Since Bean hasn't shown any signs of heading our way anytime soon (despite Monique's premonition that he would arrive on the 11th), Sharon was back at the doctor again this afternoon.
Once again, Bean looked comfy cozy on the ultrasound. He was moving around quite a bit, had a good strong heartbeat, and plenty of fluid to be swimming around in. He is definitely in position for birth, but even the ultrasound technician doesn't think he's in any kind of hurry.
After the ultrasound, when Sharon saw Dr. Pingeton her blood pressure was elevated again. They hooked her back up to the NST Monitor and we watched and waited for Bean to start moving and grooving again. Apparently he had fallen asleep and the printout wasn't looking as good as they would have hoped.
So, the combination of not-so-active baby, high blood pressure and being past due is enough to justify another trip to the hospital. Great. Dr. Pingeton even made mention of a possible induction if things didn't look different on the hospital monitors. Like it or not Bean, you might be coming soon.
The Wait is the Hardest Part
November 10, 2008
Even if we didn't expect Bean to come early (or even on time for that matter), waiting for him these extra two days has been excrutiatingly hard. I'm sure he's all nice and comfy in there, but his Moms are getting very impatient. Hopefully things will start moving along and maybe we'll get some good news at Sharon's next doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon. Better still, maybe we won't even make it there...
Bean's Due Date
November 8, 2008
Today is our little Bean's due date, but it doesn't look like he is going to be very punctual. It looks like the majority of those of you who took our poll were wrong. Forty-eight percent of the votes on our poll were for Bean to arrive early, and fourteen percent were for him to arrive on his due date. It looks like the other thirty-eight percent are right and he is going to be late.
Today we slept in a little, a luxury we know we won't have for long. We spent the afternoon trying to get some early Christmas shopping done. We needed to get out of the house and keep busy, because we are starting to get restless waiting to become mommies. The phone has been ringing off the hook here. Everyone seems to be as excited and anxious as we are for Bean to make his arrival.
A Test Run to the Hospital, Part Deux
November 6, 2008
Today Sharon had another OB appointment. This week the ultrasound technician estimated Bean at 7 1/2 pounds, and he is still looking cute, although you'll have to take our word because we didn't get any photos this week.
The doctor checked Sharon out, and her blood pressure was great and she was 1cm dilated, so things are progressing even if it is slow.
Sharon saw a different doctor today, one that is covering for her regular doctor. Neither on of us liked the new doctor at all. She was unclear, and didn't explain things well, and she wasn't friendly at all. We were uspet that she scheduled Sharon for an induction for Nov. 17th without telling us she was going to do that. So, hopefully Bean will come before then. If not we guess we know when he'll be here.
The other thing that they decided to do was to hook Sharon up to a monitor that measures the baby's heart rate, and measures contractions. The monitor showed that Sharon was having weak contractions, and the baby's heart rate looked mostly good, but it seemed to speed up and then drop slightly after he moved. This made the doctor want to have Sharon monitored a little longer to make sure the baby was doing well. So she sent us to the hospital to have Sharon monitored for an hour.
So, we had a test run to the maternity ward tonight. After Sharon registered, they took her into her own room, and a friendly nurse hooked her up to the same kind of monitor. While she was waiting for a doctor to check her, we watched an episode of Law and Order and Oprah. Two and a half hours later we were told that they weren't sure why we were there, the baby looks great, and that we were free to go.
It was a very exhausting and eventful day. We are happy to know that Bean looked good after his extensive monitoring. We are hoping that he will decide to come soon, so we don't have to keep the next appointment with the new doctor and so Sharon won't have to be induced.
9 Months Pregnant
November 2, 2008
Today marks Sharon's 9th month of pregnancy, and Jacqui insisted on taking a photo of Sharon to mark the occasion. There is less than a week until Sharon's due date. She will be spending this week leading up to her due date relaxing on the couch, taking long baths, eating the pumpkin apple muffins that Diane made for her, and watching election coverage. Jacqui will spend this week at work, pretending like she is focused on her experiments, but really waiting for her phone to ring.
One More Week!
November 1, 2008
We can't believe that it's already November and that Bean will be here so soon. His due date is a week from today, and while that might not mean he'll make his debut by then, it shouldn't be too much longer. We're both getting pretty anxious with waiting already, so hopefully Bean will cooperate and arrive sooner rather than later.
Happy Halloween
October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
Sharon was tired tonight, and had had enough Trick-or-Treating with her kids at work, so Jacqui handed out the candy. We got a ton of Trick-or-Treaters. We didn't get rid of all our candy, but we must have had at least 75 kids come by the house. Our neighborhood seems to be a really popular neighborhood at Halloween. This was our last Halloween before Bean, and we can't wait until Bean is old enough for us to dress him up, and to bring him out Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood.
Sharon's Last Day of Work
October 31, 2008
Today was Sharon's last day of work before her maternity leave. Some people at work had been trying to convince her to work a little longer, but she was more than ready to get a break from work, and to get some rest before Bean gets here.
Since it was Halloween, it was a less structured day at work. They brought the kids trick-or-treating in the office park near school, and they had a Halloween party. The kids had fun and there were no problems, so it was a good day to go out on.
Sharon will probably be returning to work in February when Bean is about 3 months old. She is looking forward to her time home with him, and to the time she will have to herself now before he comes.
39 Week Check-up
October 30, 2008
Sharon had her 39 week pre-natal check-up today. She had another of her weekly ultrasounds to check that Bean was still happy and comfortable. Every thing looked great. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures to take home this week.
Sharon had had a less stressful day at work today, and not surprisingly her blood pressure was good today. The nurse put her on an external fetal heart rate monitor, and Bean checked out good with a steady heart rate of 130bpm.
Sharon also got the results of her Group B Strep test, and it came back positive. It isn't a big deal. It just means that she will have to get antibiotics while in labor, and will have to be more careful if her water brakes before going into labor.
We also found out that Sharon's OB is adopting a baby....soon. She is getting him on Sunday, which means that she won't be the one seeing Sharon during her next few appointments, and she will be even less likely to deliver the baby. It is a little disappointing since we liked her so much, but we are excited for her, and are sure that the doctor we see for the next appointment will be fine. Sharon has another appointment scheduled for next Thursday (if she needs it).
Two Weeks Left!
October 25, 2008
As of today there are only two weeks left until Bean's due date, and Sharon only has one week left of work before she goes on maternity leave.
Other than pack a bag for the hospital, we've got nothing left to do but wait. So, today we are going to go visit Merry and Evan at their new apartment in Northampton. It actually isn't so new, but we haven't made it there yet, and we want to visit before Bean gets here. It should be nice to see Merry and Evan, and to get out of the house and keep busy.
38 Week Check-up
October 24, 2008
Today Sharon had another appointment with Dr. Deldon and another ultrasound. This week's ultrasound went great. The technician estimated Bean's size at 6lb 12oz, exactly 1lb more today than he was two weeks ago. Which is perfect because babies are supposed to gain about 1/2lb per week at this point. And this was also perfect, because Bean measured in the 50th percentile.
When the technician focused in on Bean's little face, we saw that he was practicing sucking motions. Every 30 seconds or so, he would make cute little sucking movements with his lips and tongue. The image was so clear, and it was obvious what he was doing. And it was completely adorable. We wish we had a video of it to show you all. The photo this week is a freeze frame of him sucking, so we can remember how fun it was watching him on the screen. See if you can make out his mouth and nose in the ultrasound photo.
Sharon's appointment went well, too. Her blood pressure was a little elevated, but she had just come from a particularly stressful day at work. The doctor wasn't too worried, but decided to do a few blood tests to rule out preeclampsia. Sharon also got a flu shot today to protect herself and the Bean this flu season, and Jacqui is hoping to get one at work in a week and a half. Sharon is still not dialated yet, so we don't think he is coming too soon.
Jacqui's Surprise Shower
October 23, 2008
All day today Jacqui had been complaining about the meeting that her boss had scheduled with her at a most inconvenient time. He had sent her an email telling her that she had to meet him and another faculty member at 1pm in the conference room. This meeting was going to be right in the middle of an experiment that Jacqui was helping some co-workers with. Needless to say she was pretty annoyed. But, she prepared for the meeting anyway, and they put the experiment on hold.
Well, when Jacqui got to the meeting she found out that it wasn't a meeting at all, but a potluck lunch and baby shower! She was completely shocked, and turned the color of a tomato. She was very embarassed, but at the same time feeling very special that everyone at work was so wonderfully supportive and generous to throw her a suprise shower. There was lots of delicious food, and many adorable and generous gifts. She even got a present and a surprise phone call later from Eloisa who left for Barcelona earlier this year. It was much more than she ever could have imagined, and she is grateful to the entire Microbiology department.
Jacqui feels so lucky to work with such a great group of people, and she can't thank them all enough for such a wonderful party. Except for the surprise part. She could have done without that.
37 Week Check-Up
October 16, 2008
Today we had another check-up. They did another ultrasound, and everything looked good. Bean was being his usual active self, and we saw him rolling, wiggling and chewing on his hand. This ultrasound technician agreed with the one from last week, and said he has a lot of hair. They didn't measure him, so we don't know exactly how much he has grown since last week, but everything is looking perfect.
Sharon is doing really well, too. Her blood pressure was good, and although she is still not dialated yet, she is starting to become effaced. The baby doesn't seem like he is coming very soon, but as of Saturday he is considered full term.
We got a few more pictures today that we have posted. They are a little hard to tell what you are looking at and they aren't the 3D kind, but we are happy to have these mementos. We have another appointment scheduled for next Friday, so more photos in a week.
Westborough Baby Shower
October 12, 2008
Today Jacqui's mom threw us another baby shower for our friends and family in Massachusetts. It was so nice to share the day with our friends and family. Lori was nice enough to pick Sharon's mom up in White Plains on her way to the shower. It meant a lot to us that they made the trip. We also got to see Jacqui's aunts and her cousins who we hadn't seen in a long time.
Jacqui's friend Amanda had offered to make the cake for the shower, and really outdid herself with a fantastic and delicious rubber ducky cake.
Jacqui's mom, with help from Aunt Donna and Merry, did a great job organizing the party and the games. And our friends and family were very generous with their gifts for Bean. He received many homemade blankets and sweaters, and LOTS of clothes and toys. Bean even got shares of Disney stock from his Grammy. Everyone was so generous that we really don't need to buy anything else.
We had a wonderful day. Thanks to everyone for helping us celebrate!
36 Week Ultrasound
October 10, 2008
Today Sharon had yet another doctor's appointment. They are going to be frequent now. In fact, from now until the baby gets here, she will have an appointment and ultrasound every week. This week Sharon actually lost a half pound, and her blood pressure was lower this week than it was last week, so she felt a lot better about that. The doctor confirmed her suspicions that the baby has dropped already! But she isn't dialating yet, so we probably still have some time before he gets here.
During the ultrasound we got our first hints at how big our Bean is growing. He was estimated to be 5 pounds 12 ounces! He is in the 48th percentile now, so he isn't too big or too small. The technician assured Sharon that he won't be a 10 pound baby, and said that if she had to guess he would gain about 2 more pounds. We also got two new photos of Bean. He is looking right at the camera in both of them. Hopefully next week we can get a 3D photo of him, but today he had his hand up near his face and she couldn't get a good profile shot. And if you were wondering, we did have her check and make sure Bean isn't actually a Beanette. He's definitely a boy!
The Polls are Open
October 8, 2008
As you know Bean's moms are news junkies, and have been following the Presidental debates and the polls very closely. Since we have to wait a little longer to vote for the next President, and seeing as we are just a month away from Baby Bean's due date, let's all cast our ballots in Bean's new polls. Check out our Poll/Quiz page and cast your votes!
One Month Left!
October 8, 2008
We are finally in the home stretch. Only one month left before Bean's due date. There is not much time left, and luckily there isn't that much left to be done.
Sharon is starting to get anxious to have the baby already, as she continues to have trouble sleeping and is making more frequent trips to the bathroom. She also thinks that Bean is starting to run out of room, and doesn't seem to have room to kick much anymore.
Hopefully this month will fly by, because we can't wait to meet him!
Happy Birthday, Mommy!
October 7, 2008
Today was Jacqui's 28th birthday and she has been celebrating ever since the weekend with lots of chocolate cake. She is excited about the gift that she got from her parents (a fancy new camera), and can't wait to use it to take hundreds of photos of Bean when he gets here. She also got a book and DVD on Baby Sign Language from Monique, and she can't wait to get to use that, too!
Jacqui wanted to spend her birthday at home, so Sharon cooked her a nice dinner. Dinner was followed by some chocolate cake, and a game of Mario Party for Wii. Jacqui won with six stars to Sharon's one star (if you were wondering).
Make Way for Baby
October 6, 2008
Today we had another class to prepare us for Bean's arrival. This class was called "Make Way for Baby," and taught us how hold a baby, change diapers, and bathe baby. Jacqui has had next to no experience with babies, so she practiced holding the baby doll and changing it's diaper. We watched a great video that showed babies shortly after birth. We were both surprised to see how even newborns can copy their parents' facial expressions and instictively find their mother's breast. This was the last of our classes, so in theory we are now ready to be parents. And if we aren't ready we at least know how to give a doll a bath.
35 (almost) Week Appointment
October 3, 2008
Today Sharon had her 35 week appointment with her doctor. Everything looked pretty good, but Sharon's blood pressure was a little high. Dr. Deldon didn't seem too worried though. We didn't have too many questions this week, but we did ask her if she thought the baby would be head down yet, and she checked for us, and he is already getting into position!
We have another appointment scheduled a week from today. At that appointment they are going to do another ultrasound to make sure the baby and placenta are looking good. From now on Sharon will have an appointment every week. She didn't realize how much work she would have to miss leading up to the baby, but it is worth it to be reassured that everything is going well.
8 Months Pregnant
October 2, 2008
Today Sharon is officially 8 months pregnant. Now is when Jacqui is starting to go into panic mode. There is only a little over a month for the moms to get ready, and less than a month before Sharon stops working. Scary, but exciting!
Infant CPR Class
September 29, 2008
When Jacqui got home from work tonight, Sharon was already laying on the couch. Our infant CPR class was scheduled for tonight, but because Sharon looked so tired and was already certified in CPR, Jacqui decided to go by herself.
The class covered what to do if an infant needs CPR or is choking. It also covered some of the common hazards to babies that are in the home. Sharon would have been proud of Jacqui for gettin up in front of the class to practice CPR. She didn't really miss much though since she already knew infant CPR and the safety stuff was really common sense.
White Plains Baby Shower
September 28, 2008
Today Sharon's mom threw us a baby shower down in White Plains. Even though it is her least favorite color, Sharon's mom decorated the whole house in blue for our baby boy. She also made a wreath out of diapers, served powder blue punch, and had a cake made to look just like the invitations.
Sharon's whole family (well at least all the women) was there, all her NY friends, and even Jacqui's mom and sister made the trip. While the grandfathers-to-be escaped to the diner and a sports bar, the women ate and played baby shower games that were organized by Aunt Lori and Aunt Brenda.
We had a wonderful time, and Baby Bean received wonderful and generous gifts. We wish we got to see all the family and friends more often, and it is funny to think that the next time we will see most of those people will be after Bean has arrived. Thanks mom for the wonderful celebration!
Last Childbirth Class
September 23, 2008
We are now prepared for labor, or at least we have a certificate that says we are! Tonight was our final childbirth class. We really enjoyed the class, and we both got a lot out of it. We thought that it was pretty comprehensive, and especially liked that it was taught at the hospital where we plan to give birth. We got lots of specific information about how things work there, and we both feel a little more comfortable.
Tonight's class reviewed everything we learned so far and a few new things. We talked about what to bring to the hospital and practiced various labor positions. After practicing, Sharon is a little worried that Jacqui won't be able to support her weight in some of the more upright positions. Jacqui, being the superior support person that she is, has embarked on a new fitness routine to prepare for the many strenuous hours of labor. However, Sharon is doubtful that 6 weeks of sit-ups and push-ups will make much of a difference.
Countdown: 50 Days
September 18, 2008
Today marks 50 days until Bean's official due date. We've been working on lots of little projects trying to get things ready knowing that time is passing so quickly. In fact, we have been spending most all of our free time in Bean's nursery organizing, rearranging and imagining what it will be like for him to actually be here. The nesting has most certainly begun.
Hospital Tour
September 16, 2008
We had our second to last Childbirth Education class tonight. This was the week that we got to have a tour of the maternity ward. Unfortunately it was a short tour, but we did get a sense of what to expect when we arrive at the hospital. We found out where to park, which elevators to take, and where to check in. We also saw the birthing rooms and the postpartum rooms, both of which were private with their own bathrooms. Of course the highlight of the tour was seeing the babies in the nursery. We were both kind of surprised at how small the babies were, and it is hard to believe that our little Bean will be that small to start out.
After the tour we watched a video of a c-section. Neither one of us closed our eyes, but we both felt a little queasy after watching it. Jacqui has decided that if Sharon needs a c-section, she is NOT watching.
32-Week Check-Up
September 16, 2008
Today Sharon had another appointment with the OB. And again everything seems to be moving along perfectly. Her weight and blood pressure were both good, and Baby Bean's heartbeat was strong. They also measured her belly, which was also perfect at 32 centimeters.
The doctor mentioned, that because of Sharon's abnormal quad screen result earlier in the pregnancy, she wants to do another ultrasound in a month just to make sure everything looks ok. Hopefully everything will look normal, but another ultrasound means we will have one more sneak peak at Bean before he gets here!
Breastfeeding 101
September 15, 2008
Tonight we had our class about breastfeeding. It was run by one of the lactation consultants at the hospital. The class left us feeling more nervous about it, because it sounds challenging and frustrating at times. Also, Sharon is worried about being able to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. But, we know that there are a lot of benefits to breastfeeding, and Sharon really wants to do it, so she is going to give it a try.
More Nursery Furniture
September 13, 2008
Our friends Diane and Annette were nice enough to come over today with their big SUV to help us pick up our changing table and glider chair. They lugged the furniture upstairs for us and helped us assemble it all. We don't know how we would have done it without them. The furniture looks great, and the room looks almost finished now. Now all we need is the Bean. We posted another photo on the nursery page.
Bean's Bookshelf
September 11, 2008
We added a new page to the website today entitled "Bean's Bookshelf." We've kept up reading to Bean most every night before bed, and have started to amass a good sized children's literature collection. We posted a list of what we have for those of you who have been wondering what we're reading to Bean.
Forceps, Vacuum Suction and Epidurals...Oh My!
September 9, 2008
This week's childbirth class focused on interventions and medications used during labor and delivery. The instructor brought along all different kinds of medical instruments and equipment to show us and explained how each was used. Jacqui (being all sciencey) was interested in examining all the devices up close, but Sharon (being all squeamishy) decided it was better to keep her distance. We learned a lot, and definitely feel like we have a better idea of what to expect. Sharon is still hoping for a natural childbirth, but now we know a lot more about the different options (just in case).
Practice Contractions
September 8, 2008
While resting not so comfortably at home with a nasty cold, Sharon got to experience her first set of Braxton-Hicks contractions. Just like the pregnancy book mentioned this week, it's about time for these practice contractions to start. There were only 2 brief contractions, and they didn't hurt at all, but it sure caught Sharon by surprise.
Laundry
September 6, 2008
Today we decided that it was finally time to start taking tags off baby clothes and start getting them washed and ready for Bean. This also served as an excuse to look at all the cute baby clothes again! We spent the day washing all the clothes we had for 3-6mo or smaller. We of course used the baby safe laundry detergent, and now Bean's closet smells powder fresh!
Week 2 of Childbirth Ed.
September 2, 2008
Tonight we had our second childbirth education class. This week Sharon and Jacqui were a little less nervous, and Jacqui talked a little more than last week (which was easy, since she only said four words last week).
At the beginning of class they divided the group into "Moms" and "Support People." Each group had to come up with things that the support people could do to help mom during labor. Jacqui was the only non-dad support person, and she was forced to talk since the men didn't really have too many good suggestions. Meanwhile, on the "Mom" side, the other moms were jealous that Sharon had Jacqui, and thought that Sharon would be at a distinct advantage throughout the delivery process. This made Sharon happy, but Jacqui thinks that this just puts a lot of pressure on her to be a superior support person.
This week focused mostly on learning the different stages of labor, and what to expect during each one. And next week will focus on different types of medication and intervention.
7 Months Down
September 2, 2008
Seven months down, and a little more than two to go! And somehow Sharon is still not wearing maternity clothes. And she hasn't had any strange food cravings yet either! Jacqui will admit to being a little disappointed that Sharon has not had any cravings for ice cream sundaes in the middle of the night. She would have gladly helped satisfy that craving!
Wallpaper 101
August 30, 2008
We spent another afternoon working away in Bean's nursery today. Grandma and Grandpa Bixby (aka Grampykins), were over to help us put up the Alphabet Soup wallpaper border in the room. After a lot of prep work measuring and marking the walls, the wallpaper went up quickly and relatively easily thanks to Grandma and Grandpa's expertise. Jacqui learned the steps of the process and got involved too. It was a real group effort and the room looks terrific. The border and curtains that went up today make such a huge difference and give the room so much character. We love it and know that Bean will too.
Cake and Kickball
August 27, 2008
Sharon had a staff BBQ at work today and was surprised to find that it was a baby shower too. There were blue balloons and a banner, and Sharon even got to wear a "Mother to Be" sash. And then there was the delicious chocolate cake. Mmmm. She got lots of well wishes from co-workers in a card, a plaque to hang in the nursery, and a generous gift certificate to Babies 'R Us that will certainly come in handy.
The picnic was a lot of fun and Sharon and Bean even got in on a kickball game. While playing right field, Bean assisted in his first double-play. Yankee Stadium here we come!
Childbirth Education Class
August 26, 2008
Tonight we had the first of our five Childbirth Education classes at the hospital. Tonight's class focused on the anatomy and stages of labor, things that the support person can do to help mom, and on breathing techniques. We also watched videos of some births, and listened to a relaxation tape. Sharon did not like the relaxation exercise. She thought that it was a little too hippy-dippy, and it actually made her more tense. So, we will not be using thatrelaxation technique.
Sharon seems to have had an easier pregnancy that many of the other women in our class. Two of them have already had false labor. Of course, hearing this only makes Jacqui more nervous. Anyway, hopefully the classes will help us feel more prepared and not just give Jacqui more things to worry about.
Flashlight Tag
August 24, 2008
After reading in all our baby books that Bean might be sensitive to light by now, we decided to test it out with a game of Flashlight Tag. Last night after we got into bed and turned off the lights, Jacqui grabbed a flashlight and started shining it on Sharon's belly. At first we weren't sure if Bean was noticing at all, and then he kicked right in the same spot the light was shining. We moved the light to a new spot and he did it again. It was so much fun that Jacqui left the flashlight next to the bed.
Touch Up Work
August 23, 2008
Jacqui spent this Saturday morning doing some touch-up work in Bean's nursery. Dad had done a lot of work when he was up to visit at the end of July, but there was a little bit of fixing-up to do. Jacqui taped up the wall trim, dragged out the ladder and paint and got to work on some finishing touches to the paint job. It looks great now,and once it's dry we're planning on hanging up the border and starting to decorate.
Check out The Nursery link for more pictures as we keep working.
28 Week Check-Up
August 19, 2008
We were back at the doctor's office today for our monthly check-up, the first since Sharon began her third trimester. The doctor checked her vitals and things are still looking good - especially her blood pressure (120 / 80), and weight gain (she's only put on 12 pounds). She also had a glucose blood test done, and we are awaiting the results. Her belly was measured, and she's popped even more since her last visit. This time she measured in at 29 cm.
Bean's heartbeat sounded strong at 145 bpm. The doctor told us we should start doing kick counts, and Sharon should feel at least 10 movements in 2 hours. No worries there - Bean is far surpassing that number. He's one active little guy.
We have another appointment scheduled in 4 weeks, and then we'll begin seeing the doctor even more frequently as Bean's due date quickly approaches.
Baby Bean Answer Key (Part 3)
August 19, 2008
And now, the conclusion of the Baby Bean Quiz answer key...
Question 7: What was the first question Grandpa Marano (Sharon's grandfather) asked after Sharon told him she was pregnant?
Answer: How much did it cost? Now the truth is, Grandpa asked all of these questions at one time or another. But when he first said he had a question for us, we were afraid to hear what was going to come out of his mouth (he's not the most liberal guy we know). This question would never have crossed our minds, but it was the quintessential Grandpa question.
Question 8: What favorite children's book did Jacqui buy Sharon for Mother's Day?
Answer: Where the Wild Things Are Truly one of Sharon's favorites, it's become a frequent read before bedtime. The other books are great too, and thanks to some generous and thoughful people they have all made their way into our story book collection.
Question 9: What chore has Jacqui taken over since Sharon became pregnant?
Answer: All of the above That's right, Jacqui has taken on the tasks of shoveling snow, mowing the lawn and cleaning the litter box. Now with the exception of the litter box cleaning, these are all jobs that Sharon could do and would do, but Jacqui doesn't want to take any chances with this little Bean. She's even added some more chores to her list including: cleaning the bathrooms (nasty chemicals), taking out the trash (the heavy garage door), and carrying laundy hampers to the basement (all those treacherous steps). Now that's love.
Question 10: Who gave us our first baby present?
Answer: Lori & Brenda - "My Aunt Loves Me" bib Lori and Brenda are really excited to be aunts to Baby Bean. They were so excited that they gave us our first baby present as a wedding gift in March 2007.
So, that's the scoop. All the stories behind some of our favorite Baby Bean moments.
Baby Bean Answer Key (Part 2)
August 18, 2008
Alright, another day and another set of anwers to the Baby Bean Quiz...
Question 4: What was Sharon's snack of choice while suffering from morning sickness?
Answer: Microwave Popcorn Eating saltines every morning just didn't seem to be doing the trick when Sharon's bouts of morning sickness started. However, she did manage to get through it with a little help from Orville Redenbacher. As it turned out, microwave popcorn did a great job settling her stomach, and it tasted a whole lot better too. She ate it nearly every day, and traveled with it in the car to work and even to Buffalo.
Question 5: What is the most unusual place Sharon has thrown up since getting pregnant?
Answer: In a bathroom urinal Ahh, Sharon's finest hour. Her one and only time getting sick at work happened...in a bathroom urinal. Spending time in the boy's bathroom is one of Sharon's least favorite parts of her job at Crossroads School (surprise). On this particular occassion, Sharon was already feeling queesy, and having to spend time waiting on a student in the smelly boy's room was just enough to put her over the top. Fortunately, just Sharon and one of her non-verbal students were there at the time. Her secret was safe... until she started telling the story.
Question 6: Who does Nana Bixby (Jacqui's grandmother) hope the baby will look like?
Answer: Jacqui's Dad Nana shared this with us when we first told her that Sharon was pregnant. After first telling us that she didn't approve of the pregnancy (for the same reason we shouldn't get a dog - we're not home enough), she actually came around to the idea and seemed happy about it. She told us that she hoped we would have a boy, and that he would look like Peter (Jacqui's Dad). We smiled and nodded along, thanking her for the well wishes. It was only after approximately 45 min of small talk that she suddenly came to the realization that Bean was not going to look like Jacqui's Dad.
Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to the Baby Bean Quiz answer key.
Baby Bean Answer Key (Part 1)
August 17, 2008
For those of you who didn't score so well on our Baby Bean quiz, or are just curious about some of the answers here you go...
Question 1: How many pregnancy tests did Sharon take before she was convinced she was pregnant?
Answer: 3 Yup, that's right. Sharon peed on a stick 3 times before we decided it was time to call the doctor and get a blood test. The first test came back negative and obviously we were more than a little disappointed. Then when Sharon's period didn't come we tried again. This time the test looked kind of positive (with just a thin pink line) but we were afraid to celebrate just yet. A few days later we tried againand had a positive result.
Question 2: Who came up with the nickname "Baby Bean"?
Answer: Jacqui Jacqui had heard the term used on one of the pregnancy message boards that she frequents. She started using it after we first tried to get pregnant, hoping that we would be lucky enough to have a "sticky bean." When it turned out that we did get lucky that very first try, we decided to keep the nickname. We later found out that "Bean" was one of Monique's nicknames for Aunt Anne too. Coincidence?
Question 3: What was Sharon doing when she blurted out to her parents that she was pregnant?
Answer: Wii Bowling Sharon was complaining a little too much about feeling tired while we were Wii Bowling with her parents. When Mom asked "What, are you pregnant or something?" Sharon simply replied, "Actually, yes." And to think, we were agonizing over just how to tell them. Sometimes things just work out.
Check back for more answers tomorrow.
And the Winner is...
August 16, 2008
Well, the results are in for our Baby Bean quiz. Many of you have reported your scores back to us, and it looks like our winner is Sharon's friend Elizabeth. She came out with the highest score, a whopping 8 out of 10!
For those of you who didn't end up scoring so well, we decided we'd post an answer key and share some of the stories behind the questions. Be on the lookout for it later this week.
Head or Tail?
August 15, 2008
While lying in bed with my hand on my stomach last night, I felt something a little different. Instead of feeling a kick here or there (or here and there together on a particularly active night), I think I actually felt Bean's head for the first time. I guess my hand was in just the right spot as he turned around, and I definitely felt something big and round. So, it was either our little guy's head, or I squeezed his tush.
Missing Mommy
August 14, 2008
Bean and I have both been a bit restless lately with Jacqui being away. The house is so much quieter, and I'm sure Bean misses hearing his Mommy's voice and feeling her hands rubbing my belly. He hasn't had his nightly bedtime story, and neither one of us are sleeping very well. We can't wait until she gets back home on Saturday.
A Great Family Vacation
August 12, 2008
Well, my vacation has come and gone. Jacqui and I had a great time up in Maine with her family. Unfortunately I had to head home for work, but Jacqui will be staying the rest of the week.
Even though we only had a long weekend there together, we managed to squeeze in a lot. We really enjoyed canoeing on the lake, relaxing by the water, sitting around the fire, and stargazing one night. We played board games and card games, ping pong and pool. We were even the reigning Bocce champs for a little while before Uncle Val and Brian ultimately claimed the title.
It was a fantastic way to spend time with Jacqui's family and I hope that it is a tradition that continues. I'm sure Bean would have loved it!
Family Reunion
August 9, 2008
We are so excited to be heading out on vacation this week. We'll be renting a cottage on Christopher Lake up in Maine. The trip will be a family reunion of sorts with Jacqui's parents, Merry, Aunt Donna, Uncle Val and cousins all staying together.
We're really looking forward to what might be our last little vacation before Bean arrives this fall. We're hoping to have an active outdoorsy trip if the weather (and Sharon's growing belly) will cooperate.
Goodbye Papa
August 4, 2008
Today was a sad day for us and Bean. Jacqui's grandfather passed away early this morning after a long period of deteriorating health. We'll certainly miss Papa, and feel sorry that Bean will miss out on knowing his great-grandfather.
6 Months!
August 2, 2008
As of today, Sharon has been pregnant for half a year. Kinda crazy when you stop to think about it that way...
We spent the weekend down in White Plains with Sharon's family, who were surprised at how much more pregnant she looked in just a month's time. Sharon's Mom and Dad even got to feel Bean kicking for the first time.
And, just for the record, she still hasn't bought any maternity clothes.
Surprise Shower
August 1, 2008
On Friday night after work, Sharon was completely surprised to find out what she thought was just dinner with some good friends from work actually turned out to be a surprise baby shower. They even got Jacqui in on the plans and had her join in the festivities too.
Sharon's friends really outdid themselves and thought of everything. They made a centerpiece of rolled Disney diapers and decorated with baby boy ribbon and pacifiers. We had a delicious cheesy dinner and a chocolate cake decorated with an adorable teddy bear (probably Jacqui's favorite part of the evening). And, there's a hand crafted baby shower scrapbook in the works.
If that wasn't enough, Bean was completely spoiled with presents from everyone. His closet is full of new clothes, blankets, booties, bibs and toys. He even got some new books to add to his collection. Jacqui read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" at bedtime, and Bean really seemed to like it.
We can't thank everyone enough for such a great surprise and a fun evening. We are so lucky to have such incredibly thoughful (not to mention overly generous) friends. You guys are the best! Thank you all!
Grandpa at Work
July 31, 2008
While we've been busy at work, Sharon's Dad has been busy working in the nursery. The wallpaper came down, the walls were scraped and washed, and the new yellow paint is up. He even hung the curtain rods. The room looks great, and all we need to do is a little touch-up and hang the wallpaper border. It'll be ready for Bean in no time. Thanks for all the help Dad!
Oh, Happy Day!
July 30, 2008
It is hard to believe that there are only 100 more days until Sharon's due date! This pregnancy is going by so fast, and we are getting more excited everyday. We just can't wait to meet this little guy. We don't have to wait much longer!
Preparing Bean's New Room
July 27, 2008
Sharon's Dad is scheduled to arrive tomorrow night to help us start working on the nursery. Despite how much we love the teddy bears and fire engines that are already in the room, we've decided to start fresh. With a lot of help from Dad, we plan to strip the wallpaper, repaint the walls and hang a new border. A daunting task perhaps, but one the soon-to-be grandpa seems more than happy to help with. We'll be sure to post some pictures of the work in progress, and of course the finished product.
Sharon's 24 Week Check-Up
July 24, 2008
We were back at the doctor's office today for Sharon's 24 week appointment. Everything went really well and all of Sharon's vital statistics and test results were good. They checked Baby Bean's heart rate and it was 150bpm. And then for the first time they measured Sharon's belly with a tape measure. She came in at a perfect 24cm; 1cm for each week of pregnancy.
A Test Run to the Hospital
July 21-22, 2008
We got to test our route to UMASS Memorial Hospital on Monday night when Jacqui needed a trip to the emergency room for a very persistent nosebleed. Bad news, we spent over 4 hours there. Good news, we made it from the house to the hospital in under 15 minutes.
Jacqui Gets in on the Action
July 12, 2008
We were laying in the hammock this evening when Sharon felt the baby kicking again. As she often does, she put Jacqui's hand where the baby was kicking. And for the first time Jacqui felt Bean kicking, too!!! Jacqui felt Baby Bean kick about a dozen more times before we decided to go back inside. It was a very exciting evening!!!
Test Your Baby Bean Knowledge
July 10, 2008
With Sharon's pregnancy more than half over, it's time to take the Baby Bean Trivia Challenge! Don't think that you'll find all the answers here on the website. To do well you have to have been listening all along. Take our quiz in the Poll/Quiz section, and let us know how you scored.
We're Not Knitters
July 9, 2008
When Jacqui imagined having a baby, she always imagined knitting something. But, the baby is on his way and Jacqui still hasn't learned to knit. So, instead we will stick with what we do best..... Scrapbooking! We spent a lot of time and money at the craft store tonight picking out stickers and papers to make a baby book for Bean. We'll have to start working fast, because our craft room is going to be Bean's nursery soon.
5 Months Down, 4 to Go!
July 2, 2008
Today Sharon hit the 5 months pregnant mark. Bean is becoming more active, and Sharon is becoming more uncomfortable. Sharon's belly is definitely popping and there is a hint of a waddle in her step. All things considered, she is still feeling good and has yet to buy any maternity clothes.
Dinosaurs are Dino-Mite!
June 25, 2008
Ever since we found out we are expecting a baby boy, Jacqui has been on a shopping spree. We had to rush out right away to stock up on some gender specific clothes, instead of the neutral yellows and greens we have been picking up along the way from all the clearance racks we can find. The result of our shopping trip was a pile of incredibly cute (and tiny) t-shirts, polos, jeans, cargo pants, and sleepers. Sharon's favorites are definitely the track pants and sports t-shirts, and Jacqui is really into dinosaurs.
We're Having a Boy
June 23, 2008
We had our big 20 week ultrasound at the hospital today and were thrilled to find out that we are having a baby boy. So, it looks like most everyone (including us) guessed right. Jacqui has been saying all along that she knew it was going to be a boy. I think I did too.
Everything else we saw in the ultrasound seemed to be looking good, and Bean's growth was right on pace. He was pretty active during the test, and we got to see him moving around, stretching out, and even sucking his thumb. Too cute.
Now that we know (with 95% certainty) that we're having a baby boy we're going to start stocking up on boy things with trucks and dinosaurs.
Half Baked
June 21, 2008
Today Sharon is 20 weeks pregnant. It's hard to believe that we've made it to the halfway point. It has gone so fast! As you can tell from yesterday's entry and picture, things seem to be progressing right along.
We have our big doctor appointment next week where they will perform an anatomical survey ultrasound. They will check and see if everything is developing properly, and if Bean is on target for growth. Also, if Bean feels like cooperating, we'll get to find out if we're having a boy or girl. So, if you haven't voted in our poll, do it now. It might be your last chance to earn some bragging rights for a correct guess.
Baby Belly
June 20, 2008
Over the last 1 1/2 weeks, I have begun to feel like I'm starting to pop. Maybe other people have already noticed, but it seemed to come out of nowhere for me. Although my weight still hasn't really changed, it's definitely shifting toward my baby belly. I guess at 1 day short of 20 weeks it makes sense. Today it seemed particularly noticeable, and Jacqui insisted on taking a picture to document it.
Baby Names
June 18, 2008
Lately we've been getting a lot of questions about our baby name lists. We both really like longer, more traditional names that have lots of variations and nicknames. We haven't come to any decisions yet, but definitely have a few top choices. I guess once we know if Bean is going to be a boy or a girl we'll focus on narrowing down the list a bit.
In the meantime we've been having a lot of fun flipping through baby name books and playing with some name websites. Our two favorites websites are www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames and "The Name Voyager" at www.babynamewizard.com.
Dream a Little Dream of Bean
June 15, 2008
Last night Jacqui and Sharon both had dreams about Baby Bean. Jacqui dreamed that Bean was a girl and Sharon dreamed that Bean was a boy. Either way we will be happy. We can't wait to find out if Bean is a boy or a girl in a little over a week.
Bean Just Kicked Me
June 13, 2008
For the last few days Sharon has been feeling some funny sensations in her stomach. At first we weren't quite sure what it was - indigestion from too much cheese, perhaps? But since it hasn't gone away, and seems to be happening more and more, we're convinced that it's Baby Bean wiggling and squirming around in there. Bean seems pretty active, and the bubbling, pulsing feelings move around a lot. I think we're going to have our hands full...
So This is Where the Money is Gonna Go
June 12, 2008
As much as we would both like to be able to stay home with Baby Bean, we know that we will both have to keep working. We are just beginning the process of looking for a day care provider for Bean. Jacqui has sent out a few emails, and the tuition rates are starting to trickle in. So far we are hearing as much as $367/week!!! Yikes!!! We didn't think it would cost quite so much. But, we are sure that we will eventually find a good place that isn't as expensive as the mortgage.
The Power of Cheese
June 9, 2008
It's official, I'm definitely having cravings. Thankfully it's nothing too weird that requires late night trips to the supermarket or fast food restaurants. Nope, I'm craving cheese. In fact, right now we have 5 different kinds of cheese in our fridge. Well, at least calcium is good for a growing Baby Bean.
Baby Bixby?
June 7, 2008
Several people have been surprised that this website is called "Baby Bixby" and not "Baby Stein" or "Baby Bixby-Stein." Aside from the fact that's what Lori chose to name the site, we decided a long time ago that we were going to use the last name Bixby for our children. Sharon is not a fan of the whole hyphenated name thing, and we like the way Bixby sounds with some of the top names on our name's list. We couldn't have a Ben Stein. That would be weird.
Test Results
June 6, 2008
We heard back from Dr. Deldon about our Quad Screen test results and overall everything looks good. The test showed a very low risk of genetic disorders including Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and Spina Bifida. One of Sharon's hormone levels did come back high though, and we scheduled a follow-up appointment to be sure everything is alright.
4 Months!
June 2, 2008
Today marks the end of our 4th month of pregnancy. Whoo hoo! Almost halfway there.
Bean has been busy this last month developing fingerprints, growing hair, and sucking his/her thumb. We also read that Bean has started to hear things from outside. So, Jacqui has been reading bedtime stories everynight. Her favorite book to read is "I Love You So" that she bought for Sharon for Mother's Day.
Thanks to Jessie loaning us all her old books, Bean has a lot of new stories to hear.
16-Week Check-Up
May 29, 2008
After waiting forever at the doctor's office, Sharon peed in a cup, got stuck with a needle for yet another blood test, and had ooey gooey gel spread all over her belly for the doppler.
The nurse found Bean's heartbeat quickly this time, and we heard it beating away at 159 bpm. Sharon had her blood drawn for the Quad Screen test to check hormone levels that may be an indication of certain genetic disorders. We're keeping our fingers crossed that all turns out well.
Memorial Day Weekend
May 25, 2008
While Jacqui was busy mowing the lawn, Sharon and Baby Bean spent a beautiful Memorial Day weekend afternoon relaxing in the hammock. Being pregnant certainly has it's perks.
Mother's Day
May 11, 2008
We went down to White Plains to celebrate Mother's Day weekend. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to announce to Mimi & Grandpa that they were going to be Great-Grandparents.
We posed for a 3 1/2 generation picture to mark the occassion.
12-Week Check-Up
May 1, 2008
Today we went for our 2nd doctor's visit to mark our 12th week of pregnancy. 12 weeks, and 5 days to be exact. Everything is still looking good. Sharon even lost some weight. The doctor was not able to find Baby Bean's heartbeat with the doppler, so we got a bonus ultrasound. We got to see Bean squirming around on screen again. Bean measured exactly the right size and had a strong heart beat at 162 bpm.
It seemed like such a huge difference in just 4 weeks time. We could make out Bean's head, arms, legs, and baby butt turned to moon us.
Our First Pre-Natal Visit
April 1, 2008
Today was our first pre-natal visit 8 weeks and 3 days into the pregnancy. We were happy to hear the doctor say that everything looked good, and healthy. We had our first ultrasound and saw that Baby Bean measured 1.5 cm and had a heart rate of 170 bpm.
It's hard to know what you're looking at, but it was a pretty magical moment and made the pregnancy feel that much more real.
