I'm definitely showing now

I think that I'm officially showing. I had my orientation for my new job today, and 2 people I'd never met made comments about my pregnancy without my mentioning it first. They didn't even ask if I was pregnant, it was more like, "Oh, you're pregnant." The nice thing about having a visible baby belly was that I felt justified in taking the last piece of pizza at our orientation lunch. I'm attaching a picture from a week ago when Dave and I were in Charleston, SC. I don't think that my belly is showing much in this picture, though, but trust me--it's there!

Pregnancy symptoms

Kasia, I remember them mentioning ab separation in one of my prenatal workout videos but I haven't experienced it. Here's what they say about it on the What to Expect When You're Expecting website:
www.whattoexpect.com/index.aspx?puid=ccbaadfb-bc5c-4d35-af59-a19ed15658fb&p=1

Megan, I really haven't had issues with swelling except for one night that was really hot and humid and we went for a walk and my hands and feet felt swollen. I'm really diligent about trying to drink 6-8 glasses of fluids a day though, which is supposed to combat swelling.

I just started (actually I'm about halfway through because it's a quick read and really interesting) "Green Babies, Sage Moms" which is about choosing chemical-free and organic options for your baby. If you're interested in being "green" I would highly recommend it.

As of tomorrow I have 7 weeks to go until my due date which is starting to freak me out! A lot of our friends have had their first babies 4-6 weeks early so I'm going to pack my hospital bag this weekend just in case!!

Hello

Hey there!!! Val you had a great idea for a wedding dress, I wish I would have thought of what you did! I went to Macy's and got a maternity dress for a wedding this weekend... yours is way cuter and you looked cute!!

Kasia- I have never heard of what you are getting...sorry. Love the picture of you and your husband in wine country!! We love it there too!!

I am worried about swelling especially in the coming months... Val have you had any yet??

Diastasis Recti

Please help!! I noticed a slight separation between my abdominal muscles this weekend, when I pressed on my belly button. I have heard this gets worse? I am only at 14 weeks. Did this happen to you all? If so, when? If not, should I be doing specific ab exercises to prevent this? I have started on a massive exercise regimen now, because I read that this can persist to being up to two fingers in width??? HELP!!!

Info from our emails

Here is the website where you can check inspections on Ohio daycares: http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/childcare.stm

Here are the prenatal DVDs I was telling you guys about if you're interested in working out:
Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea
The Perfect Pregnancy Workout - created by a member of Cirque du Soleil

Here are the books to help you figure out what Baby Gear to buy/register for:
Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields (7th Ed)
Consumer Reports Best Baby Products (9th Ed.)

Pregnancy Books:
Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B Curtis and Judith Schuler
What to Expect When Expecting (goes by months)

UPromise Info:
It's a free program where you can earn some money for your child's college fund by linking up your grocery store bonus cards, drugstore cards, and credit cards. Then, when you buy certain products, eat at certain restaurants, or shop at certain stores or certain online retailers, you get a contribution to your Upromise account. It's a small contribution (for example, just 1% of whatever you spend at Bed Bath & Beyond), but I guess the idea is that it adds up over time, plus you can get your family members to also link up their cards. You don't need to set up a 529 plan yet and you can still earn money (I started up a Upromise account years ago) and the money will never expire. When you eventually start up a 529 plan, you can link it your Upromise account and then Upromise will automatically transfer the money to your 529 plan whenever you hit whatever the minimum contribution is for your 529 plan. The website is www.upromise.com.

Safe Plastics/Chemical-Free websites:

1. Bottles - amomsblog.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/bpa-free-bottles-and-sippy-cups/
2. Pacifiers/Teethers - safemama.com/2008/01/04/bpa-free-pacifiers-and-teethers-cheat-sheet/ AND thesoftlanding.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/bpa-and-phthalate-free-pacifier-guide/
   
3. Personal Care - www.ewg.org/featured/14

Due Dates:
Val - August 14
Julia - beginning of October?
Megan - October 23
Ilian - December 8
Kasia - Christmas time

Starting the Homestretch

Hey Ladies!
When I have some time I'll probably start posting some of the pregnancy info we were emailing around so it's easy to find. My due date is August 14, so right around the corner! We just signed up for cord blood banking this week through the Cord Blood Registry, so that's one thing crossed off of our list. Here is a picture of us at a wedding last weekend. I didn't even have to buy a maternity dress, just a stretchy empire-waist. We're pretty lucky that everything is long and empire-waist right now!

Kasia - 3 months ago

Hey, there! You look fabulous, Megan! The funny part about the entire group of us is that even at 9 months, I think we will all still be thinner than the majority of the US population! I am merely pudgy right now, so I posted a picture of my husband and I from San Francisco - the wine country vacation at the end of March that started this whole journey....

Megan's due date

Hey everyone!! I'm due on October 23rd so maybe a Halloween baby. Here is a recent picture of me. Also we are thinking of the name Riley for our little girl. Maybe a different spelling but we'll see!!