Baby Robinson's First Shwag/Gear!

It's time to finally post some pictures of the few things that Aaron and I have invested in for Baby R. These first pictures are of the "pack-and-play" that Aaron and I picked out. The mobile spins, plays both happy and quiet-time music, and includes both a handy light and a "light-show" for baby. All of those features turn-off automatically after 10 minutes. This is where Kiddo will likely spend the first few weeks to months of sleepy time, since it's easier to reach into than the crib (higher up). The basinet attachment comes out to make it more of a "play-pen" as kiddo gets older. The changer comes off, but currently has "storage" shelves and a hamper attached.

I also mentioned that I've begun buying baby outfits on occassion. I can't really help it. Below was our first purchase, confirming that Daddy will disown Kiddo should he/she choose ISU:

Then below are images of the outfits I bought at Costco. They were a great deal (only $10 per four-piece set). The jungle set says "Wild About Mommy" on the sleeper and the rocker set says "Rock Star in Training" on the sleeper and "Mommy Rocks" on the bib. I LOVE the feet on the pants for both outfits!

Now...let me make this very clear. I realize that there is a lot of BLUE going on, but we DO NOT know what we are having yet. We don't find out until the ultrasound on May 5th. Everyone knows it's easier for a girl to wear "boyish" clothes than for a boy to wear "girly" clothes. We're trying to stay as gender-neutral as possible, but some outfits have a bit more of a boy-vide than a girly-feel. I am, however, feeling a very boyish-vibe. It's nothing more than a hunch, but that's all I can offer you until we visit the baby doctor on May 5th (let's hope time passes quickly between now and then). I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed daydreaming about Kiddo while I was taking them.

By the way: here is the 14-week update!

"This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb."

"In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active."

Uterus Driven Eating...

I would just like to say, in my defense, that I try to eat very healthy. However, yesterday Kiddo decided that the giant bottle of water, three kiwi, and an orange were not enough. As soon as I walked through the door of the house, I was practically tethered to the pantry. The eating "binge" began with Frosted Cherry Pop-Tarts (delicious!!!). I promptly scarfed BOTH pastries, because you can't eat just one; the other will get all soggy and gross.

As I ventured back to the kitchen to throw away the wrapper, my hand darted into the pantry ONCE AGAIN, snagging a teeny can of Spaghetti-Os with Meatballs. I stuffed it into the microwave and chowed down every scrumptious bite joyfully.

I went back to the kitchen to put the bowl in the sink and to get some water, and when I got into the fridge (for the water, I swear), my eyes landed on a rogue jar or maraschino cherries, the contents of which found themselves in a bowl and later in the pit of my stomach.

You would think I was done, but as soon as I put the empty cherry bowl in the sink, I started thinking about supper. Clearly, Kiddo did not want Daddy to have any say in what the family ate for dinner and he/she led Mommy to the pantry to grab the Zataran's Red Beans & Rice. When dinner was finished, I'd eaten two bowls.

I have to say that I was very sated, but I think I've learned that I need to try to eat more while I'm at school so that Kiddo doesn't force the binge when I get home. Today, it wasn't nearly as bad, but I did eat a kiwi for breakfast, a kiwi/orange/Spaghetti-Os for lunch, and had a Tootsie Pop for a snack. Unfortunately, I had to sit through a boring PD this afternoon, at which they provided calorie-laden snack size candy bars. I had to eat them just to stay awake. Since I've been home, I've had Pop-Tarts, but I do not feel compelled to eat anymore (so long as I don't go into the kitchen).

I would like to point out that the pregnancy metabolism is AWESOME because even after all that eating, I haven't gained anything. Of course I weigh more after I eat, but in the morning, I'm usually right back to my old weight. At least I've gained back what I lost before my last doc appointment, so they can't yell at me anymore. I'd love this fast burn to last through, pretty much, the rest of my life!

Anywho, I'm going to avoid working ahead on my class by goofing around on the web, since I'm now 3.5 weeks ahead of the curve. Love from the Robinson Family!

13 Weeks and Other News...

Here's the baby update (which was followed by another email that said "why do newborns look so funny"):
"Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce."

So fingerprints huh? The must mean that kiddo has "toeprints" as well and at this point, I will accuse him/her of stepping on various internal organs, or just giving them a swift kick. Although I can't actually feel kiddo moving (I don't think that's what I'm feeling anyway), he or she is responsible for several other feelings I get to have now. Here is a list of my "feelings:" heartburn, hip pain when I'm awake, hip pain when I'm asleep, and sudden pains in the pancreas, uterus, kidney, and lung areas. Yep, it's a joy being preggo! It truly is, but WOW my body does some crazy stuff! Last night, when I complained of something odd going on with my cuerpo, Aaron promptly responded with, "You know what's happening to me? Nothing..."

We're not speaking... (yes we are, but it isn't very fun being reminded that I get all the maladies and he gets to kick back, watch, and play video games) *sigh*

It's weird to think that this process is pretty much a third of the way done already. Where did the time go? I still don't have much to show for it, but the bump is beginning to form. My "double fat roll" syndrome is beginning to morph. I am watching my two ponches meld into one as the weeks progress, despite not actually gaining much weight yet. I have a feeling the weight gain is about the change since it's Easter season and Cadbury eggs are back in style (OMG I LOVE THIS SEASON) and I rediscovered S'Mores Poptarts. Why did I ever break up with them???

Last night, on our weekly grocery shopping trip, I purchased the first baby clothing items for kiddo! It was difficult to select, but not knowing the gender of our child does help limit choices to an extent. Aaron and I picked out a cute set of Iowa Hawkeye onesies. One is bright yellow with the Hawkeye logo, and the other is white with an old school Herky. The yellow one is my favorite. I did get slightly obsessed while in the baby area. They make these cute little garanimal finger puppets and I decided that I needed to try them all out. There were six, so wrestling the giraffe onto my left index finger while my right hand was covered with a monkey, a bear, a lion, a monkey, and some sort of white critter. Aaron promptly left the aisle as I exclaimed over their cuteness, but not before he captured my antics in a blurry iPhone photo.

My obsession with baby is spreading too. I've become extremely jealous of anyone who knows or is close to knowing the gender of their child. Aaron and I have selected a nursery theme for each: a girl will warrant a room covered with StoryPeople; a boy will yield a Mario Bros. themed room. I had to restraint myself from purchasing Mario Bros. sheets at Walmart last night, because they were cute and they were THERE! I'm trying very hard to not be swayed by the "it's there, I should buy it" mentality; I'll save that for the food mood swings. I know that I'm supposed to register for crap too, so that people can contribute via gifting at the shower (I really HATE receiving, I'd rather give...), but it's hard to wait when I have the dinero now to buy something and can't guarantee that next month I will. I also learned the name of the brand of baby blanket that I loved/love still. They are called Baby Morgan blankets and feature a very specific nylon binding around the edge of a waffle style material. I was deeply saddened to learn that this company is no longer in operation and that for the small price of $50, I can own one of my blankets through EBay. Um...$50? That's kind of steep and in all honesty, I'm not sharing this blanket with my kid. I won't have he or she developing the dependence that I have on the things.

I'm also trying to figure out how to purchase a bridesmaid dress "soonish" for my bestie's wedding. However, I am currently only 13 weeks and I will be roughly 8 months at the time of said wedding. It's time to get creative, or pack a beach ball, to try on dresses. :)

Well, I should wrap this up. Aaron and I have a lot of running to do today and I may purchase my first maternity top (cuz it was FREAKING cute). Hasta la pasta y besos!

Forgot to post last week...

I forgot to post this last week:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

I carry you with me...

I'm choosing to kick of this blog post with a Brian Andreas "Story People" story.

"I carry you with me into the world, into the smell of the rain & the words that dance between people & for me, it will always be this way, walking in the light, remembering being alive together."

I believe that Mr. Andreas wrote this story to remember a loved one who has passed away. Why then would I use it in my blog? Simply put, this story is about celebrating life!  To me, it speaks about the little life growing inside me at this very moment. I am in awe! I carry a little person with me everyday, talking to him/her about what I see, what I know, and drinking in the world around me, knowing that I'm taking breaths for two, seeing things for two, and yes, even EATING things for two. My life is no longer just about me; it's about someone much smaller, sharing a space with me, sharing a life with me. We are alive together.

To me, that is one of the coolest things. I think about this story when I look down at my "not-quite-flat" belly. Sometimes it's easy to forget that I'm pregnant when there is no physical evidence. Ok, there's evidence, don't get me wrong, but this is not the time to talk about all the semi-nasty body issues caused by the raging hormones. My body is not showing, but my mind and heart confirm that there is another person that I carry with me. He/She and I are alive together.

Ok, forgive the sappiness. Sometimes, I can't help it. Today marks my sister Kira's 12th birthday. Again, I am amazed by life. I can't believe that I've gotten to know such a cool, stunning, talented, and amazing person for 12 years. The miles that separate us make me sad, but again, she is someone that I carry with me.

I went to the doctor a couple of hours ago, just to check on Baby R. His/Her little heart is beating at 156 bpm! I have to say that one of the coolest parts about today's visit (aside from the fact that I didn't have to do a "clean catch" during my pee test) was when I heard kiddo's heart beating. I couldn't hear it very well, but that was because my heartbeat and his/her's were overlapping. Obviously mine is louder and slower and I could hear it very well, but behind the sound of mine was the little fluttering sound of my kidlet. I nearly started bawling right there. So unbelieveably cool. I was simply awestruck.

"I carry you with me into the world..."

Kitty Diversions?

I got a little crazy with adding gadgets to my blog. There are three at the moment: the ticker at the top, the badge below my name, and a "baby size" counter at the bottom of the page. Too much? Let me know if one needs to go.

In other news, Aaron and I picked up the crib today, bought a mattress, mattress cover, an organic cotton sheet for the mattress, a Pack & Play dohinker (for when the baby is too small the really sleep alone in his/her bedroom, and a sheet for the P&P. Constructing the P&P took some time, some cursing, and BOTH Aaron and I to complete. Forty-five minutes after we started, it was finally all put together, and seriously, it just "snaps" together. LIES! We decided to not even attempt the crib tonight. No way!

While we constructed the P&P, Logan ran in and out of the boxes it came in, acting a complete fool and, as expected, he has taken every opportunity to lay in the thing when our backs are turned. Squirting him with water isn't working so far, so we may have to try some other diversionary tactics. Any suggestions? I've heard about trying balloons so far, but I'm pretty sure that although the popping would scare him, he'd eat the balloon carcass and I don't think that's a good thing. Hmm... Comments appreciated...

Week 11 Update!

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Doctor's Appointment Alert! I go in for the 12 week check-up next Thursday. I am excited to hear Kiddo's heart beating again. I'm not excited about having to go through the ordeal of attempting to pee in a cup again.