that they don't use anymore. Yen/Phil, Anora/Weiching and Alan/Xue also have some stuff for us as well. So all we need is just diapers! Having a baby is expensive and it adds up. Time flies so quickly and we're half way through the pregnancy! We're going into the 18th week. The fetal sonogram is coming up (right before the first hurricane that is supposed to come through our way) and we have to get the baby room set up. Even though it has been a unique and interesting life experience so far, it's amazing to think that there's a little head and little body growing inside of my belly. It's scary, exciting, and in awe at the same time.

7/23/2008 - We're going into the 14th week. I have a baby bump and I can't fit in my shorts that do not have elastic! Luckily Yen gave me her maternity cloth so I don't have to buy too many. We saw OBGYN Dr. Bray today. She explained that the pain or cramp I've been feeling is normal (round ligament pain). There are muscles that are trying to move my uterus up so the baby can grow out. That's good to know there's nothing to be concerned about. The blood work came back all good. I found out my blood type is B+ and Wes thinks his is O.

We heard the baby's heart beat for the first time and it was exciting! (check out the 10 sec youtube video). Just the other day, it just hit me that I'm going to be a mommy! The OB sonogram fetal anatomy is not until 18th week, we're looking forward to that. Then we can start thinking seriously about baby names. Wes asked if it's a boy, if we can name the baby Roger, after his favorite tennis player now, Roger Federer. I asked, what happens if the baby is a girl?? He said we can call her Rogee!

6/4/2008 - For the first time, we saw a little 7th week baby and the heart beat on the monitor at the doctor's office (see baby's first picture below, little pea inside the uterus). This confirms the pregnancy. This is the first time I felt like there's a baby inside of me and growing. I already gained 10 lbs since my last doctor's visit. I guess I should control my cravings, but I thought there's a purpose for the craving when you're pregnant ;) I’m so glad to see the baby in my uterus. I was worried if the baby will grow okay. the doctor gave us prenatal vitamins and whole bunch of literature and info. I've been sleeping a lot lately and taking naps here and there. No morning sickness thank goodness. Now we have the confirmation, I'll skype dad and mom was soon as they're on! The first thing Wes wants to do is to get a little baby tennis racket!

5/18/2008 - I've been sleeping a lot. Took really long naps which is unusal. Even though my stomach has been cramping, but my period is not here yet, so I did a pregnancy test and it came back positive for the first time! I did another one just to make sure and it was positive again. I asked Wes if he's ready to be a dad. We were both smiling. Wes said I had the pregnancy glow. It was a sigh of relieve, because I was thinking to go to a fertility doctor if it wasn't happening anytime soon. I was starting to get nervous. I'm going to be 34 in a few days! Can't believe I'm at that age already. I thought I'm still 30. Wes wants to confirm it first, maybe not to jinx it. As someone who worries all the time, I hope the baby is going to be okay. I have to take my prenatal vitamins and make doctors appointment. We're still going to the disney cruise next month. And we're thinking to go to Taipei early Sept. (2nd trimester) before I can't travel for a while. I want to spend some time with grand mom, and dad and mom should be back in Taiwan by then.