17 Weeks!

I have absolutely nothing to report this week. No crazy or funny pregnancy tales to share! I have an appt on Thursday, so maybe next week I will have some new to share! Oh wait, I do have one interesting tidbit- I read that this week the baby will develop his or her little fingerprints! 

How far along? 17 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss:  I'm up to 124, so... total pregnancy weight gained? One pound.
Maternity clothes? Yep. Still wearing regular clothes too.
Measurements: Waist- 29.5  Hips- 37 
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Ok, I guess.
Best moment this week: Having lunch with my good friend Sarah D. and her sweet two year old, Allie. It was an awesome/terrifying glimpse into my future! (terrifying only in that I'm nervous about being a mom- Allie is really well behaved!!)
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? St. Kitts. I am so ready to get back to my sunny, beachy, third world country! (I'm sure I'll be eating these words once I'm back there :)
Movement: Nope
Food cravings: I may or may not have purchased a 40-count box of pigs in a blanket. Also, I didn't notice it as a craving, but I think I've eaten my body weight in yummy Georgia peaches in the past three weeks.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope 
Have you started to show yet:  Eh. I just look pudgy.
Gender Prediction: I still think boy. If you look to your right, there is a poll to see if you think it's a boy or girl! Feel free to log your guess!

Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Hmm. I dunno. Missing Rob makes me sad, but other that that, I'm cool.
Looking forward to: Going home to the Rock!!! Being away from Rob, and all my wonderful SK friends, is awful. (23 days and counting!)


My darling husband, Rob, informed me that my current questions are lame and boring. I asked what kind of questions he wanted me to answer, he had no suggestions. So, if any of you have any questions you'd like to suggest or would like to me to answer, send them along!

16 Weeks

As the title states, I am 16 weeks, or about 4.5 months pregnant. Still have a ways to go. That being said, Rob and I have some really wonderful family and friends who have ALREADY bought us some cute baby stuff! So, before I go any further, I want to send a big thanks to my mom, Elaine and Melissa D., Kate L., Melissa M., and Lia T.! Rob, Baby Seerley, and I appreciate the gifts and love you guys!

I also made my first baby purchase! I got a "William" stuffed animal from the Metropolitan Museum of Art! For those of you who are not total art nerds like me, William is a small faience hippopotamus from ancient Egypt and the unofficial museum mascot!  I've been thinking that I would love a safari animal theme for the nursery (that we don't have), so William is perfect- Rob loves animals, and I love Egyptian art!

Thanks to all our friends and family for the early baby gifts!

Update on returning to St. Kitts: After talking things through with Rob, we've decided I should stay here on the mainland until after my Level Two Ultrasound (on June 21). My OBGYN did not find my St. Kitts medical records funny at all (even though I joked about it last week), and wants my next two appointments to be with her, in America. The ultrasound will determine whether or not my pregnancy is high risk, and she said that she rather me do it here with her.  Also, since the tickets can be quite expensive (all you friends there on the rock can relate), we really can't afford another set of airline tickets. I do have to call the airline and officially move my ticket, but it looks like I should be back to St. Kitts by June 22, as long as everything is cool with the ultrasound.  I am super bummed out. Despite it's shortcomings, I love St. Kitts, and I really miss everyone down there a lot! Not having a job is WAY more fun down there than here in burbs. Also, being away from Rob for 2 weeks has really sucked, instead of having one week to go, I won't see him for another MONTH! Sad face...

How far along? 16 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss:  At 16 weeks pregnant, I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, 123lbs!!! (although, it appears I'm not carrying it the same as before...) Now that I gained my 8 lbs back, I can actually start gaining some pregnancy weight!
Maternity clothes? Yeah. They are just so damn comfy! I am still wearing regular clothes too.
Measurements: Waist- 28 Hips- 37
Stretch marks? Nope, and I plan to keep it that way- I started using Palmers Organics Tummy Butter. I had heard a lot of recommendations for Mustela, but I was not paying $40 for a 2 oz tube.
Sleep: I slept pretty awful this week, but I was traveling for the past 5 days (and slept in three different beds) so that could have been the problem.
Best moment this week: Eating pizza and fried calzones at Sal's in Little Italy. Oh wait, best pregnant moment? Eating pizza and calzone's at Sal's. Hey- my family has been eating there since before I was born (really since my dad was a kid), so it's only fitting that my baby gets the same treatment. Also, I'm pretty certain that deep fried calzones are part of a well-balanced pregnancy diet.
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Sangria. I LOVE sangria, and my selfish family has been drinking lots of it in front of me- in three different states no less!
Movement: Nah, not yet. Maybe in the next few weeks... I hope!
Food cravings: Nope. I've satisfied most of my, "I want it cause I can't get it in St. Kitts," cravings, but still no weird preggo cravings. I just feel hungry constantly.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing food wise, but warm/hot showers make me feel light headed and queasy. yay for cold showers... 
Have you started to show yet: Well, my cousins, Chris and Mikey, introduced me to their friends this weekend by saying, "This is my cousin Stephanie. If you are wondering why she's fat, it's cause she's pregnant." 
Gender Prediction: I still think boy. Perhaps I'll take a poll to see what other people think. (I just realized I deleted this section last week somehow, so I just added it back!) 

Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, it's awesome to see how excited friends and family get because you're having a baby. 
Looking forward to: Having a bigger baby bump. I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like I look like a skinny chick who has a poochy belly. Also, I am dying to know the sex, so even though I have to stay in America til mid- June now, I am 99% sure I'll go back to the Rock knowing if Baby Seerley is a boy or girl!


PS- Allie L., and my very own brother, Zach have told me about Rock a Bye Baby- rock music turned into lullaby music. I think I found the perfect one for my little island baby!

15 weeks!

15 weeks down, 25 more to go! 

(Roughly)

Being in America has it's perks. For example, seeing a doctor who knows her sh*t. At my appt yesterday, my doctor, Dr. Simone, was reading over my records from St. Kitts. These "records" are basically handwritten notes on a 3 fold pamphlet. It says things like, "she's ok," "she lost 5 lbs," etc. As Dr. Simone was reading over the records, she furrows her brow and frowns. I asked if everything was alright, and that led to this exchange:

Dr. Simone- It looks like... Did, um, did your doctor test you for sickle cell?

Stephanie- I don't know. She told me she was running tests, but didn't say what tests. I asked, she just said "routine tests."

Dr. Simone- She didn't explain what tests she did on you? Ok... uh, is your doctor down there white?

Stephanie- Nope. Black.

Dr. Simone (who, by the way, is black)- So, let me get this straight. Your BLACK DOCTOR gave your white butt a test for sickle cell? Doesn't she know only BLACK people get that?! You aren't even remotely black!! AND It looks like she didn't test you for cystic fibrosis, which usually only affects white people! Are there any other doctors down there you can see?!

Ahh, so reassuring. Ha! Luckily, everything is going just fine (and yes, I got tested for CF).  I got to see a new sonogram image. The baby is much bigger, but... I am not posting the picture. I am really excited to have a baby, but I am am less excited to post creepy sonogram pictures where my baby's head looks like the jolly roger flag from a pirate ship.  The only thing that's not so great? I have to get a 20 week sonogram, in America. At some specialist. This itself is not really bad (it's just to make sure I am not high risk). However, given the cost of airline tickets between SK and USA, I might have to extend my time here in the states. Rob and I aren't sure what we will do, but we'll have to decide soon. Oy vey...

How far along? 15 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss:  I am up to 119. So, I gained 4 lbs that I lost back!
Maternity clothes? I did buy some shirts and a pair of linen pants. I didn't bring a ton of clothes home with me, so I've been taking advantage of them. They are super comfy!
Measurements: Waist- 28 Hips- 34
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Sleeping alright. Freddy, our cat, bites me everytime I move though...
Best moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time!
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? ROB! I hate being away from him, and I hate that he didn't get to hear the heartbeat with me :(
Movement: Nothing really. Every now and then I feel some pressure, and my tummy gets hard. I guess that is technically the baby moving, but it doesn't FEEL like moving yet.
Food cravings: Nothing still. I have been pigging out on food that I missed in St. Kitts, but no preg cravings.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No, not really. Which ROCKS!
Have you started to show yet: Depends on who you ask. Depends on what I'm weaing. Depends on when I last ate.

Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! But I really miss Rob
Looking forward to: Seeing Rob again! Oh, and finding out the sex. It was still too early to find out yesterday.

14 Weeks

Yesterday marked 14 weeks along in our pregnancy. I'm a day late in posting because my aunt and uncle, Thalia and Paul, have been visiting from New Jersey.  I am headed back to the states with them on Friday; I'll be in the US for three weeks for a wedding, a graduation, and some good ol' American medicine! My doctor here is nice, but she's Cuban, English is not her first language, and she may or may not be a commie. Ok, fine. She's not a communist, but after reading the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" (thank you Patty H. from NJ for sending it to me!) chapters on your first, second, and third prenatal visits, that my doctor here hasn't covered... um, well, she hasn't covered anything they mentioned in the book. All I know is she takes my weight, my blood pressure, and presses on my tummy, and tells me to eat more.

How far along? 14 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss:  So..., I lost 5 more pounds. As of last Thursday, I weighed 115 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? Despite being 8 lbs lighter than I was before I was preg, my shorts are pretty snug. BUT! They still fit.
Measurements: Not sure- Rob cleaned the house this week, and I have no idea where he put the tape measure. If I can find it, I will be sure to update this post.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Eh, ok I guess.
Best moment this week: Not feeling as sick! I think the morning sickness might finally be passing.
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? With my aunt and uncle here I kinda wish I could be sipping cocktails with them. Oh well.
Movement: Not yet.
Food cravings: Still not craving anything particular. I do plan on stuffing my face with pizza when I get home, but mostly cause I am severely (good) pizza deprived.
Anything making you queasy or sick: The heat! Today was awful, I hadn't felt sick in a few days, but it was insanely hot today. I was fairly certain I was going to die.
Have you started to show yet: Still undecided. My belly sticks out after I eat, more so than usual, and sometimes when I am sitting down my belly looks kind of chubby. When I am standing, I look regular.

Gender prediction: Still feeling like it's a boy. Although, a lot of friends and family are thinking girl.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. I'm still not feeling back to my old self yet, but pretty close.
Looking forward to: Seeing my doctor in America on Monday! Yay for American medicine! 

Baby Seerley: 13 weeks along!

If you haven't already heard the good news, Rob and I are expecting our first baby! Our due date is November 7th, and as of today, I am 13 weeks along! I created this blog so we can share our first pregnancy adventures with all of our family and friends.

How far along? 13 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Between my first and second appointments I lost weight, about three pounds from 123 to 120. My next appt is Thursday, so we'll see if I've packed any weight on this time, or if the morning (all day) sickness is still keeping the weight off.
Maternity clothes? Nope. Still fit into all my clothes.
Measurements: Waist 26 inches. Hips 35 inches.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: I was sleeping great at first, but now I'm restless and wake up a couple times each night. Also, I've had crazy dreams since the start!
Best moment this week: Hmm..being able to sleep alot
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? I miss NOT feeling sick and dizzy all the time! Ha! 
Movement: Nothing. Although, about three weeks ago I felt some fluttery, bubbly sensations. According to various online preg blogs this could have been what's called quickening... or gas. 
Food cravings: Feeling nauseous all the time makes everything seem kinda gross. I wish I wanted to eat anything without getting queasy, I feel like an anorexic girl force feeding myself lately. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: See above! 
Have you started to show yet: Maybe? My clothes still fit, but my shorts are starting to feel a little tight.

Gender prediction: I think it's going to be a boy. Rob refuses to guess. Hopefully we will be able to find out when I visit my doctor in the states.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody... mostly cause I'm still feeling cruddy a lot. (come on 2nd trimester! Kick this morning sickness in the butt!!)!
Looking forward to: feeling better (soon, please!), and hopefully finding out the gender in a few weeks!