What's in a Name?

A lot. Several people have asked how we came up with the name Zoe Alexis. As Trevor and I were brainstorming names, it was important to us to choose a name that not only sounded nice, but that meant something that we'd want to impart on our child. Trevor and I are Christians and we know the importance of a name. I won't get preachy, but throughout the Bible people were named for very specific reasons and those names shaped their personality and destiny. Knowing this shaped our philosophy for selecting a name.

With that said, Zoe means "life" in the Greek. Zoe has been translated further to mean the abundant life or the God-given life. Essentially, Zoe means the life of God. That's what we want for her. We want His life to be evident in her and all the people she will encounter during her lifetime. Alexis means "defender" in the Greek. This signified strength to us, and we want our angel to be strong and to stand for something.

So there you have it. That's what's in a name!

Do You Believe in Angels?

I do, and I always have. It's often been debated whether angels have a gender. While I don't know the theological answer to this question, I know that the angel growing inside of me definitely has a gender. Today Trevor and I found out that our little angel is a...........girl!!!! We are so thrilled!!! Trevor has been predicting that we're having girl for over a week now. He was right.

So, not only is our angel a little girl. Our angel also has a name. Zoe Alexis! A perfect name for our perfect little angel!

Boy or Girl? THAT is the Question!

After mulling it over, Trevor and I are certain that we want to know Baby D's gender. While the idea of being surprised on Baby D's birthday would be great, we just can't hold out that long. We want to know for practical reasons, primarily nursery planning. We also want to begin bonding with Baby D in a very special way by referring to him/her by his/her name in the womb. But more importantly, we want to know because we just want to know! I'm the same girl that used to sneak and open her Christmas presents and then tape them shut again when I was a little girl. (Sorry, Mom!) Clearly, curiosity always gets the best of me. If I could figure out a way to conduct (and interpret) my own ultrasound, I'd be slathering on the jelly and rubbing my belly with the probe right now!

While we both want a healthy baby (who doesn't?!), I really want a girl, and Trevor really wants a boy; however, I think I want a girl more than Trevor wants a boy. Regardless, one of us will get what we want.

This Friday we are having a second trimester screening done. It is similar to the first trimester screening, however, the doctor can see more of Baby D's anatomy and can check for things such as open spine defects and heart defects. We fully expect to be able to find out Baby D's gender as well. I can't wait!!!

19 Weeks!

Today marks 19 weeks! YAY!!! I'm still feeling pretty good, but I am starting to have minor aches and pains here and there. First, I'm still experiencing round ligament pain, but nothing like I experienced in San Francisco. I mainly feel it after I've been at rest for a long period of time and get up too suddenly. The solution is easy: get up slower. Second, my back is beginning to bother me. I experience back pain daily, but thankfully it doesn't last all day. I only experience the back pain when I've been sitting for long periods of time, particularly when I slouch. I can generally address the problem by sitting upright, but I am in the process of trying to order a back support cushion at work to improve my posture. Lesson: work on my core post-baby, and look into prenatal yoga.

Most exciting this week....I've officially popped! There's no hiding this belly. The people at work that know about Baby D have commented on my bump this week. One of my friends even shed some tears of joy when she saw my belly yesterday. It was so sweet. Those that don't know I'm pregnant give my stomach an uncomfortable and suspicious glare. Too funny!

Baby D this week: Baby D's arms and legs are in proportion to each other and his/her body. The kidneys are producing urine and hair is starting to sprout on the scalp! Baby D is undergoing sensory development this week as well. His/her brain is starting to designate specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. He/she can even hear mommy and daddy now. Last, a waxy coating called vernix caseosa, which is cheese-like in texture, is starting to coat Baby D to keep him/her from pruning up in the amniotic fluid. The vernix caseosa will shed before delivery. I tell you, I really don't know how people can deny there is a God because He really thought of everything!!! I've always known that, but this experience has me in awe!

Baby D weighs 8 1/2 ounces and is measuring 6 inches. About the size of a large mango:

Still Waiting....

...to feel Baby D move for the first time. I'm officially getting anxious! Last Wednesday night, while I was in bed, I felt two back-to-back flipping sensations in my stomach. I got really excited because I thought it was Baby D moving rather than gas because nothing followed those sensations....if you know what I mean. Anyway, I haven't felt anything since then, so maybe it wasn't the baby. Maybe it was gas after all???? Dunno. All I know is that I'm getting impatient, and I want to feel this baby move. According to the pregnancy books and websites, it can still take up to 3-5 more weeks until I feel movement since this is my first child. But on average, most women feel their baby move for the first time between 16-20 weeks. So I'm still in range. In a few weeks when Baby D starts boning up on his/her taekwondo skills I'm sure I'll long for this day again, but right now I'm just ready and anxious.

Come on Baby D, move for mommy!!!

18 Weeks!

Yesterday I started my 18th week of pregnancy/the start of my 5th month. I can't believe how fast things are moving, although February seems like an eternity from now. While Baby D is getting longer and longer every week, I'm amazed at how much the baby weighs. Only 5 ounces at this point. That just reinforces how much growing Baby D has to do.

Baby D this week: Baby D is filling out and moving like crazy, although I don't feel the movement yet. (I did feel a strange flutter in my stomach last night, but I don't know if that was Baby D or my dinner talking back.) Apparently this week Baby D has started yawning and hiccuping. Wow! And he/she has its fingerprints now. Baby D is approximately 5 1/2 inches long....about the size of a bell pepper:

Pretty crazy!

By the way---I "borrowed" the idea of posting photos to illustrate Baby D's size from another blog. I couldn't resist. I just wish I would've kept track of this before now. Oh well!

Footnote: After my second nosebleed I said that I'd stop mentioning them after the third, assuming there was a third. Well, there was a third. Yesterday. This is annoying. Perhaps if I stop talking about the nosebleeds they'll stop. Or not. (Peeking ahead to month 9 in "What to Expect When You're Expecting", nosebleeds are still listed as a symptom. Dang!) Oh well, the nosebleeds won't be mentioned again.

Second (and Final) Hospital Tour

On Sunday, Trevor and I toured the second hospital where Dr. S has labor and delivery privileges. We liked hospital #1, but weren't sure what we should be looking for in a hospital. Well, I guess you know it when you see it because we really liked hospital #2. I was surprised because hospital #2 is older and I trend towards liking newer, modern things and places, but hospital #2 exceeded my expectations. I can't put my finger on one special thing we liked, but it just felt right. Here are a few things we liked (in no particular order, just as I remember them):

1. A variety of postpartum rooms, especially the availability of suites. We "reserved" a two room, two bathroom suite, but there's no guarantee Baby D will make his/her debut on the requisite day. The likelihood of that happening is slim, so hopefully the suite will be available when I go into labor. Although I'll only be spending 48 hours of my life in the hospital, I appreciate the privacy the suite offers. If I'm breastfeeding Baby D while visitors are present, they can remain in the sitting area while I breastfeed in privacy in the bedroom. Also, if I'm trying to nap and Trevor is trying to watch TV, he can watch TV in the sitting area while I sleep in peace. A nice perk, and it isn't too expensive.

2. Well-stocked "nourishment centers." Hospital #1 only had a coffee/water bar. Hospital #1 has nourishment centers stocked with coffee, water, juice, soda and some food items. All complimentary.

3. Staff OB in the event of an emergency. Apparently there are only a handful of hospitals in the city that offer this service, and hospital #1 isn't one of them. Hospital #2 prides itself on their staff OB because there is someone on hand if a woman needs an emergency C-section or needs to deliver before her own doctor arrives.

4. Brand new nursery that will open later this month.

5. Very impressive neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Hospital #2 has one of the most respected NICUs in the area. We hope Baby D won't have to visit the NICU, but we were impressed with what we heard about hospital #2's NICU and know that Baby D will be in good hands if a NICU stay/visit is necessary.

6. Lactation consultants on staff daily from 8am-5pm. While hospital #2 has lactation consultants, their availability isn't as good. Since I want to breastfeed, I'm glad there will be plenty of support on hand.

7. Dining on demand, and a fancy celebratory dinner for mom and dad. The celebratory dinner can be eaten at anytime from check-in to check-out. Parents' choice. I think this is a nice touch.

We're happy to have something else off our "to do" list.