Category Archives: Kara and Kyle

14 Weeks and the Gender Debate

Posted in Baby #1, Dilemmas, Kara and Kyle, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Update by

I have learned that there are various questions you are asked when people find out that you’re expecting. Number 1 would be the obvious, “When are you due?” Number 2 is, “Are you going to find out what you’re having?” There’s also a third question, “Was it planned?” but I find that question to be rather insensitive and aggravating and shall be left for a different post in the future.

My focus today is the great Gender Debate – or, Question Number 2: Will we or will we not find out what we’re having?

In Canada, or British Columbia where I live, finding out if you’re having a boy or girl can be a crapshoot. Some ultrasound technicians will tell you, some won’t. If you’re a high-risk pregnancy, they’ll tell you. Sometimes, if you pay a little extra $$, they’ll tell you, but maybe that’s just in countries where abortions and infanticide are common because of gender preference. (If you’ve read Secret Daughter, you know what I’m talking about!)

Anyway – the gender knowledge game is what Kyle and I are currently playing. At last week’s doctors appointment an ultrasound was ordered and I’ll be going in around the end of January/beginning of February for my 20/21 Week ultrasound. My doctor also mentioned that we might be able to find out the gender of the baby if we choose. (Might be if the baby is positioned right, etc., etc.)

Here’s the thing – Kyle wants to know what we’re having. I would rather have it be a surprise. This is something we just can’t seem to agree on. Kyle hates surprises and thinks that knowing would be better for planning the baby’s room, picking out clothes, names, etc. (Although we already have a healthy name list already!)

I want it to be a surprise because really, who doesn’t like surprises!? (Other than my husband, obviously) Personally, I think that your first child’s gender should be a surprise. A coworker even made an interesting point: Have the first one be a surprise, and for any kiddos after that, find out so you know whether or not to keep your boy or girl stuff.

I have no idea how we’ll decide who “wins” this debate by the end of January. “Because it’s MY body” is a weak argument, IMO. (As is, “YOU DID THIS TO ME!” while in labour, lol) If anything, we’ll end up dong a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors to settle things.

Regardless of whether or not we find out or not, boy or girl, as long as it’s healthy! (I know, such a horrible cliché.)

Now, onto the regular pregnancy updates:

How far along? 14 weeks – I’m now in my 2nd trimester!

How big is baby? About 3 1/2 inches, or the length of a lemon according to BabyCentre.ca.

Total weight gain/loss: At my appointment last week, the doctor informed me that I have yet to gain any weight, which is normal and nothing to worry about! (Which makes me also wonder where the hell all that food I’ve been consuming has gone!)

Maternity Clothes? None, but it’s getting harding to keep “regular” pants on when I get home. I go right to sweats, yoga pants or pajama pants as soon as I can.

Stretch marks? None!

Sleep: I’m slowly gaining more sleep during the nights, which I’m sure will be ruined when I get bigger. I’ll take what I can get.

Movement: Still nothing …

Food cravings: Nothing that seems out of the ordinary. I’ve really been wanting sushi and Chinese food lately though.

What I miss: Being able to comfortably fit into my favourite pair of jeans. They’re just a little too snug to wear all day.

What I am looking forward to: My ultrasound appointment at the end of January and maternity clothes shopping with my mom in the new year.

Milestones: Hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the second time was absolutely amazing. Kyle got to hear it as well, so that made it extra special! It was a lot easier to find this time than during my first appointment – the doctor found it right away! Last time the little bugger kept moving around and the heartbeat was hard to find. I guess the fact that it’s twice the size now helps too!

Photo:

14 Weeks! I look like I just got out of bed because I just woke up from my post-Christmas breakfast nap!

Now … Questions!
If you have a child – did you find out the gender or not?
If you don’t but eventually plan to – do you want to find out?
Why or why not?

Happy Boxing Day! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Life’s Good

Posted in Kara and Kyle, Pregnancy by

I just want to say thanks to everyone for all the love and congrats from yesterday’s post! The first three months were tough and I know it won’t be any easier anytime soon, but it will be an exciting time, that’s for sure!

All our family and friends are super excited for us, so it’s great to have a close support system. And – in our new house, my mom is literally three minutes away, which is great. I really don’t know what I’d do without my mommy!

Anyway, that’s all I have for now, I really just wanted to say thanks!

The First Three Months

Posted in Babies, Kara and Kyle, Pregnancy by

So – unless you got the password and read this post (which is now open for everyone to read), Kyle and I have some exciting news!

We’re having a baby!!!(!!!)!!!

Long story short, we started trying back in July, and we are SO lucky that we didn’t have to try for very long. Sometime in September we were successful, and I’m due on June 25, 2012!

It’s so unbelievably hard not to be whiny on Facebook and Twitter during the first three months of pregnancy. There were several times where I wanted to say “Screw it” to the whole “wait until you’re past your first trimester” rule to announcing your pregnancy. The first three months were haaaaaard people! And yeah, I know I’m not quite past my first trimester yet, but when I am finally 14 weeks along, it would be Christmas day, and that’s just too cheesy for me.

I was lucky enough not to have pukey morning sickness, which I’m soooo greatful for because I can’t handle throwing up. Worst feeling in the world, I tell yah! Really the first thing I noticed that made my stomach turn was coffee, which happened only a couple weeks after my assumed conception date. Laaaame. Then, meat decided to make me want to gag, and then peppers (red, green, etc.) There were days where I would stare at my plate and not want to eat because the sight of food made me feel sick. Awful, I know. I ended up buying Boost just so my body could get some actual nutrients because all I could stomach were carbs (glorious carbs!).

So, allow me to transition into my pregnancy update posts with a “before” photo – really, a photo taken a couple days after Kyle and I found out we were expecting:

4 Weeks, 5 days

And now?

Not too much of a change, but there is a little tiny bump that isn’t just my normal roll of belly flub. I meant to wear the same top and pants for all the photos, but those jeans are getting to be uncomfortable.

I’ve borrowed the following Q&A from Holly over at Scattered Words. She did this series when she was expecting her adorable little Topher, and who doesn’t like an easy, peasy Q&A?!

How far along? 12 Weeks!

How big is baby? About 2 inches, or the size of a lime, according to BabyCentre.ca.

Total weight gain/loss: I had actually lost about 4 pounds because I couldn’t eat food like I could pre-pregnancy. Everything just made my stomach queasy, especially meat! We don’t own a bathroom scale, so I’m not sure if I’ve gained anything significant since I last checked.

Maternity Clothes? None yet, but my pants are slowly starting to feel a little snug, and some of my shirts show off the little bit of a bump that I have. I hope to hold off on maternity clothes shopping for as long as possible!

Stretch marks? None, but I fearfully anticipate them eventually. Although my mom never got them, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed!

Sleep: Since I already have a stupid-weak bladder, I find I’m getting up even MORE in the middle of the night to use the washroom. Other than that, I’m sleeping just fine but again, I anticipate that will change in a hurry.

Movement: Nothing yet!

Food cravings: Nothing out of the normal, although I’ve been leaning more towards spicy foods in the past couple weeks.

What I miss: Caesar’s with actual booze in them! Luckily, they taste almost as good with no vodka in them. Also, for almost two months I couldn’t drink coffee because it made me feel so sick, but luckily, I can drink it again. (Only a cup a day though!) Thank goodness, because the withdraw headaches were getting ridiculous!

What I am looking forward to: Having an actual bump and not just looking bloated!

Milestones: I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat at my first doctor appointment at 10 weeks, 2 days! It was the most amazing thing ever! And – the doctor says there’s only one baby in there – no twins, which is great because they run in my family. (Although it skips a generation, lucky me!)

That’s it for now! I have my next doctor’s appointment on Tuesday next week, and Kyle will be joining me for this one! I’m hoping he’ll let Kyle listen to the heartbeat since he missed it the first time around!

So there you go! My big announcement! (And the toughest secret I’ve had to keep!)