28 Weeks - Nov. 30

Updated Belly Pics!

Buffalo Shower

We celebrated Baby P over Thanksgiving with a shower in Buffalo on Nov. 27 hosted by Aunt Sue. Over 30 Papaj relatives and family attended including my best friend Kristen! It was really special because Jason's grandmother was able to join us. Here are some pics!

Baby P is Growing!

He is weighing in at an estimated 2.5 lbs and has found his way up under my rib cage! Will post updated belly pics, Buffalo shower pics and room pics this week!

Pregnancy Brain

Instead of this is your brain on drugs - they should say this is your brain on pregnancy.

I can no longer multitask and it is killing me! Well, I can't multitask like Natalie ie more than two things at a time are not happening, which is so hard since we all know I am usually doing about 10 things at once!

So, yesterday I was on my way from my hair appt and on speakerphone with a colleague. I came to a STOP sign and stopped my car. After about a minute I busted out laughing. I hadn't moved and was waiting for the light to change!!!! Maybe the blonde hair also has something to do with it?!?!

Buy Buy Baby!

To all my friends looking for registry advice - I highly recommend Buy Buy Baby! I wish they had more locations because it is an awesome store and even better to experience in person versus online. We are fortunate to have two within an hour from our house.

Top 5 reasons why it is better than any other baby store:

1. It is owned by Bed Bath and Beyond so they accept your non-expired Bed Bath and Beyond coupons
2. They have an extensive brand selection including top tier down to standard baby brands
3. Their sales associates are very versed on all their products and helpful with comparing one product vs another or making a decision on what you need
4. Inventory was better than other baby stores we visited
5. Prices were comparable to Babies R Us which had far less inventory and overall selection

Complaint

OMG! This pregnancy has been really great so far and if this is my biggest complaint then I guess I have it easy, but it is driving me crazy. I get up every 2 hours in the night to pee - I mean how much can my bladder really be holding and where is it coming from?!?!?

I am still convinced we may be doomed when Peanut makes his appearance since he has made it so easy for me so far. Fingers crossed he is a good baby and nothing like either one of his parents!

Painting Fun

Auntie Al and Daddy painting Peanut's room. Slowly but surely it's coming together!

The Name Game

So, we don't intend to commit to Peanut's name until we actually see him, but want your input as well. Most of the names we have on our list have been come to us in conversation with friends/family.

Seriously, don't let GrandMo name this baby - if only you could hear her favorites!!!

We all know who will have final say in this game - but please send us your suggestions :)

Peanut's New Threads

Josie sent her boyfriend some new threads from Baby Gap! She wants to make sure he is stylin enough for her ruffle butts!

Peanut's Furniture

Peanut's crib and dresser by Ragazzi. Only his will be finished in espresso not white. We went to Richmond with Grandma and Grandpa Papaj to buy the furniture. It should be in around Christmas time. We can't wait to see it in his nursery!

Nursery Theme

My inspiration for Baby P's Room. The fabric will be used in his quilt and to cover canvas for wall hangings. We plan to put up white paneling around the bottom part of the wall. The top part will be painted teal. The green capiz shells will hang over his crib in place of a mobile!

We hope Peanut enjoys his room as much as we have enjoyed putting it together!

Tonight we start painting!

First Kicks

Yesterday was the first day we could feel Peanut kick on the outside. For the past few weeks I have been able to feel him flutter around inside. Now, he is definitely practicing his penalty kicks with all his power, and if you are patient you can feel it when you put your hand on my belly!

He is most active in the mornings and late at night - go figure!

21 Weeks Growing Strong

Peanut is growing strong. Along with his goods, he also flashed a smile for his pic. Jason said his face is smooshed in the photo! He was very active during the sono and we saw him kick and move his arms. Every time we have seen him he has had his arms up behind his head. Either he is cheering for a WVU touchdown or is laid back and kicking it!

Dad's response when he found out it was a boy - "Natalie, I am sure you have had plenty of experience handling wieners - you will be just fine." Peanut, he sure does love your Mom!

Mom's response - "I still get to be queen of the house! Jason, you wallet is lucky it isn't a girl."

Friends responses - "OMG, you have a penis growing inside of you!"
"Jason must be relieved."
"Tell J I expect him to teach this one how to stand and pee!!!"

Oh Peanut, without a doubt you will be loved and surrounded with lots of good humor!

Introducing Mr. Peanut

We had our 21 week sono on October 14 and Mr. Peanut was far from being shy...it's a Boy!

We are so excited. Mr. Peanut will be the first grandson on my parents side aka - the favorite grandson :) I still get to be queen of the house surrounded by all my boys!

Peanut is looking healthy weighing in at almost a pound. He is very active moving all around and kicking - must be a soccer player in the making!

19 Weeks!

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I know you are waiting - here is your first look at Baby P! Can't wait to figure out what you are on Oct. 14. What is your vote - boy or girl?

Grapes at 2 AM?!

Baby P loves some grapes so much so that I woke up hungry in the middle of the night and ventured to the kitchen for some. I don't think I have gotten out of bed for food since my college days and I am sure it was a more sobering experience! Once Baby P got his fill he let me go back to bed, thank god!

Girls are so fun to shop for!

I have always said I wanted a boy first, but there is so much fun stuff to buy for girls! All we really want is a healthy baby and will be excited no matter boy or girl, but if its a girl I already have so much stuff picked out...POOR JASON, literally!

Love this bib from Snuggles Of Love! And, think I will use that pattern to base the room off of. Maybe paint the walls that green color and use this fabric for the valance, quilt and other accent pieces.

Love Love everything on Ruffle Butts! Definitely need a few pairs of those bloomers and who can resist the legwarmers, crawlers and tights! Also found some great headbands, Sissy Britches and shoes and on Etsy - HoneyandChild

Here are the pieces I will pull for inspiration for a girls room:

Images from Snuggles Of Love, Ruffle Butts, tamara tree designs, Scrappybitz

13 Weeks!

Hello second trimester! We had our monthly check-up this morning and everything went well. I wasn't too impressed with the Dr. we met with today, but I will give her the benefit of the doubt and blame it on the rainy weather and will see if I feel the same the next time I meet with her. Jason's said maybe it's me and not her - ha so true!

There are 4-6 doctors in our practice so we are trying to meet with all of them so when the time comes we aren't meeting them in the delivery room. Depending on the big arrival and which doctor is on call depends who we will get.

Although this Dr. was really pushing inducing that way I get to pick my doctor to deliver. I am not a big fan of this and felt like telling her right now the only way I would agree to be induced other than health reasons is not to have you in that delivery room!

Baby's heartbeat was in the 150's. Everything else was healthy and normal. Our next appt. is Sept. 16 and if baby cooperates we should know the sex on Oct. 14.

My mom says it's the only surprise in life that you get. My response, Mom, for 28 years we have celebrated Christmas together and not once did I ever not know what I was getting before I opened my presents - so why would this surprise you?! If I can know I have to know :)

Public Information

Ahhh! I think we, ha well I, called everyone we needed to tell in person. So relieved I do not feel like I have to call/tell another person our news and I can't believe we managed to control the message on Facebook! So, share away, the more people you tell the less we have to!!!

We have our monthly Dr. appt in the morning and will keep you posted on any updates. So far no complaints, no sickness - just tired. Hopefully this doesn't mean we are in for it when he comes out. I sleep and eat all the time. My friend Jennie said I have a bump at least for once its not from alcohol! We will post "bump" pics soon - just for you Kristen :)

12 Weeks One Day!

Today we had our second sonogram for nuchal translucency screening, yes I had to google that to be sure I spelled it correctly.

It is a sono that screens for down syndrome and has to be done at the hospital because it is preformed by specialists. It isn't a required test and even though the results didn't matter one way or the other it was nice to at least know and because its always fun to see the baby and hear the heartbeat!

We got the results right away and everything looks great. They take measurements of the baby's spine, nasal bridge and other features. And then compile statistics based off your blood work and images on the risk of down syndrome present. We were 1 in 10,000 which is the best you can be. Hopefully we continue this healthy track record!

It is amazing at how far developed the baby is. At only 5 cm. we can see arms and legs moving around. Baby was kicked back and relaxed had his feet up in the air with ankles crossed looked like he was laying in a hammock. We expected to see a beer and a remote in his hand, but clearly he is waiting for WVU kickoff!

There was a small chance to see the sex but the doctor said the baby needed to be one more week older to tell. So needless to say Jason thinks its a girl because of course his son would be showing already! We will have to wait until October to know if we can paint the room green or purple. Hopefully he won't be stubborn and make us wait until Feb. (the best month to be born right Cas?!) - we all know I can't handle that!

Heartbeat was 170 beats per minute. Five beats slower than our first sonogram in July. Heart rate will continue to decrease over the months ahead and should be around 120 when born.

Archer to Thank

Baby P is going to either love or hate Auntie Ashley as she was insistent on this baby blog. We are convinced she wants to live through the trials and tribulations of our pregnancy before she finally gives into Drew. We all know she has a deep love for children and can't wait to meet baby P and change his (no I am not convinced its a boy, but all my books refer to baby as he...get over it Jason!) diaper and wipe his baby spit.

Choppy Choppy!