5 1/2 month appointment

We had Sabrina's 5 1/2 month check-up a couple of days ago.  She's now a whopping 18 lbs 11 oz and 27 1/2" long.  We're thinking she's going to average out a little at some point, but she just keeps growing and growing and growing!  This weekend, she finally started rolling from back to belly and is just starting to figure out that, if she rolls, she can move around!  We're now starting to think about baby proofing the house, as she's going to be getting into things in no time.  

FINALLY! An update!

I know, I know, I know.  We've been HORRIBLE about updating our blog.  Things have been crazy pretty much since Sabrina was born.  I went back to work on January 7th.  It was a little rough, but it was great to get back in the studio and have my body back.  It's been wonderful being able to dance again!  On the days that I work, I drop Sabrina off at, either, Steve's parents or my Aunt Alice's.  She's there a couple of hours before Steve comes and picks her up.  The schedule works great, and everyone loves watching her.:)

As expected, Sabrina is growing like a weed.  At her 4 month appointment, she was 17 lbs and 26 1/2".  She has her 5 1/2 month appointment in a couple of days, so we'll see how much she's grown this last month!!  She is now eating "solids".  We started her with rice cereal, then moved into her veggies and have introduced two fruits recently.  She's a very good eater (obviously!) and does very well in her high chair.  

She has also mastered the art of rolling over.  For the longest time, she didn't have much interest in the whole thing.  She doesn't like being on her belly all that much...and is perfectly content on her back playing with her toys.  At this point, her favorite toy is her little toes.  It's so cute when she bites her toes...I love it!  She's also laughing like crazy.  She'll laugh at anything, and has figured out that laughing will get her some more attention from Mommy and Daddy and distract them from getting other things done.:)

We have also been blessed with a very good sleeper!!  Sabrina has been a good sleeper from the get-go, only up once or twice a night even as a newborn.  She started sleeping through the night at about 5 weeks.  Now, she's up to 12-13 hours per night.  It's heaven!  She is also starting to be a more consistent napper, taking a two to three 45 minute-1 hour naps per day.  

All in all, having Sabrina has been the biggest joy we've ever known.  She is an amazing little kid.  I'm sad that she is growing up, but excited to see what each day holds.  

New Outfit

Here's Sabrina in her new outfit that Nana made for her.  

Christmas Cheer

It's Go Time!

Loves of My Life

Big Daddy

Okay, so I'm not Don Garlitz, but I am a big-daddy now.  While I was expecting a 24"+, 13 pound child to be born two days ago, Sabrina had different plans.  Instead of coming into this world as a mega child, Sabrina came out a little bundle of cuteness--just over seven pounds and a mere 20 inches.  

All day long, I want to call her precious, but anybody who remembers The Silence of the Lambs will not find it a miracle that I look for other pet names to call Sabrina when I'm watching her gurgle, sleep, breathe and toot for hours on end.  

She's here!!!

Sabrina Evelyne Coram made her debut into the world on Friday, December 21st at 3:00 am, weighing 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches long.  

Even though I was only 4 days from my due date, her arrival was quite a surprise to us.  I was having some moderate, but very irregular contractions on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.  On Thursday morning, I decided I should go in to the hospital to see what (if anything) was happening.  Nothing was, so I got sent home with some Ambien to help me sleep a little.  After taking a nap for a few hours, Steve decided to head out and run some errands for me.  On his way down the stairs, he fell and broke his big toe!!  The crack actually woke me up.  Because I was on Ambien, I couldn't take him to the doctor.  So...my mom to the rescue!  She came out and took him in.  He broke his toe in several places and was sentenced to crutches.  

When he got home, we decided to hang out and watch some movies.  We were headed back up to bed around 8 pm to watch The Grinch when my water broke!  While I went up to take a quick shower and get ready to leave for the hospital, Steve called my mom AGAIN to come pick us up and take us to the hospital.  

I was admitted at around 8:45 pm on Thursday night.  I had pretty intense back labor, which was no fun at all!  Luckily, I was able to get my epidural pretty quick.  The epidural kicked in around 11 pm.  At 2:30, it was "time to go" and she was born at 3 am.  I really didn't feel anything...which was great!  The inventor of the epidural should've received the Nobel Peace Prize.  What a miracle drug!!!!  

After she was born, Sabrina had to stay in a special warmer for about 90 minutes.  She had to be delivered pretty quick, as her heart rate would drop really low and accelerate very high during my labor.  She swallowed a lot of fluid during delivery.  Due to her heart rate, the NICU team was there to help her out.  After 90 minutes, she was fine, and I was FINALLY able to hold my little girl.

She is an absolute angel.  We love her to bits and pieces.  She is a beautiful little girl and we literally spend hours a day just looking at her.  Steve will be writing a blog, too, and will attach pictures of our precious little girl.  

31 weeks and counting!

Steve took my 31 week belly shot this weekend.  Looks like my belly has grown a little since my last picture (24 weeks?).  I expect she'll start growing lots in the next few weeks.  I'll have Steve take pictures every couple of weeks to post.

The Things I Miss

I'm now approaching 29 weeks, and am in my 3rd trimester now.   Although my belly is still quite small...Sabrina is pretty big.  We have a talented child, as she can kick my ribs and punch my bladder simultaneously.  Nice.  I now know why athletes are required to say, "Hi, Mom!" on tv after winning a National Championship.

In any case, I'm in the home stretch and really am starting to miss some pre-pregnancy things.  Here is a list:

(1)  Looking cute in my Sevens.  I'm sick of maternity pants, which keep falling down.

(2)  Not having to worry about "the girls" falling out.:)  

(3)  The ability to go workout and get my heart rate about 140 bpm.

(4)  The ability to wear heels without feeling like I'm going to tip over

(5)  The ability to actually dance while teaching class...and to wear a leotard and tights instead of big ole sweats and a tank top.

(6)  Sleeping on my stomach and not feeling like a beached whale while turning to another position.

(7)  wine

On the other hand, there are some things I'll definitely miss about being pregnant:

(1)  Feeling her move.  

(2)  Watching her move.

(3)  The anticipation of her arrival

(4)  Sleep :) 

(5)  Steve listening to my belly and feeling her move.  She likes to kick him in the face when he puts his cheek to my belly.  It's so cute.  

(6)  The ability to eat a Twix (or two) a week as a treat.

(7)  Hearing, "Don't worry about your weight...you're supposed to gain weight!!"

All in all, being pregnant has been pretty neat.  There are definitely interesting things that happen to your body while pregnant...I won't go into them at this point...but, it's definitely a miracle that redefines your life.  I can't wait until she's here!

YEAAAHHHHHH!

I was released from bed rest today!  My labs came back ok, my blood pressure is down, and Sabrina is doing great.  I got to have another ultrasound today...which I love!  She is getting much bigger and is filling out.  She has these cute little chubby cheeks and cute little nose.  She actually had her foot stretch over her body and was poking her big toe in her eye.  Her other leg was stretched the other direction.  I guess she thinks my uterus is a yoga studio or something.:)  

After I was done at the doctor's, I went straight to the studio.  It was wonderful to be back in the swing of things!!!!  I loved being back in the real world.

Still Waiting...

I'm still down on bed rest.  I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon.  I'm hoping that I'll be released back into the real world then!!  I'm feeling much better.  Definitely rested.:)  The highlight of my day is walking to the end of the street to get the mail.  The fresh air is so great!!  

I will post an update on my status tomorrow.

Bed Rest

I just got back from the doctor.  I'm now stuck on bed rest for the rest of the week.  I have beginning signs of preeclampsia.  So....I'm in bed for the rest of the week, hoping that'll bring down my blood pressure.  If it doesn't, I'm on strict bed rest.  Let's hope that doesn't happen!  I'm NOT ready for that!!  

Another trip to L&D

So, we had yet another trip to labor and delivery last night.  I've been continuing to have contractions and severe back pain for the past week.  After an hour of monitoring, they determined that I am, indeed, having contractions, but I'm not in labor.  It was very frustrating to be sent home with no help as to how to manage this back pain.  I have to go back to the dr. this afternoon...hopefully she can give me some relief!!  

On a good note, Sabrina was doing well.  Her heart beat was nice and strong.  The best part of the trip was that we got to sit and listen to her heart beat for over an hour.  If it's this amazing just to hear her heart beat...I can't imagine what it'll be like to actually be able to hold her in my arms!!  I just can't wait to meet her...I just hope it's not until December!:)  

Whatta week!

So, this week was quite eventful for us and our little Sabrina.  After our ultrasound on Sunday, I got a phone call from my doctor stating that she was concerned that my amniotic fluid levels were too low.  That was the reason that I had the Sunday ultrasound in the first place, so needless to say, Steve and I were a little freaked out by the possibility that something could be wrong with the baby.  I had another ultrasound on Tuesday.  Thankfully, my levels went from an 8 on Sunday to a 12 on Tuesday....which was good enough to make my doctor happy.  So, I didn't have to go to the hospital for monitoring and went home happy.  The rest of the week has been quite a challenge for me, though.  I think she has been growing a lot.  I have been quite sore and extremely tired.  She still finds it very comfortable to sleep right on my spine.  I've also been having some contractions...quite normal at this stage of the game.:)  I now am 26 weeks.  At 28 weeks, I start my 3rd trimester.  I'm definitely counting the days until we get to meet our little princess!

On the brighter side...Steve and I have been working on Sabrina's room.  It's so much fun to start to decorate and put it all together.  We got the bedding this week and put it on her crib.  It's so, so soft!!!  Now, we are looking for a glider/rocker for her room and are waiting for dear ole dad to start her dresser/changing table.:)  I'll post some pictures in the next couple of weeks when we get closer to finishing her room.

Great Aunt Debbie

This is an update from a few posts ago, where I proclaimed that my dad's family is 5'7" and under.  I forgot, my Auntie Debbie is 5'9".  I take after her.:)

Hey Sabrina! It's Daddy.

I've been exercising and lifting weights every day, honey, and will continue to do so until you are 35 to 40. You see, Sabrina baby, Daddy is already getting a bit protective of you. You will be welcome to date, little one, once you graduate college. The only thing I ask of you, sweet pea, is that your prospective beau meet me prior to your first date. I love you!

By BabysHere.com Birth Announcements

In 3D

Today (yes, Sunday) we had another ultrasound.  It was a precautionary ultrasound because I've had a couple of scary days over the past month, including a trip to Labor and Delivery a few weeks ago...luckily we came home within a couple of hours with Sabrina still tucked safely inside.  In any case, I had another ultrasound to make sure everything is ok.  Everything looks great.  The tech took over an hour with us and gave us a super good look at our little girl.  We even got a 3D scan!  They are absolutely amazing.  We were hoping to get a good look at her face and see what she looks like, however, Sabrina was being a little difficult.  She had her arm over her face the whole time.  We have a great shot of her arm, though!  We were even able to see her open and close her hand and sucking on her hand.  It was awesome!!  

She's definitely getting to be a big girl.  She is now up to 1 lb 6 oz.  She is pretty long.  Her head was just up to the bottom of my rib cage.  Luckily I have a long torso, so she has lots of room to grow and stretch!!:)  

I'm at 25 weeks tomorrow...we're getting closer.  

24 week belly picture

So...here is my 24 week picture.  I'm just about 6 months along now.  I have a couple of weeks left before my 3rd trimester...it's going by so fast now!  It's crazy!!!!

I hope she doesn't think she'll be a gymnast

So...i think Sabrina may believe she is a gymnast.  This kid tosses and turns like crazy!  I hope she doesn't think she has the genes to be a gymnast.  I did an online survey to "predict" the height of your child.  Sabrina could be 6'2".  Volleyball?  Basketball?  Sure.  Gymnastics?  I don't think that'll work.  Maybe she'll end up taking after my dad's side of the family (5'7" and under:))  

The verdict is in!

Yesterday, August 25, 2007, was the BIG DAY.  We finally found out (along with 50 of our closest friends and family) that we are expecting a little girl in December!  For those of you who haven't heard about this little shin-dig, we found out the sex of our baby in a little different way.  Instead of finding out at our August 2nd ultrasound, we had the technician seal the results in an envelope without telling us what "it" was.  From there, we gave the envelope to my best friend, Laura.  We then planned a big party to reveal the sex of the baby.  We had to wait three long weeks...but, the day finally came.  After everyone arrived and had some food, we decided it was finally time to reveal the results.  Steve and I were quite nervous and very, very anxious to find out what we were having.  Laura brought in a huge box.  With everyone gathered around, Steve and i opened the lid together.  Out popped a big bunch of balloons...pink and purple balloons!  We both had  an intuition that we were having a girl...but, it was exciting nonetheless.  So....now we know we are planning to greet Sabrina Evelyne Coram into the world in late December (Christmas Eve to be exact.:))  I will post a video of us opening the box of balloons shortly.  

More to come!