Pregnancy Diary

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFF99" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id95.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Baby Names"><U>Baby Names</U></A></div> <div> <B>Pregnancy Diary</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wellwishers Comments"><U>Well-wishers' Comments</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=94 BGCOLOR="#FF9900" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="3d475590.png" border=0 width="117" height="89" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Reads in Maryland</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>   |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Reads in Maryland"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the Pregnancy"><U><B>About the Pregnancy</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=386 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Pregnancy Diary</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="39cfabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"><B>Thursday 11Sep03:</B> So, I was feeling breast tenderness and my pants don't fit as well and Erik noticed that I had cravings so he said "Maybe I should bring home a pregnacy test." I said "ok." I took the test last Friday and it was positive. What a surprise. We did a second test, also positive. We couldn't keep it to ourselves so we called our parents. They were all very happy. We told them not to tell anyone until after our doctor's appointment on Thursday.</div> <bR> <div> The day after we found out we were pregnant, Erik and I went out for Chinese food and when I opened my fortune cookie, there were two fortunes inside. Wasn't that a great coincidence? So the Baby and my fortune is "Don't worry about money. The best things in life are free." and "In silence man can most readily preserve his integrity" and Erik's was "An imaginary illness is worse than a real one."</div> <bR> <div> We went to the doctor today. We both like Dr. Tran a lot. She's very nice but she shot down my ideas of a waterbirth and no epidural but I guess she was being realistic. But she doesn't do episiotomies often, though she warned me that I'm little. She said I'm 8 weeks pregnant and I'll go back for a sonogram in two weeks. So now, we're telling everybody!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="3b110250.png" border=0 width="784" height="37" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3a0902a0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="298" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <A NAME="the_first_pictures_of_our_baby"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><B>Sept. 24, 2003</B></div> <div> The first pictures of our baby. From the sonogram the doctor told us the due date is April 24, 2004. Such a long time to wait!</div> <bR> <div> Click on <A HREF="http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=1307z2vj.42k25x6v&x=0&y=p90ayl " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=1307z2vj.42"><U>www.ofoto.com</U></A> to see more sonogram pictures.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="3b110250.png" border=0 width="784" height="37" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>November 11, 2003</B></div> <div> The other day, I got another double fortune when we had dinner at Mama Wok. Erik, the baby and I got "Wisdom is aquired by experience, not just by age", "Admire those who succeed, and learn from their success," and "You will soon get something special because of your charm." I can't remember which one was Erik's and which one was mine.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Currently, I'm in my 16th week. I just had my blood drawn to check for alpha fetal protein levels, which is an indicator for Down's Syndrome. I'm going in three weeks for another sonogram. This will tell us the sex of the baby. Can't wait! And, I just received my Hypnobabies home study kit. <IMG SRC="3b110250.png" border=0 width="784" height="37" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Currently, I'm in my 20th week. For a while we were in a deliema deciding whether to have a sonogram. I found some studies that show sonograms can cause problems for developing babies. Anyway, we talked to our doctor and she told us that it was safe. We finally decided to have the sonogram because we wanted to make sure the baby's developing fine. As a bonus, we found out that we're having a boy! </div> <div>           I also told my bosses at the FDA that I'm pregnant. That's a relief.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="3b110250.png" border=0 width="784" height="37" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Feb. 3, 2004</B></div> <div> I can't believe it's already 2004 and it's Feb. I'm now at 28 weeks (in the home stretch now). It seems like there's so much to think about now that the due date is getting closer. We've filled a page of 8x11 of things to do!</div> <bR> <div> Erik and I are signed up for prenatal classes this month. Three Saturdays in Feb. We've also contracted a doula (aka birthing coach) to attend our baby's birth. Erik and I interviewed her and we like her a lot. I also like the fact that she's a massage therapist. I went to the doctor today and had a glucose test done to see if I have gestational diabetes (I hope not). I'll find out results tomorrow. Everyone's telling me that I'm going to have a big baby since Erik's so big. But he was only 6 lbs. 7 oz. when he was born so I'm not so worried. </div> <bR> <div> I've gotten quite a few questions about names. We're sticking with Alexander for now unless we find another name we like better. No middle name yet! My parents have to come up with it. Thanks for all the suggestions and thoughtful comments.</div> <bR> <div> <B>March 11, 2004</B></div> <div> <B>I'm now 34 weeks along. Today I took our car plus infant car seat to have it checked to see if it's installed properly. It's a free service provided by our county. I'm glad cause there were some adjustments made. Though, Erik's a bit peeved cause he thought he did it properly.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mormor threw us a wonderful baby shower. We loved all the gifts and were glad so many uncles and aunties and cousins could come. We feel so loved.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I've talked to my bosses about maternity leave. They're all very flexible and understanding. I'll probably take 2 months and then come back part-time.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Still feel like there's so much to do. I'm glad my mom's coming tomorrow. We'll definately put her to work. :-) One major thing is moving our furniture into the bigger bedroom.</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>