So here we are , at the 34-week

mark!! Becca proclaimed us to be finally readyfor the delivery of our little baby girl. This past week we received the dresser and the changing table at the house and I dutifully put them together. No cursing on my part either!! I do have to say they look great and Becca wasted no time in stuffing them with clothes. She set up a plan to keep all the clothes in order, but we will see how long that lasts, especially when it is the middle of the night and she needs a changing.

Her belly button reminds me of a turkey baster with how far it is poking out, which must mean that Baby Girl is almost done cooking :):) Last night we went on a haunted hayride, and for the record, I was against it!! She was adamant, though, and so we went. I guess my "Bouncer" abilities don't take effect until AFTER the baby arrives. Becca got her baby diaper bag the other day and I am waiting for my quinteesential Ironman diaper bag. (As an aside, the word "diaper" is kinda weird when you think about it. I mean, it isn't spelled the way you would think it should be given the spelling of the word. Just for giggles, I may add in the extra syllable and go for "dy-uh-per"). Things are well here and we are both TRE-mendously excited about the upcoming arrival of baby girl whiting!!

33 weeks

31 Weeks

Will and I at our 3D ultrasound on October 11

Me and my mom (one of baby girl's grandmas)

Hey...I can see up her nose!

Once again, she was shy...kept covering her face

This was the best face shot we got. Check out those chubby cheeks!

Is that a pumpkin on your belly or are you just happy to see me....

So since I went apple picking (yes, again), I also got a pumpkin. What better to do with a pumpkin than to draw a jack-o-lantern on it, and then one to match on a pregnant belly!?!

This is my wonderful husband, Will, pretending he is the one that is pregnant. It's hard to tell...who has the real pumkin???

Will enjoyed face-painting on my belly. The baby kept kicking while he was drawing. I think she could feel him painting! I cannot wait to show her these pictures one day. She will then believe what dorks her parents really are!

30 weeks

Wow! 30 weeks already! I find myself getting more tired, and my feel are killing me all day. Sometimes I dread going to work because I know I will be standing in surgery for 8hrs. Luckily, my charge nurses take that into consideration and try to assign me to operating rooms that have surgery that I can sit down during. I used to get bored when I was assigned to scrub on robotic cases, but now I love them because I am able to sit durning them.

We went to childbirth class yesterday. We took the all day (1 day only) course so we wouldn't have to go back week after week. We learned alot and I now have an idea of some labor positions that I like. Hopefully I won't be bound to a bed because I really want to move around. I would love to use the hydro-therepy tub!!! I told Will he needs to pack a swimsuit so he can join me! :) Next week we have another 3D ultrasound so we will definatly post those pics. Hopefully our little munchkin won't cover her face this time. I would love to see those chubby cheeks!

Baby class

Will was so great during our happy baby class! He gets an A++ in swaddling!!!!! We have our childbirth class next Saturday (October 4th), hopefully this one will be as informative and fun!

Class time!!

So this past Thursday Becca and I went to the Happiest Baby on the Block class at Baystate Medical Center. The class was very interesting and there were a lot of other couples there as well that are about the same age as Becca and myself. We concluded that we will definitely have the cutest baby in the class :):) We learned some cool things to try when Baby is crying and needs to be soothed and we received a free DVD (can it really be considered "free" after paying for the class?) to watch at home, too.
It seems like everywhere we go, Becca gets a compliment on how beautiful she is and how perfectly round her belly has gotten; however, there are some people at work that comment on how big and "fat" she is getting. Why do people do this? Be nice to pregnant, hormonal women, for it will make the world a better place!! That is essentially rules 1 through 4 in our house. Five through 10 are don't argue with the pregnant, hormonal woman and don't argue with the pregnant, hormonal woman. Becca has been wonderful throughout her pregnancy so far and I have every belief that she will make a wonderful mother.

28 weeks

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and when they measured the size of my uterus, it measured 30.5. Typically, you measure the same as the amount of weeks you are pregnant, which should be 28. So this means, either...

a) Baby girl is big
b) I have alot of amniotic fluid
c) I am just fat
d) I am further along in this pregnancy than origionally thought.

I have an ultrasound on Friday to get a more accurate measurement of Baby Girl's size, so we will know more then. It's scary to think she may be here in 10 weeks!

27 weeks

It's been awhile, so I will catch all of you up...

I know, I know. It's been awhile since either Will or I have updated our baby blog. We've been quite busy, with the start of another semester of nursing school and getting the house ready for the baby. Things are still going great. I actually spent the rainy afternoon relaxing on the couch watching a movie and watching my belly move every time the baby kicked! It is so amazing!! I love having this little person inside of me wherever I go.

I have officially outgrown (well my belly anyways) the size small scrubs I usually wear at work. I now have gone up to medium. I held out as long as I could, I think it was more of a mental thing...didn't want to go up a size, but hey...I have good reason!

I got this shirt as a joke, because, obviously I am not a virgin with my baby bump! I got so many laughs out of this. The poor girl at Dunkin Donuts was trying so hard to keep a straight face, but then was like, "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at your shirt. It's great!".

I am off to bake some peanut butter cookies...we will try our hardest to keep all of you updated at least weekly! :)

Will's triathlon

Will did great in his triathlon this past Sunday. Gus and I (and our future daughter) cheered our hearts out for him. We got lots of great pictures, some of which we are sharing with you now. Our triathlon team is called the Cyclonauts, so since I would not be racing this season, I had a t-shirt made that states...

It was a hit!! Everyone loved it!

24 weeks

24 weeks and still feeling great!

This picture was taken at Becca's aunt's wedding

Soon-to-be Daddy and Grandma feel the baby kicking after Becca ate a bunch of chocolate

22 1/2 weeks

and the belly keeps growing.....

Baby Whiting's first photo shoot

We had an appointment for a 3D/4D ultrasound today. It was amazing!!! Baby girl seems to be a bit shy, though. She kept hiding her face and putting her hands up to block our view of her! She seems to have Will's hairstyle, and Will says he is glad she seems to have my ears! The pictures still amaze us every time we look at them . She really looks like a baby, and not the black and white image I am used to seeing on regular ultrasounds.

here is baby girl with her mouth open

She is so shy!! Blocking our view of her beautiful face
umbilical cord across her belly

covering her ears

22 weeks

Baby girl's going hiking someday!

While shopping with some friends at "Once Upon a Child" (a wonderful gently-used children's second hand store), I came across this great hiking backpack that will be perfect for baby girl Whiting! It is practically new, but the price was CHEAP!!. We put Gus in it to test it out, and he seemed to like it, so we are sure baby girl will like it too! It will be handy for our camping trips, as well as spectating at triathlons!

We have been told by family and friends not too buy anything for the baby, but how can you turn down such a great find at a great price? Slowly but surely, the nursery is coming along, too. My sister Lisa is giving us her crib mattress, which is only 4 years old and has been in a protective cover so it is practically new! As for the clothes...woah...baby girl is gonna be well dressed, especially since her cousins are all girls and we have been getting them the cutest clothes since they have been born. We are sure to see them again as wonderful hand-me-downs!

Bedtime Story

Last night as I climbed into bed, Will got out a Dr. Seuss book he had bought for Baby Girl Whiting. He read the book to my belly, and wouldn't you know, she started kicking as he read!! She liked the story!! Our little girl will be a reader!

I knew it!!

Now, way back in the days of the early pregnancy, I knew in my gut that we were going to have a little girl. When people asked, I said "I'm thinking girl". As time went by, I learned to not argue with a pregnant woman and couldn't argue against the dreams Becca was having about a boy and started thinking "boy" myself. But, I just want it on the record that I KNEW RIGHT AWAY WE WERE HAVING A GIRL!! There, I have said my peace an can go anout my days with comfort and ease.

Yes, it's a girl...No, we won't tell you her name

I bet you are curious as to what name we have chosen for little baby girl Whiting. Well, if you want to know, you have to ask! We will not post it on the blog until she is born, as we know many people that want to wait and be surprised with what we have chosen. We will tell you that it is a beautiful name, and we are sure you will love it! (if it is driving you nuts and you really want to know, just give us a call or email us)

It's a girl!

Ok, ok. At first, we were not going to find out the gender, then our curiosity got the better of us. All along, I (becca), was convinced I was having a boy. I had dreams, took online old wives tale quizes, etc. All signs pointed to boy. So when the ultrasound tech said "It's a Girl!" we were quite shocked! We are so happy! Will says he knew all along it was a girl.

Looks like baby will have long legs like her parents!!! All the more to kick mommy with, and boy is she a kicker! She is always moving around, I love to feel her!

Will felt the baby kick!!!

Yesterday was the Whiting annual picnic. The weather was great, we were surrounded by friends, and for the first time...Will felt the baby kick!!! I was sitting at our outdoor table, had just eaten some chocolate, when the baby started kicking alot. "Will! Come feel this!" I told him. He put his hand right where my hand was (then he poked my belly) and low and behold, the baby kicked him! His hand immediatly jumped up and he was like "woah!". It was so amazing! I am so happy I could share that with him!

Our really REALLY tall sunflowers!

I DO look pregnant!

While grocery shopping at Price Chopper, I realized we needed to get sandwich meat. So up to the deli I went. After a bit of chit-chatting with the deli girl, she looked down and said ,

"what is that?" with a smile on her face. I glanced down to where she was looking. She was talking about my belly.

"It's my little baby" I replied, while rubbing my tummy. She proceeded to say,

"Oh! That is the cutest baby bump I have ever seen!!" and grabbed one of her other co-workers to look too. (I guess the new outfit I was wearing really did make my bump look cute). It was so sweet!

I was so excited! I actually do look pregnant, not fat!

Success at last!!!

"I finally picked blueberries!!! Oh they are so good!"

Almost Half-time!!

So, we are in the 19th week period right now, which means we are approaching half-time!! We could hire some big-name band and have a massive blowout, but I am afraid of a wardrobe malfunction and all the paparazzi!! Instead, we are staging the Whiting Annual Picnic to coincide with Half-time!!
Mommy and Bambino are doing well. The Player is becoming more active with the passage of time and I swear I felt a little kick in her belly this week. Becca, unortunately, is riding the hormonal roller coaster. She experienced the soon-to-be famous Blueberry Trip the other day. My lovely bride went out in search of blueberries to pick, only to become lost and without her cell phone to radio an S.O.S. My beautiful wife re-appeared at the house crying and inconsolable. I offered a foot rub, mini-golf, ice cream, and lunch. We finally settled on a trip to Baby Gap . . . and lunch :):)
So, right now the Bambino can hear a bit of what is going on in the outside world!! I read that he/she can remember voices heard while in utero, so we are trying to talk to our baby more frequently. It is kinda weird talking to a belly, I have to admit. Also, I poke the belly while counting aloud, hoping to teach it counting a bit early, which I read actually works. Since the father in this scenario was not terribly good at math, I want our baby to get a bit of a head start!!

18 weeks

It is a beautiful sunny summer day! (as you can see from the picture which was taken this morning). We are off to Babies R Us to browse the furniture and possibly start our registry. It is very overwhelming, there are so many choices!

baby waving "hi"

As usual, my good friends were able to help me out and get me an updated picture of our little bundle of joy. (Gotta love having an ultrasound machine available at work!!). This picture shows the head and a hand. The origional picture is much clearer, but if you look closely, you can see the fingers and thumb!

oh the hormones!

Everything is still going really well with the pregnancy. I have been informed recently that I have been more emotional and hormonal than I have ever been. I didn't know this until I was told by my friends and hubby. We had a checkup this week and everything is great. We heard the heartbeat again at the appointment and the heartrate was 157. Good number! The bad number...the one on the scale! The nurse said my weight was good, but I beg to differ. 18 lbs!! I have gained 18 lbs in 17 weeks! If this keeps up I will be a house by the time this baby is born! That is why the picture is not my best...I was upset/hormonal/emotional/whatever. After having a conversation with my mom, who stated when she was pregnant with me she gained a whole 21 lbs total, confirmed to me that she thinks I am having a boy as well. I have heard from other friends who said they gained more with their boys than with their girls. August 1st we have an ultrasound. Or rather, "The Ultrasound", where we are able to find out the gender. Initially we were not going to find out, but our curiosity is getting the better of us. Keep checking back...as in 2 weeks we may be able to if our little bundle of joy will prefer pink or blue!