The Lucky Number is 29

Hello again!

It's amazing how the time is flying and how quickly things continue to change. As of today, we are 29 weeks pregnant. Only 11 weeks to go!! Thursday is also my 29th birthday! We already have a great evening planned to celebrate. Dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants and an outdoor concert with friends on Friday. Please pray for an end to the heat wave!

Shawn and I went to the doctor today who said that everything looks great, normal and healthy.  He may have recommended I dial back on the sweets to keep my weight gain in check. Hey, I've been eating grandma's cooking for the last two weeks! What do you expect?! ;-)


I have been so blessed that since May all four of my grandparents have visited from Puerto Rico. Spending time with them makes me very thankful for my Puerto Rican roots and my loving family. It also inspires me to make sure I teach our child as much as possible about the Puerto Rican culture. The pictures are from our mini family reunion this past weekend. I can't wait for the first time we take our baby to Puerto Rico to meet the whole family!


As you can see from the pictures, mommy and baby are growing with each day. It literally feels like each day brings new feelings, new symptoms and a wider stomach. Not every moment is pleasant, but I'm trying to take it in stride and keep a good sense of humor. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the craziness that is pregnancy! Shawn has been great too - bringing me water so I don't have to get up from the couch, rubbing my swollen feet, and making sure I avoid any chores that involve heavy lifting or being outside in the heat. I'll admit, I'm a tad concerned of what the next 11 weeks have in store for me... Luckily, we know the end is quickly approaching!!


Time to start the weekend with husband :)
Stefanie

Babymoon, Nursery and Hello Third Trimester!

Cocktails before dinner in Savannah

 Hi everyone!

There is so much to share with you! Shawn and I spent last weekend in Savannah for a little pre-baby getaway. We had an amazing trip! On Friday we went to Tybee Island where we visited Fort Pulaski before chowing down at The Crab Shack. That night we walked the historic district and River Street going into shops and enjoying the beautiful squares Savannah is known for. Saturday we grabbed a trolley tour which was great because we got to learn all about the history of Savannah. That night we had dinner at the Olde Pink House where the bartender treated me to a beautiful "mocktail". If you are ever on Savannah, the praline basket dessert at OPH is NOT to be missed! Overall the trip was perfect. We were so relaxed and spent most of the time laughing or having sweet talks about past memories and the exciting events in the future. I'm so happy we were able to have this weekend away and can't wait to take baby Sheehan to Savannah in December for a trip we are planning with friends.

Entering the 3rd Trimester!!

Now that we are back, we are in full nursery decorating mode. We have most of the big items out of the way with just some wall decor and a rug left on the list. I made the curtains by hand. Shawn and I chose the fabric together which sparked the bird theme. The crib and bedding were purchased by both of our parents (thank you SO much!!). They look amazing in the room and I can't wait to set our tiny bundle of joy down to sleep in this lovely crib. The rocking chair is the most comfortable chair in our house and I already go in there to rock when I want to chill out. The rocking chair also has a great view of the back yard which (I hope!) will be a calming site when I'm trying to soothe a fussy baby.

I still can't believe that in exactly 3 months our lives will change forever and we will be parents! Even seeing the nursery, my growing belly and feeling baby kicks aren't enough to make it fully sink in. It almost feels like I'll just be pregnant forever - which is not something that I would enjoy...

As I enter the third trimester, I feel like so many symptoms have hit me all at once. Swollen feet, heartburn, trouble sleeping and a few others that I probably shouldn't share on this blog. I do love having little Felix safely tucked away in my belly, but I am also looking forward to soon having my body back to myself. I will say that the thing that I'll miss most about pregnancy is feeling our baby kick. Felix has been super active recently and as I feel his movements I get so curious wondering what he's actually doing in there! Whatever he's doing, he seems to be having a lot of fun which is all that I care about. :)

Wish us luck for the next 3 months! (And the 18 years following that - ha!)

Yours truly,
Stefanie

Baby Kicks

I have to start off by saying that pregnancy is so much more than I could have imagined. So often, we are too busy to listen to our bodies and often work against ourselves. Being pregnant, I have learned to listen to my body's cues and not to underestimate how good you can feel by just taking better care of yourself. Not that I eat super healthy ALL the time... if my body is craving double dark chocolate gelato, I know exactly where to find the ice cream scoop. :)

Another aspect of pregnancy that I am loving are feeling my little baby's kicks! It seemed like it was going to be forever before I would be able to feel them and then, almost overnight, they are happening all the time! They are a sweet reminder that our little Felix is growing bigger and stronger with each day. 

Something really special that happened yesterday is that Shawn was able to feel the baby kick for the first time. We were laying down to go to bed (a time when the baby usually gets active) and the kicks were pretty strong. I wasn't sure if Shawn would be able to feel, but I had him put his hand on my belly to see if he could get in on the action. It was so perfect. Just then, Felix gave a big kick right in the middle of Shawn's hand! A few seconds later, there came another. It's as if he was saying, "Hi, dad!". The moment was perfect and I am so glad that Shawn can start connecting with the baby in this way. 

We are less than 4 months from our due date and have lots to do! We have cleared out the room that is going to be the nursery and we are hoping to have the nursery done by the end of June. With our busy schedules, that actually doesn't leave too much free time to get it all done but I'm sure we'll make it happen - we always do :)  

Another exciting event we have planned for June is our "Babymoon"! For those of you who are not familiar with the term, Babymoon is like a honeymoon but its a couple's last getaway before the baby arrives. We have booked a weekend in Savannah and can't wait to take in the gorgeous sites and amazing food. We have our next ultrasound appointment the Friday morning of our trip. I can't think of a better way to kick off our Babymoon than seeing our little baby. :)

Thank you all for your love and support! I don't know what we would do without you!

Love,

Stefanie

Happy Mother's Day!

First, I'd like to start off by wishing all the amazing moms out there a Happy Mother's Day! Your unconditional love, endless compassion and tireless efforts are not recognized enough. I am thrilled to soon join such an outstanding group of women.

Although I have not yet earned the title of "Mom", this Mother's Day brought many sincere messages from friends and family. The first of such messages came Thursday evening after arriving home from a 5 hour road trip. Looking through the mail, I saw a card from my aunt Isabel whom I affectionately call "Titi Chavolo" (I love being Puerto Rican!). As I pulled the card out of the envelope, knowing exactly what occasion it marked, I started to cry. Happy tears filled my eyes as I realized that Mother's Day had taken on a new and very special meaning.

I recalled Mother's Days from my childhood. Richard and I had a very special tradition of making breakfast in bed for my mom each year. It likely started with a bowl of cereal and orange juice, then graduated to eggs, pancakes and coffee when we were old enough to manage in the kitchen. We would decorate a tv tray with a single flower and our best plate setting. Each year we were so proud to present our feast to our wonderful mommy. Imaging myself being on the receiving end of such love and admiration from my own child one day is more than my pregnancy hormones can handle right now! For now, I remain focused on providing this little miracle with all of the nutrition and safe-keeping it needs.

The pictures above are a glimpse into how I spent this Mother's Day. Shawn presented me with a gorgeous bouquet of red roses and the most perfect card to mark the occasion. He marked the envelope simply "Mommy Sheehan". This was the second card that had me crying before I read a single word! He also took me out to dinner. I decided to keep things low key and indulgent by going to Smokejack, an amazing barbecue restaurant on our downtown square. It was a wonderful day.

I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day today and every day!

Yours truly,
Stefanie

Cutest Fetus I've Ever Seen!

Hello friends and family!

Time is FLYING! We are officially 20 weeks into our pregnancy which means we are halfway there! Now that we are just 4 1/2 months from meeting our little baby, things are starting become very real...

Our 20 week ultrasound revealed a little person that has developed so much in the last 8 weeks. At our last ultrasound, Felix had a tiny little body with only small nubs for arms and legs. This ultrasound his arms and legs are in perfect proportion with this body. If you look at the second photo his foot is all the way up by by his face! Speaking of face, is that first picture just the cutest you've ever seen?! I could pinch those cheeks already! I am so in love :)

Another thing that is becoming that is becoming real is my baby bump. It has virtually appeared overnight! I think in the last 4 days the bump went from being somewhat identifiable to completely undeniable! Not that I'm complaining - a growing baby bump means a growing baby. All I care about right now is making sure baby Felix (or Felicity) is getting everything he/she needs to be healthy and strong.

Stats for our growing baby are very impressive. The ultrasound showed that Felix is weighing 13 oz and is 10 inches long! I think Shawn's genes are at work on that one... By fruit standards, our bundle of joy is the size of a small cantaloupe. No wonder my baby bump is showing!

All in all, things are progressing well and we couldn't ask for anything more. Being pregnant has brought out a new side to mine and Shawn's relationship that has allowed me fall in love with him all over again. I feel like the luckiest woman to be blessed with such love.

Alright, enough sappy talk! ;) I already almost cried once today (for no reason at all!). I think I deserve a brownie...

Love you all so much!
Stefanie

4 Months Down, 5 Month to Go!

Hello friends and family!

I hope this posts finds you all doing well! It's been a while since I've written which just goes to show how crazy life has been. I feel like our calendars are booked through August! The next few months are going to be very busy as we juggle work, social events and everything we need to do to get ready for the baby. Wish us luck!

Today is officially 18 weeks into the pregnancy. We are almost halfway there! Our little Felix is measuring about 5 1/2 inches. He's grown a lot since being the size of a blueberry... he's about the size of a sweet potato now! As you can see from the pic, my little baby bump is starting to show :) Yay!!

They say for your first pregnancy, you will start to feel flutters between week 18-22. Every morning I lay in bed for a while to see if I can feel anything. Nothing so far, but I know it's coming soon! I can't wait to start connecting with our sweet baby in that way.

As always, thank you all for your love, support and prayers. When I think of all the wonderful people that will love and influence our children as they grow up, I feel so incredibly blessed.

Much love,
Stefanie

Special Times in the Second Trimester!

It's official... I'm in the second trimester! We are 14 weeks and one third of the way into this amazing journey. Another milestone for today is that we are exactly 6 months from our due date! I have to say, I am loving life these days. The baby bump is starting to show and I am falling in love with my pregnant body. It's surreal the first time you get dressed and see that little pooch! I love being able to see and feel the physical evidence of our growing baby, and I am so proud to show it off. Words can't really describe how incredible it feels.

Little Felix is now 3 1/2 inches or the size of a lemon. Last night Shawn joked around by rocking a lemon in his arms like a baby - he's so silly :) Felix is estimated to grow an inch a week for the next 6 weeks! I'm likely to gain at least half a pound a week for the next few weeks as well. So far I've gained 7 pounds. At least for now they are all around the mid-section!

We are very blessed to have so many special things going on right now. I have an appointment next week with our midwife. My mom has the day off work and she's going to join me for the appointment! Next weekend Shawn's parents are visiting from Kentucky. This is the first time we've seen them since the big news so it's sure to be an exciting weekend!

Thank you all for your love and support. You are truly blessings in our lives.

~Stefanie