Counting Down the Days

Well mommy is feeeling all the aches and pains of preterm labor...so at this point we're just waiting for our little girl to be ready to come into this world.

Here's a photo of mommy and her belly now =)

Drs Appt. Update.

We went to the Dr. yesterday and looks like baby is heads down and low, mommy is 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced and mommy lost her mucous plug last night (if you don't know what that is, its a sign that labor is coming soon). As far as soon...not sure when that'll be...My mommy intuition thinks a couple weeks (I hope =) We'll see..

Baby's weight: 7-7.5 pounds
Mommy's weight gained: 36 pounds (yikes!)

Three weeks to go!

With three weeks (or less) to go we are anxiously waiting baby's arrival. Her room is 90% finished. I'm just waiting for my glider to come and a few things to hang up on the wall. The theme of her nursery is pink and zebra and it's pretty neat because the nursery will even have a painting up that my mom did of a group of zebras when she lived in Kenya. (It's getting framed right now).

Other than that, I've been having LOTS of trouble sleeping. (Right now its 5am and I haven't slept all night). Between leg cramps, backaches, braxton-hicks contractions, baby kicking me in the rib, baby sitting right on my bladder, anxiety about being a mommy, and my huge belly...sleep is really tough. Although, I know I shouldn't complain because once baby comes, I know sleep will also be difficult--but then at least then I'll feel like I'm up for a purpose.

Today we also went and had some pregnancy photos taken. I'll post them when I get them back. =)

1 month to go!!!

We visited the doctor today, and here are some stats:

Mommy's weight gained to date: 32 pounds!
Baby' weight: 6 pounds

Baby's measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule...we're hoping that she comes before 2009!

In 10 days I get measured to see if I am dilated or effaced or any of that exciting stuff....

4-D Ultrasound pics

The newet craze for to-be-parents is the 4-d ultrasound. Parents can see their childs facial features before the birth. In the case of Baby Giti, she really did not want to show us her face--she insists on hiding her face in mommy's placenta. She did show us her feet (they are 2 and half inches) and her hands and a little sneak peak of her face. Baby is about 6 pounds already!!!

Me and Caroline

We met the first day of college in 1997 and now our due dates are a week apart! This is my favorite photo from the baby shower so it needed a post of it's own. How cute are we? The future Baby Giti and Baby Kowalski!

Baby Shower

On Saturday, November 29th, we celebrated Baby Giti in her very own baby shower! So many of her friends and aunties attended and she is so lucky because she received so many beautiful gifts. We can't wait to dress her in all her beautiful clothes and have her use all her toys and baby gear. As you can see from the photos, mommy's belly has grown so much! It is growing exponentially! Here are some photos of the fabulous day.

50 days to go and my belly is growing so fast!

(Some photos of me today with my big belly, teddy, and Baby Giti's nursery-in-progress)

Two weeks ago my belly finally popped big. Suddenly my belly grew along other parts of my body--especially my nose, arms and feet! It's so bizarre to look at myself in the mirror because I feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy...but it's worth it!

Bay Giti is growing so fast too! She is already 4 and a half pounds. We actually went to have a 4D ullrasound, but our silly girl hid her face in my placenta. We did get a peak at her cheeks and nose and they look just like her mommy and she has soooo much hair! We get another chance to go to a 4D-ultrasound makeup session next week and maybe this time our shy girl will show us her face.

Other news, today we attended Baby Kowalski's shower. It was a blast! It has been amazing to be pregnant with Caroline and it's going to be even more amazing that we get to raise our kids together--her son's due date is a week after Baby Giti! So exciting!

Lamaze and other classes!

We started Lamaze yesterday. After the countless movies and TV shows we have seen throughout our lifetime where we have watched the pregnant mommy doing her "hee-hee-hoo" breathing exercises while daddy coached her--it was so surreal that we were now the mommy and daddy! In the next two months we'll be taking Lamaze, Childcare Basics, Lactation, and Pain Management Class. We're trying to learn as much as we can before the little one comes in two months! In addition, Mommy started Physical Therapy for Mommies--it's helping mommy with her back pain and leg cramps and daddy's daily massages help a lot too! Next week, we get to have our hospital tour and we're going for a 4D ultrasound.
Other than the classes, we started setting up baby's nursery. So far, we've painted the walls pink, and have built the crib and changing table! Lot's of work and shopping to do in the next two months!

Baby Giti goes to Chicago

Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Giti spent the weekend in Chicago. It was Mommy's first time in the windy city, so we did a lot of fun stuff--highlights included: a visit to the Art Institute where we got to see one of mommy's favorite paintings (Hopper's Nighthawks), a walk on Navy Pier, architectural boat ride, dinner with Merle and Joel followed by a walk down Michigan ave. and a visit to the American Girl Headquarters, dinner on the 95th floor of the Hancock Building, seeing Dr. Ray at Nordstrom (Dr. 90210...talk about cheezy!!) and yummy Chicago deep dish pizza at Pixxeria Due and Pizano's. On Saturday night, Mommy got to reunite with one of her dearest friends in the whole world Ms. Jenny Lee--it had been 5 years! On top of that, she got to reunite with her friends Patricia, Amy, and Sylvia (it had been over 10 years!!!). Daddy got to hear all about mommy's awkward childhood and highschool years! We had so much fun and can't wait to take Baby Giti on lots more vacations. As of now, no more airplane rides for Mommy until baby comes out!

Third Trimester--and she's a big girl already!

We saw Dr. Naylor on Friday for our final screen and got to see some pics of our little girl! Well--as the Dr. measured her limbs--he told us that her arms and legs are really long and that she weighs about 2.5 pounds already--he told us that she is going to be a big girl. He's thinking she'll be at least an 8 pounder!!! Yikes! We also know why Mommy doesn't look very pregnant yet--it looks like baby is sitting right on Mommy's hips, head down and her body is right under mommy's belly button. In the photos, you can see her lying head down, her big foot (all 5 toes) and a pic of her looking at us!

90 days to go!!!

90 days to go...here are some baby Giti updates:
-she's kicking soooo much--especially when her dadddy puts his hand on mommy's belly
-Mommy officially has a Mommy car now--now she's like all the Mommy's in the neighborhood with a big roomy SUV
-Daddy bought baby her crib...it's a little early...but Daddy loved the crib, so he got it for her (thank you friends and family for the wedding Pottery Barn gift cards =)
-although Mommy's gained almost 20 pounds (yikes) her belly still looks chubby and not pregnant yet...thanks to mommy's big hips, baby has plenty of room sideways, not out
-Mommy and Daddy went to Babies R Us and registered for her Baby Shower (date of shower still undecided)
-Mommy wakes up at least 4 times a night too pee!!!
-Mommy's feet have grown a whole size--Size 11...
-Baby Giti's puppy Teddy jut got neutered...poor teddy =(
-Mommy hasn't had any weird cravings yet....

107 days to go and my belly finally popped!

This morning I woke up and suddenly I had a little belly! It was crazy--overnight Baby Giti decided to show herself! I was out in the morning and a woman actually asked me when I was due! That was the first time a stranger has asked me that! I know I'll grow a lot more in the coming weeks...but it's still neat to see my belly a little bigger. =)

6 months pregnant and still no belly.

Mommy is officially in her 6th month and despite looking chubby, Mommy still does not look pregnant! Today we went to the doctor and got to see baby! Well the mystery of the hidden baby was solved--it turns out little one is hiding in mommy's back--her head is face down on mommy's spine and her feet are up. Now mommy knows why her back has been hurting so much. Doctor and mommy tried to coax her in to turn around, but baby was fast asleep back there. Here are some photos of baby from today's visit--you can see a foot, bashful baby hiding her privates with her legs and a photo of her spine.

Mommy promises when she actually pops and has a belly, she'll post a photo of herself. =)

Yosemite trip during Labor Day Weekend

We went on a trip to Yosemite this weekend. Ali, Shari, Teddy, & baby Giti went hiking, offroading, swimming and enjoyed the beautiful wilderness. Most excitingly, we saw deer, a jackelope and our first night there--we saw a huge brown bear right outside our hotel room! We can't wait to bring Baby here when she is born!!!!

Back to school.

So Mommy officially started school today--so baby gets to come along too! She's not even born yet and is already going to lectures and cheering mommy on as she starts her long adventure towards her doctorate in psychology. As of now, mommy does not look pregnant, so the other students have no idea that baby's in the belly, but mommy wonders what it's going to be like in the next weeks and months as baby grows and belly grows. Luckily when the semester is over, baby will be a month away from coming into the world! She actually is due during winter break!

Mommy & Baby visit Philly & NYC

Baby went on her first trip in mommy's belly. She got to see her Aunty Kristen & Greg in Philadelphia and then got to see her other Aunty Kristen Shaprpley in NYC. (2 Aunty Kristens for our baby) She also got to have lunch with Mommy's wonderful friends from grad school--Kenny, Rachel, & Amy. Some highlights of the trip were spending time in Philly, relaxing and reading books in coffee shops, seeing beautiful friends, walking all of Manhattan with Aunty Kristen (we estimated that we walked 150 blocks), getting drenched by a massive rainstorm in NYC, and most excitingly going to see Gypsy on Broadway starring Patty Lupone with Aunty Sharpley. I think we have a performer on our hands--all night after seeing the musical, Baby Giti was dancing around in Mommy's belly. She was dancing and wiggling literally all night and didn't let mommy sleep--can we say Broadway Baby!!!

Teddy's Graduation

Teddy just graduated from puppy obedience school. He is pottied trained and can sit, but we still have a lot of work to do with him before the baby comes. =) We were proud parents of our puppy in his cap and gown.

Photos of our little girl

She was so cute--dancing and moving during the entire ultrasound. At one point, she was even sucking her thumb =) Here are some photos of our beautiful angel.

Bring on the pink!!!!!

We are ecstatic! Today we went to the doctor for our second trimester screen and the doctor checked all of Baby Giti's parts! It was amazing--at one point the baby was sucking it's thumb...but for some reason it wanted to be bashful and not show us its privates!

Finally--the doctor asked me what I wanted--and I was shy to tell him I had prayed all night to my mom (my beautiful gaurdian angel) to first make sure the baby is healthy and second for it to be a girl. I really didn't sleep all night because I was praying and praying for a healthy baby--but every time I slipped in "and make it a girl.....please please please please..."

Anyways, the doctor asked Ali what he wanted and he said a girl and again I was embarrassed and finally broke down and told him--a girl! And then told us we're having a little girl! (Mind you--5 seconds before he told us what it was Ali was convinced he saw a penis!)

I can't believe I am having a daughter! First thing first--our green office is going to be a pink nursery!!! I always told Ali I would get a pink room in our house one way or another and now my wish is coming true!

We are so thankful that our baby is healthy and our prayers were answered! We can't wait to meet her!

Is baby giti a boy or a girl????????????

Everyone we have told thinks it's a boy. I've been calling Baby Giti a boy. Ali is convinced that the baby is a girl. We can't wait to find out what it is tomorrow! I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight!!!

Baby Giti is 15 weeks!

Time flies by so fast--we can't believe that baby giti is almost 4 months old! Next week we go to the doctor and get to find out what baby giti is...we are very excited for this visit! So far, I haven't popped yet--I've widened and my hips are stretching because they hurt and are very itchy. On other news, we found out that I'm super anemic, so that's been why I have been so overly weak and sleepy...so I've started B12 shots and iron and hopefully I'll start feeling better!

Baby Giti goes to Vegas & a Coldplay concert

This weekend, we went up to Vegas to visit Ali's family. On a last minute whim, we decided to get tickets from Craigslist for a Coldplay concert. Eventhough our seats were pretty far from the stage, halfway through the concert, the band came all the way up to our seat and did 2 acoustic numbers right in front of us--I mean right in front! Baby Giti not only got to go to his first concert, but got to be within 1 feet of his mommy's favorite band! It was amazing! We're sure he was dancing in mommy's tummy the whole time.

After the concert, we went out to dinner with Uncle Steve & Gail and had an incredible Italian dinner--only in Vegas can you have a gourmet Italian dinner at midnight! Baby Giti got to eat yummy food like Caprese, fig & prosciutto, risotto with lobster, white chocolate gelato, crochette, and an amazing ciocolato cake. Now mommy has to get back in the gym on monday morning!

The photos I post look like I photoshoped my head in them or are using a major zoom, but thats really where they were...we literally were right in front of them--in a concert with 17,000 people what are the odds! Baby Giti is our lucky charm!

Craving Persian Food!

So I haven't had any bizarre cravings yet, but I've been craving homemade Persian food like crazy! Luckily while Ali & my dad are fishing in Alaska, I've been staying at my dad's house in Laguna, babysitting Wolfy, Fuzzy, and Teddy, and enjoying homemade food from Nadereh, Saide and my Khlaeh Simin. Khaleh Simin spent all Monday cooking and packaging food in tupperware so Ali and I have a weeks worth of meals to eat! I can't wait until my nausea gets better and I can start cooking again!

As for my belly, it hasn't popped yet. I found this great cartoon that explains what I feel like now =)

We're having a baby!!!!!!!!!

Surprise! We are having a baby! As of today I am officially 12 weeks pregnant and our due date is January 15th! We have kept our secret for the last 3 months and now we are so excited to share the news with our family and friends. Today--we got to see Baby Giti on the ultrasound and he had 10 fingers and toes and a belly and a face and everything--eventhough he is only 2 inches long, he looks like a real baby! As far as the sex--I decided to call him a he becuase so far all the family members we have told say their gut feeling is that he is a boy! But who knows! The nurse that gave us an ultrasound said baby's heart beat was 167 which is really fast--which according to old wive's tales means its a girl...We are so happy to share our news and feel free to check in--I'll be updating the blog regularly to keep everyone updated. We'll be posting belly photos--once I have the guts to let Ali actually take photos of my bloated belly. =)

Birthday Wish!!

Today was my 29th bday and Ali took me out to a romantic dinner and I made a wish that baby will be healthy and happy! Tomorrow we get to see him on the ultrasound--so ecstatic! This is the best birthday ever...although I didn't get to have a glass of bday wine...oh well!

FATIGUE!!!!!!!

I am so tired. Sometimes I feel too tired to breathe or lift my head up. One of the effects of being pregnant is having to pee a lot. Sometimes in the middle of the night I have to pee so badly--but I literally lie there trying to convince myself to get up and am honestly close to letting myself pee in bed. Alas...I get up...take Teddy out to pee....and go myself.
Other interesting news...eventhough he is less than 2 inches...he supposedly looks like a baby now. Oh--speaking of he--I have decided to call our baby a he. At this point we have probably told 10 people we're expecting and they ALL say it's a boy. Although, last night my friend Tina got her clairvoyant vibes that I have twins...

Finally, in my fatigue, I have been watching random TV shows--my show of the week was Baby Story...and I'm totally freaked out. Labor looks so painful and scary....I'm so scared.

8 weeks and tired.

The nausea is still there, but the most annoying thing is that I'm always tired! I really am so lucky that I am not working right now and school doesn't start for a couple months. I really don't know how women in their first trimester can work all day.

Since, Dr.Z isn't doing babydeliveries, I'm on an OBGYN search. It sucks becuase I have no idea how you go about finding a doctor and I don't think it's like the movie knocked up where you can go try out 50 OBs before you find the right one....

On other awesome news, my cousin is also pregnant! 7 weekish--and we're probably giving birth at the same hospital! How cool is that? Baby Giti will have a cousin the same age to play with!

The photo is from the internet--it's not baby giti although he probably looks similar. =)

Definitely Pregnant!

So on May 23rd, I had an ultrasound--Ali and his mom were with me--and there it was all 2.3 mm of the baby with a beating heart...it was pretty amazing, but still does not seem real. I'm at 7 weeks right now--my approximate due date is January 18th. At this point, I have really bad morning sickness--which actually lasts all day--it sucks. All I can eat is cheese and bread without puking. Mornings are really bad and I'm super frustrated because eventhough I feel like poop, it really hasn't set in that I' pregnant for Ali so he is super frustrated with me and thinks I'm being a drama queen and lazy--but really I feel like I have the worst hangover ever! I guess it's normal for husbands to not believe your pregnant until it actually starts showing I guess.

On other news, we moved into our new house on Friday and there is still alot of construction. We also got our puppy--he came from Florida last week and has been super sick so we have been nursing him back to health. (He had a nightmare flight--he was pretty much lost in transit when they forgot to transfer him to his connecing flight. Then they didn't take him out to pee or poop or feed him or give him water.... so he got to us really sick!)

One other bit of exciting new, one of my best friends is pregnant too! I can't reveal who it is yet, but it looks like we are about the same amount of pregnant!!!!!! It is sooooooo exciting!


Finally, we were going to take Belly photos, but right now I just feel so fat and bloated and it is just embarrassing to post a pic of a fat belly. Maybe I'll change my mind. =)

Baby?

So for a couple of weeks, I've been having really bad stomach cramps and been so moody that Ali thought his wife of two months had become possessed by some crazy monster. Anyways the pain got so bad that Friday Ali rushed me to the doctor. I was instantly given a pregnancy test, which was negative. This was the third one in the past 2 weeks that was negative. Since I had an ultrasound that didn't show a baby or a cyst or anything, we figured we were definitely not expecting and I credited my stomach pains to the stress of renovating a house and getting used to married life. Just in case, my dr. gave me a blood test to check for anemia, pregnancy hormone, and other stuff that could show up in my blood....and we left.
The whole time driving back from OC, Ali and I talked about how crazy it woul be if I had been pregnant. As we pulled off the freeway late Friday, we both look at our cell phones and had eached missed a bunch of calls from Dr. Z....
I call and talk to Dr. Z...and SURPRISE..we're pregnant...I guess it is so early that it doesn't even show up in urine tests....

So now...all we know is we have a positive blood test, my entire body hurts, I'm sleepy, nauseous, and super sensitive. Oh one other crazy side-affect of this pregnancy thing--I have a nose of steel. I can smell out anything--like I should be hired by the TSA to sniff out drugs and other pariphinalia (sp?) from people's luggage. I can sniff out everything!

As of now, only our parents and aunt and uncles know...because until we see Dr. Z again we are still in disbelief. Our ultrasound is this Friday...then we actually find out how pregnant I am and maybe then we'll actually believe it.

Until Friday....