sniderkin

We had a doctor’s appointment last wednesday, just a routine check up. However, I’ve been having some cramping and a numb spot in my leg so my doctor ordered an ultrasound just to make sure everything was okay. Baby is doing great, but my amniotic fluid level is low so I have been instructed to drink electrolyte enhanced water instead of regular water and we’re scheduled to go back in Tuesday to make sure it’s working.

I still haven’t felt the baby kick yet, but my doctor said I’m right on the edge of it, so I should start feeling it over the next couple months. In the ultrasounds he’s pretty mild mannered, he likes to open and close his hands and move around kind of slowly (he’s probably asleep!) He also likes to turn his head away from us or straight toward us, so we haven’t got a good profile picture yet, despite the doctor’s efforts to annoy him and make him move, he just wants to relax!

The name is picked out. I’m sure by now you all noticed it at the top of the page…. we chose Cavan Alan Snider. Cavan is an Irish name, and it’s linked to Shannon’s name. Shannon is actually the name of a river in Ireland, and that river starts in Cavan county. It’s been used for a name for years, but not so much in the US. Googling it results in 4 or 5 Cavans, and we wanted something unique, but strong and not so weird that he’ll be made fun of. Cavan fit all those criteria! You pronounce it like the Irish-American surname Cavanaugh, or Cav like in Cavalier + Van like… well, van!

Shannon’s grandmother has been kind enough to throw us a baby shower for that side of the family (we decided that would be more manageable since both sides of our families are enormous). She’s in the midst of planning it now, and I’ll be sure to post pictures after it’s over. It’s a little early, I’ll only be about 5 and a half months, but the weather is going to get bad and it’s better to have it before the snow starts falling. Nobody likes to drive in snow, me included!

Cavan’s heartrate on Wednesday was 133 bpm, which is still good. It slows down as he gets bigger and has more body to push the blood through. The doctor said that the cramping and pulling is mostly just growing pains, and if that’s the case, he must be growing a lot!

Well folks, we had our ultrasound today. Baby is right on target, heart beat of 138 and measures to weigh about half a pound. It took awhile for the doctor to get baby to cooperate (she had to have me move around and she poked at my belly to try to make baby move), but finally baby moved and we were able to see clearly that we’ll be having a little….. BOY!!

So, it’ll be animals and bugs and blue instead of babydolls and tea sets and pink. But please - if you’re thinking of buying us anything just be aware that we’re avoiding the sports themed stuff!

Ultrasound pics will be up as soon as Shannon comes home and loads them in!

Our next appointment is for next Wednesday, Sept 12.  If baby chooses to cooperate, we’ll find out if we’ll be buying pink or blue!  We’re both very excited to find out, baby better cooperate!

I still haven’t felt baby move, but I should soon, baby’s bones are hardening this week so when he or she decides to kick me I should start feeling it.

I’ve been feeling good, it seems that the nauseous feeling that dominated my first trimester has left me.  My only real complaint is that I can’t sleep through the night - I wake up a billion times to pee, and my hips have been aching while I sleep.  Putting a pillow under my knees seems to help my hips though - as long as I don’t kick it out of bed.