9 weeks not a secret anymore

Happy Father's Day to one awesome daddy.


You're going to love him, little one. And he will love you.

Obligatory bump pic. Everyone is surprised and excited that you're joining the world!

19w 2d weight

Here's the whale-tastic 19 week belly comparison:


I consulted the American Pregnancy Association to learn a little more about healthy pregnancy weight gain, because every morning when I step on the scale I get a larger number than the day before, and I'm starting to get worried.

I was a "normal" weight before getting pregnant, but close to underweight for my height. The recommended total weight gain for me is 25 - 37 pounds.

In the first trimester I was supposed to gain 3 - 5 pounds, and I really didn't gain anything. In the second and third trimesters, I am supposed to be gaining 1 - 2 pounds per week. Instead, I'm starting to see a pound per day (yikes).

Going by the instructions above, the maximum I should've gained by now is about 11 pounds, which is exactly what I've gained. So it's definitely time to slow down now, if I want to gain only a pound per week from here on out.

Easier said than done, hmm? Maybe it's time I go back to my old friend, caloriecount.about.com.

In a nostalgic mood, I added Debbie Gibson to my iPod this morning. Here's "We Could Be Together." The pic used in this YouTube clip is priceless '80s.

I'll give up my security
For just the possibility
That we could be together
For a while
If you said, "Jump"
I'd say, "How high?"
If you said, "Run"
I'd run and fly
Just for the chance
Just for the moment
Should the moment pass us by
And if you ask once
I'll tell you twice
I'll ignore the world's advice
If we could be together
For a while

15w 4d reason

Once everyone is in the "know" about Baby Schultz, we may be asked why we waited so long to go public.

The first and main answer is that we were, and still are, scared. Every day, I think about my baby and wonder if it's okay or if it's not going to make it to term. I don't know if we'll ever completely get over the abrupt end to our shortlived first pregnancy. I still, in the back of my mind, think of this baby as "Baby Schultz No. 2."

I realize this climate of fear is just beginning. They say a mother never stops worrying about her children. I guess Andy and I may simply be starting a little early in our worrying.

Our parents have been eager for grandchildren, and I imagine it would be just as painful for them as for us if something were to go wrong with the pregnancy. So we've been waiting for your own good. (There, do I sound like a parent?)

The second answer, far less significant but still a factor to me, was I didn't want to steal anyone's thunder. We aren't the only excited pregnant couple in the family. I certainly haven't been in need of a spotlight, shy as I am.

The third answer is that Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of the year. The weeks leading up to the holiday are special to me, and were made even more so the year that Andy proposed to me on Christmas Eve. Similarly, I wanted this announcement to coincide with the season.

Okay, here's the 15-week belly comparison. Remember, baby is 4.5 inches from crown to rump right about now... this isn't (just) from eating too many Christmas cookies. I think I only look this huge at night.


Unless something significant occurs in the coming days, the next post will probably be the "introduction" for the Baby Schultz blog's new audience! Wish us luck for our big announcement weekend. It feels a little like stepping out onto a big empty stage, only much more pleasant. Deep breaths...

P.S. I ate all the remaining Rice Krispie Treats in the house. Don't judge me. I'm just the vessel.

[Return to introduction post.]

14w 3d* heartbeat

This post has an asterisk because my "weeks/days" label has changed again. Although the doctor says my due date is still May 31, 2010, she claims that today I am 14 weeks and 3 days pregnant. So... we'll have 15 weeks behind us on Saturday rather than Monday.

Here is the 14 weeks (and 2 days...) belly comparison:

All went well at the doctor appointment. Blood pressure is 96/48. It seems falling in pregnancy is pretty common and my body is pretty well equipped to protect Baby Schultz. I never thought I'd be so thankful for these hips and butt.

We heard the heartbeat today (you can try listening to the video below -- you'll have to turn the volume up as it is a recording of a recording). It was fast and loud and healthy. Every time I think of it, I'm reminded that this person is alive inside me. Could there be anything more exciting?

I suspect Andy thinks his new iPod Touch is more exciting, but I'll give him a break. He said he'll finally be excited (as excited as I am) about the baby when it is "out."

Does he realize that's potentially only 25 weeks away? That we're 3/8 of the way there? Every day that passes we get closer to meeting our child!

According to the doctor, we'll have the big diagnostic ultrasound during the second week in January, and that's also about when the baby will begin hearing.

Just so everyone is clear on this... We ARE finding out the gender, but we are NOT sharing it with anyone else! Please don't be angry! We just want something that's "ours," at least until Baby Schultz's big arrival.

[Return to introduction post.]