27 Weeks and OB checkup

How far along?: 27 weeks


Total weight gain: According to the doctor's scale I am up to +4.5 pounds

Stretch marks?: No new ones just the ones I have carried on my body for years.


Sleep?: Depends on the night.  I still find sleeping on my back the most

Best moment this week?: Enjoying Thanksgiving with my family.  Reid and I woke up one morning and he was able to see my entire belly moving from Cooper swimming around. 

Food cravings?: I've enjoyed a lot of things over Thanksgiving so I can't say I am craving anything, getting back to eating better now. 

Labor signs?: Nope, too soon for that!


Belly button in or out?: It is completely in


What I miss: Again being able to do things on my feet, Thanksgiving was hard because I couldn't do as much as I would have liked and by the end of the day I was hurting pretty good. 

What I'm looking forward to: Hopefully our crib and diaper changer will be in this next week and we can set it up.





Doctor Appointment Update:
We had our monthly checkup this week and I was given my Rohgam shot.  They don't tell you ahead of time that the medication stings pretty good.  My blood pressure was good, always a little higher at the doctor's office but at home it usually runs around 118/75.  The midwife I saw this time was the same lady I saw a few months ago who told me it is not okay to not gain weight in pregnancy...well I finally have gained weight so you would think she would be happy.  She informed us that I am measuring at 32 weeks.  She was concerned because it is normal for some woman to measure big but not 6 weeks.  She said it may be a growth spurt but if I am still measuring large next time she will do an ultrasound to check on Cooper and make sure he is okay.  I told Reid last week that I felt like I grew all of sudden, so maybe it is just a growth spurt.  I was concerned about us measuring so large in the beginning but my family and friends have assured me that it is okay to measure big.  The midwife had to work hard to get a heartbeat because every time she put the doppler on my belly he would move and kick, I guess he wasn't a fan of her!  Reid now realizes how active our son is!  The midwife said she hopes he is not as active in real life as he is in the womb.  Our next appointment is December 29.
 
In other news, last night we (along with the rest of new mexico) had a severe wind storm.  I did not sleep much at all because it was so bad.  It is a day like today that I am thankful we rent because they will be fixing the problems.  I entire screen porch had all of the screen busted out, our back fence blew down and many shingles have flown off the house.  I was scared driving home last night because we live out in the country and there is lots of dirt around, which means blackout conditions driving home.  I was nearly hit three times while driving on our road because nobody else cared to slow down through the haze of sand.  Luckily, I made it safely and stayed inside the rest of the night.  They say that we might get snow this weekend, let's hope for it!  Today is the last day of classes for the semester and next week is finals, so Reid will be done with another semester.  Next semester will be his last semester of classes!

25 Weeks

How far along?: 25 weeks 2 days



Total weight gain: When I weighed at the doctors I was plus 2 pounds but I have since lost a little over a pound...I have this fear that my next appointment my midwife is gonna say something to me about gaining weight.  She did the last time I saw her and I felt awful.  But I promise I EAT LOTS, just trying to make better decisions on what I am eating.


Stretch marks?: No new ones just the ones I have carried on my body for years.

Sleep?: Some days are good some days are bad.  I feel bad because I seem to wake Reid up every time I move positions.  Also, Reid has started building fires at night so we don't have to turn the heater on.  The stove is in our office that is attached to our bedroom.  There have been a few nights that he gets the temperature up to 77 degrees at night and then I really don't sleep good!

 Best moment this week?: Reid finally got to feel Cooper kick...Reid had his head down on my belly and was talking to Cooper and he gave him a nice swift kick in the head!

 Food cravings?: I honestly don't crave much of anything, I think it drives Reid crazy because I never want anything in particular.  Lately, I have been loving me some sugar free popsicles.  Reid has asked me to pick something I really want to have for Thanksgiving and quite honestly there is not anything that comes to mind, crazy I know.

 Labor signs?: Nope, too soon for that!

 Belly button in or out?: It is completely in

 What I miss: Not being able to stay on my feet.  I go shopping and my feet end up killing me before I finish my shopping trip. 

 What I'm looking forward to: Thanksgiving with my parents and friends.  Also, getting our crib ordered and set up in Cooper's room.  Oh and of course for Reid to finish up this semester and be one step closer to graduating!

22 weeks

Time seems to be flying by these days!  The last few weeks have been very busy for us both so needless to say I am TIRED!  Reid's Papa was in the hospital and we were not sure if we were going to need to make a quick trip back to Georgia, but thankfully he is doing much better!  We went back to Albuquerque the weekend of October 22 for a wedding.  I was able to have breakfast with two of my favorite ladies that I hadn't seen since Reid and I got married.  Then my sisters, niece, mom, aunt, Reid and I went through all of Braeden's old baby clothes and washed everything up so we could take it back to Cruces with us...we are very blessed to have received all of this!  I also went to Joann's fabric store that Sunday and with the help of my friend Pam I was able to pick out the material for Cooper's bedding.  When we got back to Cruces seems like things kicked into high gear.  We had three late night outs last week and a few this week.  Needless to say my feet have not been happy with me being out so much! 
Reid and I purchase our stroller and infant seat and will be purchasing our crib in the coming weeks.  This past weekend Reid and I went to Babies R Us with our friend Stacey and built our registry there as well as Target.  So all in all things are coming together very nicely. 
I had my checkup this morning and everything went well.  I spent some time talking with our midwife about the flu shot and whether I should get one or not.  The last one I had my entire arm had red bumps all over it.  She said that I am more then likely allergic to an additive not the actual flu shot.  She suggested I take the shot and put ice on it right away so the additive does not spread down my arm.  She said that Cooper is very high, but doing well.  His heart rate was 140 and very active for her.  She gave me the lab request to do our glucose screening and routine checks.  We schedule our next appointment for November 30 where I will receive our first Rohgam shot. 

Here is the fabrics we have chosen to use as the baby bedding...I am so excited to see it all put together!

Pregnancy Highlights:



How Far Along: 22 weeks and 5 days 

Size of baby: Spaghetti Squash about 1 pound

Total Weight Gain/Loss:I have officially moved into the positive side.  I weighed in today at the doctor +2 pounds. 

Maternity Clothes: Yep, still wear my gym clothes other than that everything else is maternity.

Movement: Yes!  I love to feel Cooper moving around, usually more active in the morning and afternoon.  In the evening he may move a little after dinner but afterwards he is pretty still.  Reid hasn't felt him yet but is VERY anxious to feel him!

Sleep: If I sleep on my back I sleep great just wake up to go potty usually two times a night.  I have tried sleeping on my sides with a pillow between my knees, a body pillow, you name it I tried it.  Problem is that I wake up every hour extremely stiff and have to change sides.  I talked to the mid-wife today and she said that I can sleep on my back as long as I stay propped up...HALLELUJAH!!

What I miss: Being able to stay on my feet doing things...seems like after two hours I really need to sit down otherwise I get irritable and not fun to be around.   

Cravings: Nothing specific...but I am looking forward to Reid making Thanksgiving dinner and all the wonderful sides that go along with it!

Symptoms: Cooper moving around, swelling in the ankles and feet in the evening, headaches on occasion.
 Best moment this week: After lunch I will play with Cooper by placing my hand on my belly and then he will come and kick it.  Cracks me up!

Cooper Eugene McDaniel

I know this post is a little late but we are officially having a boy!  On October 6th we had our ultrasound and he was not shy to share his jewels with us.  Although we did not get clear pictures printed out because my amniotic fluid was extremely thick.  The tech said it is nothing to worry about but to start drinking some powerade to help thin it out.  She wanted to reschedule another ultrasound so she can get a better look at all of his organs to make sure he is progressing great.  So, on Thursday this week we will have another ultrasound and hopefully have better pictures to post!  Reid and I began our name search and knew that the middle name would be Eugene in honor of his grandfather but the first name was a challenge.  Reid finally saw things my way :-)  and Cooper Eugene McDaniel he is!

Also, we have officially reached 20 weeks!  We are halfway there!  Things are still going well and I am definitely feeling Cooper move all around, and I love it.  I have had a little issue with anxiety popping up every now and again and I just breathe and do my best to not let myself worry about the issue at hand but to focus on my son that I carry inside of me.  I am sure many moms go through the what ifs and worries and I am doing my best to just let those thoughts pass.  We are headed to Albuquerque this next weekend for a wedding and will be going through all of my nephew's old baby clothes and baby items.  We are very thankful to Alice and Todd for saving the items.  Here are the weekly questions and my picture.

Size of baby: A small cantaloupe


Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have definitely gained the last few weeks but still 1 pound down

Maternity Clothes: of course

Gender:  BOY!  Cooper Eugene McDaniel

Movement: Yep, and I love feeling him

Sleep: It sucks!  I wake up about every two hours needing to switch sides because my body just aches after laying on it.  I have many many pillows I try to prop myself up but nothing really seems to help other then switching positions, at least I fall back asleep pretty quickly.

What I miss: My boots, now that the weather has cooled off I usually where my boots most days but my feet won't stand for it.

Cravings: I have been craving a hamburger and sweet potato fries for a couple of weeks and yesterday Reid and our friends Stacey and Gabe went to lunch and I loved my burger and fries!  I've also been craving salad and for the last few nights we have been eating a salad with our dinner.

Symptoms: some swelling in my hands and feet at the end of the day.  Cry when I am tired, cry when I am hungry, cry when...well anytime 

Best moment this week: Definitely finding out what we were having and seeing his little face and naming him


And I have to leave you with a cartoon I found in the newspaper a few weeks ago and I had to cut it out.  I told Reid this will be our son four or five years from now:

18 weeks and counting!

Size of baby: A sweet potato


Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have gained a little back but I am still down about 4 or 4.5 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yep, still can wear a few stretchy things I own.

Gender: We have our ultrasound set for Thursday!

Movement: I have started feeling movement usually after I eat.  It is not consistent every day but that is okay cause I know down the road the baby won't stop moving!

Sleep: I seriously hate sleeping on my left side.  I wake up multiple times to turn over or have to get up because I am hurting.  I love sleeping on my right side...and I love pillows!  Reid would tell you he can't stand how many pillows I use at night but hey gotta do what is comfortable!  Only getting up to pee 1-2 times a night so not too bad.

What I miss: wearing my shoes.  My feet have either grown or are swelling or both!  I have a select few pairs of shoes that I am able to wear right now, and none of them include my boots!!!  I will be shopping for a new shoes I can wear to work cause I can't go shoeless! 

Cravings: I was craving a bowl of pinto beans but low and behold Reid told me he was going to put a pot on this weekend!  So yesterday I got my bowl of beans with some cheese (yes you heard me right). 

Symptoms: headaches occasionally and starting to swell in the feet and hands. 

Best moment this week: Feeling Bean moving around.


Reid and I had a busy weekend.  On Friday we went to the Southern New Mexico State Fair with friends and had a lovely time...but man do I hate being on my feet for long periods of time!  On Saturday we got up early and started putting our office in order.  Now you might say well goodness you have lived in that house since April but it has taken us this long to finally get our nice heavy book shelves placed in the house.  Our friend Gabe came out on Friday and helped Reid carry them from the garage to the office so now we were able to put things where they belong.  If you know my husband you know he has a tone of notebooks from all of his classes so they finally have a home on the bookshelves they carried in.  We also decided we needed to drain our pool because we had lots of leaves and creatures in it and we do not have a winter cover.  We came to town and rented a pump and let the entire pool drain into our yard.  By the time it was all said and done we had 5 centipedes at the bottom of the pool and all were somewhere between 6 and 10 inches long...can you say NASTY!  Back in May we bought Alice and Todd's pop-up trailer that they purchased from Aunt Ruth and Uncle Kenny.  So on Saturday we pulled it around to the front and unloaded the baby items Alice, Todd, Braeden and Paege have passed down to Bean.  They gave us a stroller, swing, high chair, rocking horse, sun shade and a hiking backpack.  They also saved all of the baby clothes so once we know if Bean is a boy or girl we will go to Albuquerque to pick it all up.  Next up we will be picking out our crib and carseat! 

15 weeks

As I promised here is my picture from 15 weeks. 

Pregnancy Highlights:



How Far Along: 15 weeks


Size of baby: A navel orange 


Total Weight Gain/Loss: -6.  Yes I am eating, just making a lot wiser choices in food!
Maternity Clothes: I can still where my own gym clothes and a few pairs of stretch carpi's other than that most everything else is maternity.
Gender: We have our ultrasound set for October 6 at 4:30pm.  Hopefully Bean will cooperate!
Movement: Nothing that I can say is a concrete baby movement

Sleep: It is not good.  I am up about every hour changing positions cause my hips hurt.  I am trying to sleep on my side but it is just so painful.  I may move to my back and prop myself up real good and see if that takes care of the hip pain.  I have never been a side sleeper and so it has been hard to make the change. 
What I miss: Sleeping the whole night through, I am tired of waking up sleepy
Cravings: A good breakfast burrito with lots of green chili.
Symptoms: just my hip pain this week
Best moment this week: Scheduling our ultrasound

14 week checkup

Today we went to the doctor for our check up and everything looked great!  We were able to get the baby's heartbeat on the Doppler and it was 150.  She did say that my uterus is all on the left side of my abdomen but is not worried about it.  She said that when it comes out of your pelvis it sometimes leans to one side but most women it is on the right...I just have to be different!  They are going to watch it as things progress but she believes that it will move back to the center as the baby gets bigger.  I weighed in and I had lost 1/2 pound since last appointment, which I was happy with.  I have been eating more and still trying to watch what I eat.  Well, the midwife was not happy with my weight loss.  She said that I should be gaining weight and I need to watch everything I eat.  I tried to tell her that the last midwife told me it was okay for a woman my size to gain very little if not anything.  Apparently she does not share the same views.  I honestly felt like I was being lectured because I had done something wrong and I really have done a good job of watching everything I put in my mouth.  We try to cook out on the grill as often as we can and eat veggies every meal as well as lots of fruit.  I will try to do better about the food I take in but when my body tells me to stop then I can't force more food down...don't know what more the midwife wants from me!
On a good ending note we scheduled our next appointment and that will also be our gender check ultrasound as well.  It is scheduled for October 6 at 4:30.  We will be just shy of 19 weeks so we hope the baby cooperates so we can finally know what we are having! 
Reid and I will be walking this Saturday morning in remembrance of my Grandfather at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.  Then next weekend we are going to Albuquerque to go to the state fair and rodeo! 

PS: Sorry we did not get a picture taken this past weekend because we had Alice, Braeden and Paege visiting!  We will definitely get one up this weekend!

12 and 13 weeks

So, I slacked off and didn't report last week but I promise to catch you up.  I hit 12 weeks August 20 and things seemed to be going good.  I did learn that I can not wear any summer sandals without my feet swelling!  I prefer tennis shoes or flip flops but it is too hot for tennis shoes and I can't wear flip flops to work so I am sticking to about two pair of shoes for work.  Hopefully come the cooler days I can go back to wearing my boots.  I still feel a little nauseous at times but for the most part I would say it is 95% gone.  My energy has been renewed and I don't feel like I am exhausted by 6pm.  I am still making it to the gym 3-5 nights a week, which I am very happy about.  If I don't make it to the gym I try to spend some time in the pool while it is still warm.  Speaking of warm it is still extremely warm!  I can not imagine being 8 months pregnant when it is 100 outside, I am miserable just being 3 months along!  This weekend I hit 13 weeks and spend the weekend miserably hot because our AC went out once again.  Thankfully they did send a guy out and he said it was a bad installation of the entire unit and it honestly should be replaced.  Unfortunately, something did break and he could not replace until today.  So we spent yesterday and out of the house at a movie, shopping and swimming.  Hopefully at 5pm tonight it will be fixed or else mama will not be a happy girl! 
On a positive note, I want to tell you how proud of Reid I am.  When we moved it this is the yard that we were given:

It was not fun having to clean the dirt out of the pool every day because the wind seems to never stop where we live.  Reid was determined to make grass grow and I am proud to say he accomplished it! 

As you can see there are a few spots that need a little help but it is lovely to have grass finally.  The dogs love it and I love it because we don't have dirt constantly blowing in the pool.  Thank you honey for giving us a pretty yard we can enjoy! 

Okay, time for the belly shots.  Sorry the quality is not the best, I think Reid was shaking when he was taking them!
12 weeks:

13 weeks



How Far Along: 13 weeks



Size of baby:  One source tells me the size of a shrimp the other tells me the size of a peach


Total Weight Gain/Loss: -5 or 6 depending on the day.  Yes it is okay for me to lose weight while I am pregnant!  They want me to eat as healthy as possible and stay as active as possible.
 Maternity Clothes: Yes, they are about the only thing that is comfortable!  I still wear many of my dresses from before but rarely any pants unless they have stretch ability.

Gender: I am such a planner and am so ready to find out but I know we still have over a month before we find out.

Movement: Nothing yet, but am excited to begin to feel our baby kick

Sleep: I am surviving.  Some days it is really good and some days not so good.  I am a stomach sleeper and seem to always turn over so I have bought me a body pillow that helps me stay more on my side rather than directly on my stomach. 
What I miss: Being cool...seems like all I do is complain about how hot it is.

Cravings: I crave Mexican food but I tried eating it and was miserable so will stay away from it
Symptoms: a little nausea here and there and occasional feet swelling due to wrong shoe choice

Best moment this week: Watching Reid talk to "bean" through my belly and telling him how much he loves him/her. 



11 week checkup!

Saturday we hit the 11 week mark and things are progressing nicely.  The above ultrasound was done at our checkup and the tech said doesn't it looks just like a teddy bear!  Wednesday, August 10 we met with the midwife for the first time and she said all of my blood work looked great and we got to hear the heartbeat which was a strong 148.  I have had many people who have said anything over 140 is a girl...guess we will see in the next 6-9 weeks, we really don't have a preference as long as the baby is healthy.  We did find out that we RH incompatible because I am A- and Reid is O+.  For those of you who don't know what it is I have a description for you:

Rh incompatibility

Rh incompatibility is a condition that develops when a pregnant woman has Rh-negative blood and the baby in her womb has Rh-positive blood.

During pregnancy, red blood cells from the unborn baby can cross into the mother's bloodstream through the placenta.

If the mother is Rh-negative, her immune system treats Rh-positive fetal cells as if they were a foreign substance and makes antibodies against the fetal blood cells. These anti-Rh antibodies may cross back through the placenta into the developing baby and destroy the baby's circulating red blood cells.
When red blood cells are broken down, they make bilirubin. This causes an infant to become yellow (jaundiced). The level of bilirubin in the infant's bloodstream may range from mild to dangerously high.
Because it takes time for the mother to develop antibodies, firstborn infants are often not affected unless the mother had past miscarriages or abortions that sensitized her immune system. However, all children she has afterwards who are also Rh-positive may be affected.
Rh incompatibility develops only when the mother is Rh-negative and the infant is Rh-positive. Thanks to the use of special immune globulins called RhoGHAM, this problem has become uncommon in the United States and other places that provide access to good prenatal care.

Our doctor assured us there is nothing to be worried about and that they will keep a close eye on us as things progress but that our first shot will happen around 28 weeks. 

Here is the official 1st belly shot that was taken at 11 weeks:

How far along?: 11 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain: -4.5

Maternity clothes?: I've started wearing maternity pants in the last week.  I am a very lucky girl because my best friend from high school has let me borrow all of maternity clothes so I won't have to buy much of anything.

Stretch marks?: Nothing

Sleep?: I've always been a stomach sleeper and I can't do this anymore cause it hurts so I wake up alot

Best moment this week?: hearing the heartbeat and seeing how much the baby had changed since our 7 week ultrasound. 

Food cravings?:things sound good for a moment but then it usually passes.  I've had a lot of nausea but thankfully only been sick twice.  I've found two things that I can not eat while preganant and the sad thing is I love both of these things: spinach and cucumbers.

Labor signs?: None

Belly button in or out?: Completely in

What I miss: nothing right now

What I'm looking forward to: feeling the baby move

Milestones: 11 week check up went great

McDaniel Family 2012

Well, the McDaniel Family will be a little larger in 2012!  On July 1, we found out that God has blessed us with the addition of a child.  Reid and I were extremely shocked but excited for this opportunity.  We have had our first appointment and had an ultrasound to confirm that everything looks good.  Our official due date is March 3, 2012.  If you know me and my family then you know that our birthdays always seem to fall on other birthdays or special days.  For instance, I was born on my mom's birthday and my older sister was born on our grandmother's and cousin's birthday.  Well March 3 just happens to be my father's birthday and the day before happens to be Reid's sisters birthday.  So, this baby may just follow in my family's footsteps!
My pregnancy so far has not been too bad.  I have been sick once but only because I took my vitamins on an empty stomach...won't do that again!   I am working full-time so by the time I get done I am pretty tired and try to be in bed between 9 and 930.  I am still making it to the gym 3 or 4 times a week but have toned down my workouts.  My biggest battle has been nausea that comes and goes.  The best thing I have found is to chew a piece of wintergreen gum and it seems to subside.  Our next appointment is August 10, we will keep you updated as things progress!  Thanks for all your love and support, we are excited for this journey!

The New House!

HOME SWEET HOME!!

This is our new house, and we love it!  We are out in the boonies and border the BLM property on one side and a few neighbors in the far distance on the other side.  This house and property is much larger than our previous house but it is nice to have the extra space in the kitchen and to have a designated space for Reid's office.  He now has an entire living room designated his office and will be spending lots of time in there once the semester starts in August.  Here are a few pictures of the house while we were still unpacking:

The living room...to the left is our kitchen and dining room and to the right is our two guest bedrooms and bathroom.

The wonderful friends that helped us move and build our bed!  Thanks Patricia, Flint, Stacey and Gabe!

Our great backyard!  We love our pool, it has been very enjoyable during the hot summer months!

As many of you know Reid is passionate about his vegetable garden, so we attempted to plant one at our new home.  I am sad to say that we had to go to war with the rabbits and sadly we lost.  The rabbits demolished our garden two times so we are making weekly runs to the grocery store to get our fresh supply of vegetables.  

A beautiful sunset from our front porch...heavenly!

Our first rainstorm since October 2010...we were thankful for the moisture!  Since July 4th we have had some wonderful rainstorms and have actually seen a few of our plants in the garden starting to come alive...we will see if the little bunnies destroy it for the 3rd time.  We love our new home and do not regretting moving out into the "country."  I must say it amazing to see how much better I sleep when I don't have Spanish music playing until 3am and fights at the neighbor's house.

PS: we have plenty of room for any visitors that need a break from their everyday life...come on down!

Mr. and Mrs. Reid McDaniel

Well, lots has happened over the past 8 months Reid and I got engaged and have since been married.  We spent a lot of time deciding when and where to get married but seemed like we were never going to please everyone so we ended up getting married on March 26th and were so happy our family and friends were able to celebrate with us.  We knew we wanted a country feel to it and that is exactly what we got.  Reid and many family and friends helped cook the food and it was absolutely wonderful.  My cousin Jennifer came from Dallas and made the beautiful wedding cake and unique grooms cake.  We were pleased that Reid's mom, sisters, brother-in-law and three nieces were able to make the long drive to join us for our special day.    Here are a few pictures from that day!

My Parents

My sisters and I

Paege and I...she was so happy she could wear her wedding dress!

Reid's Family

Myself and Reid's sisters

Me

My husband

Us

Our First Dance

The Wedding Party

Boots all around

Our beautiful cake...Thanks Jenn!

Reid's Cake

Our rings

Praying



My flowers and boots

Happily Ever After!



Thank you all for making our special day so wonderful, we are truly very blessed!

The week we arrived home there was a swat situation on our street and had to have our house and yard searched my police.  We decided that it was time for us to move so we started looking and found a great house for us to start our new life in.  We will be moving April 23 and will be posting pictures soon!  Now we have lots of room for visitors...come on down!