The Platekrill Family, Take 2

The Platekrill Family

Moving right along

10 weeks, crazy. that seems like a really long time, but it's 1/4 the way done. i am so excited

Isn't there supposed to be some glow?

Well, I got a kick out of this. I get these updates from various websites about the baby's growth trajectory each week and what kind of symptoms or changes I should expect to see in my body. Now we have all heard that old adage that pregnant women have a "glow", right? I have yet to see any evidence of this so called "glow." Here is my update for the week about what to expect:
"Notice a network of tiny blue veins crisscrossing your already achy breasts and (sorry) disappearing waistline? Though you may not love the new look, these veins carry the extra blood needed to nourish your burgeoning baby. You also might see the effects of pregnancy on your face -- in the form of major breakouts, that is. (Thanks, hormones.)"
Gee this really gives me something to look forward to! LOL! I mean maybe they could sugar coat it a little more. I would appreciate that. Anyway, this totally contradicts the whole "glow" idea if you ask me. Luckily, I am not one of those poor ladies, at least not yet, that has had terrible breakouts in response to the hormonal changes; however the thickening of the waistline is definitely in effect. 

Almost 10 weeks!

On Tuesday Peanut will be 10 weeks! By this time he/she is the size of a small plum and he/she looks more human-- little finger nails will be developing soon! It is amazing to think that all of this is going on inside of me. Amazing! I have been looking for something to buy for little P, because I am so excited for his or her arrival. However, I can't find anything that I want to buy. I am not sure why! I think that once we know whether Peanut is a he or a she it will make shopping a lot easier. I just can't picture a little "it" baby in a green or yellow onesie. I want to know what "it" is!

Ecstatic

Ecstatic is a word derived from an emotion that tends to occur with the creation offspring (i.e. baby-making!), ecstasy. I think it's appropriate, even if it sounds naughty. Here's why: I am completely and unadulteratedly ecstatic about having a baby with Austen!

Seriously, everyday, I think about her (& P) more and more, it's almost debilitating. LOL What's she doing? Is she feeling anything? I hope she's not upset or nauseous? I wonder if she need's anything? Maybe I should write her a dumb, funny poem to put a smile on her face. Maybe I should stop into her office just to say hi, or to deflect other annoying people from stopping in, as if that'd work! I hope work is not to stressful for her. I hope she has enough food for lunch, I'd better go call/email/IM her to find out. I hope people aren't bothering her, she's got the log onto the Bump, which is vastly more important. I can't wait for her to come home and snuggle up with her snuggie (or me) and the dogs and Billy (the cat people, what kind of folks do you take us for?) I love to listen to her say while watching Idol: "I hate Cara D'whateverthehellhername is. But I like Elen, she's funny." I like making her healthy snacks, which I think she appreciates. I like making dinner for her: BUT NO DARK GREEN VEGGIES OR CAULIFLOWER, oh no... that can = pukie feeling. Oh no, none of that! I love telling her I love her. I love helping her work on/think about her dissertation. I like telling her about my day, and hearing about hers, although my day is usually boring as all get out, because I've done nothing but think about her all day.

A few years ago, and many guys today, would say, "Steve, sounds like you are majorly bitch (insert any other female genitalia organ here) whipped". But, alas, I am not. Just Ecstatic about having my best friend be my wife, life partner, colleague, emotional and cognitive friend and support system, and mother of my offspring. If that's bitch whipped, fine, but really it's not. Because while I think about her and P as often as I humanly can and love her more than this post or anything written would/could ever demonstrate, I know she feels the same way about me. We work as a team - supporting each other. And I am simply ecstatic about it!

Valentine's Day!

Well, I sure have been getting the royal treatment today! Actually, I have been treated like a queen for the last few weeks. Steve has been more than willing to take over chores and run errands so that I can rest and relax. I am so thankful that I have such a caring and thoughtful husband. Today, in celebration of Valentine's Day, Steve made me the dinner of my choice. We had lamb loin chops with mint jelly, garlic smashed potatoes, and caesar salad (I know... it was a tall order!). He did a wonderful job, and it was delicious! To top that off, he made a paleo (uber healthy) carrot cake to satisfy my sweet tooth. The cake was a hit! I am already thinking of having a piece for breakfast. Oh wait, I am not supposed to gain all 25 pregnancy pounds in the first trimester, so maybe I will stick to eggs for breakfast. The whole reason I wanted to write this post isn't to describe how much I am enjoying all the great food that I am eating, but to express how much I appreciate having a partner like Steve who is so willing to go above and beyond- and not just on Valentine's day. From his willingness to cook to writing me loving emails every morning to reassure me that I am the coolest in his eyes, he makes me feel so loved and very special every day of the year! I love you, Steve! You rule! I can't wait to celebrate Valentine's with you and Peanut next year, although I think the Valentine's menu will be a little different for P--

V-day

Lamb loin chops and garlic mashies. MMMM

P should be very full!

I also made a paleo carrot cake. It was a pain in the ass because I had to whip egg whites. Even though I forgot to add the orange zest and orange juice (which I just added to the top 10 minutes into cooking) it turned out OK. I also added some unsweetened flake coconut.

Snowy days

Holy moly, it snowed, no seriously snowed here in Suwanee GA! I know it doesn't compare to the north, but we got 3-5 inches, which for GA is a veritable blizzard! (They aint got the skills to clean the road!)

So, snowy days, with prego babes. We're probably just going to hang low and avoid all the already bad atlanta metro drivers who think they KNOW how to drive in snow when in reality (IMHO) they cannot even drive on asphalt. hehe.

How're things progressing with the preg: pretty good. Austen is still feeling a bit tired and some foods completely gross here out. Yesterday she told me she took some veggies for lunch and that just looking at Cauliflower made her a little nauseous. It's absolutely amazing to me the biology behind this. In biology we call this parent-offspring conflict, the first of many I am sure :-)

The point is that the baby is driving the mother to not put stuff in her body. Particularly don't put stuff in her body that could affect the embryo negatively. This of course is happening at a completely unconscious level, but think about it. (Oh and if you don't fancy a thought about it, there's science to back it up). Vegetables are loaded with toxins. They have to be, in fact we, humans have domesticated vegetables to include those toxins. The toxins serve a survival advantage to the plant: they keep predator bugs, insects, arthropods (actually not, b/c they are carnivorous) and some small mammals from eating them up. This is good right. It's a naturally designed insecticide. Well these toxins don't go so well with our body as well as insect's bodies. No they don't kill us, of course, but they don't taste good either. Most plant based toxins are very bitter and animals learn in the wild that bitter stuff makes me sick stay the hell away from it. During our development - childhood - our parents say "eat your broccolli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, etc. And as children we try a bit, and spit it out. Mom and dad try again. And we eat a bit and then say we're full. And then mom and dad try again (why are mom and dad trying to poison their children? the veggies do have beneficial effects as well like minerals, vitamins, etc). So mom and dad keep trying and during childhood we engage 1 for me, 1 for bruno, 2 for me, 1, 2, for bruno. The kid is essentially building up his/her tolerance to the toxins in the plants. So that in adulthood when we have kids we say, come on lil fella, just one bite of asparagus before leaving the table.

Now take this parent-offspring conflict to the womb and embryonic development. The embryo has no defenses except to make MOM pukie. That is why and how pregnanct sickness works. The embryo would give the spinach to the dog, but reaching through the wall of the uterus and outer layers of skin prove to difficult.

Anyhow, we are doing good about it and avoiding such things... for our baby's health LOL

Week 8

This has been a very exciting week! On Tuesday we went to the Dr for my first appointment and we were able to see Peanut! It was incredible to see and hear the heartbeat, and it really made me feel more at ease. So far, things seem to be going very well and I couldn't be more pleased! 

Physically, I am feeling kind of blah. I am very tired and hungry all the time, but I am managing to continue to go to the gym and to do all of my normal activities. I am really looking forward to that time period in the second trimester when things go back to "normal"--- or so they say. Actually, I was telling Steve last night that I imagine P in there wearing a little fidel castro hat with a mustache barking orders like a little dictator--- lol. It certainly seems like for such a small little thing, "he" is taking over my body and running the show! 

In all seriousness though, this has been such a special time in our lives. The moment that I found out that P existed things changed. Just the knowledge of that little life sparked the beginning of a love that is growing day by day. In this delicate time during pregnancy, I am so thankful for every day that P grows stronger and gets bigger. Grow, baby, grow! 

One of the most exhilirating days of my life

Today. Today I woke up and got to go see Austen and my embryo, which we are calling Peanut's heart beat. We got to see that lil blob that is the end result of our reproductive success. As long as I've been around medical imaging technology, I've never actually been around ultrasound. Today was totally amazing. Totally. To think that the little bugger up on the screen - that crazy African drum sounding heart beating sound - was ours. Something we made! I cannot remember ever feeling more happy or proud. Pride, like I did something spectacular that every other person on the planet doesn't do, I know, it sounds really strange, but I felt proud! Proud of myself. Proud of my gorgeous wife (who by the way never looked hotter than during those 10 minutes of medical gowned glory this morning). And proud of the lil dude's (yeah I gotta feeling about the sex) heartbeat ticking away.

This whole deal was an accident. We had a perfectly good, no PERFECT dog, Bruno. We made the mistake of adding Radley... Nah, just teasing, We love Rads. But two dogs, one being a young puppy has been tough. Then we decided, hey, we just about got over waking up in the middle of the night to run the crying puppy downstairs for some peeps or poops so why don't we buy a house! Sounds reasonable right? AHHHHHH!!!!!

The house purchase, apparently could not have been better timed! And now this. The newest of our adventures. The kid! I mean what trick are we going to pull on our family next? ;-) Relax, Family, I am kidding!

I've heard it a lot - the miracle stuff. I don't believe in miracles but if I did I do think that what I felt today was what those people talk about. Sheer brilliance. I think I had a smile on my face all day (for those of you who might of thought I just had a botox shot, I didn't, seriously!)

Well, this is sure to be a fun, entertaining that the very least, journey.... Stay tuned...

First Pics of The Peanut!

Just back from the OB/GYN with first pics of our little fella, or fellete. We are calling "it" Peanut.

Here are the first ultrasounds that do no justice b/c we got hear and see the little hearbeat!!! So COOL!

 

Sorry about rotational issues, I saved them in the correct orientation... 

Post one for the Peanut

Hey all,

This is going to be a place where we post information, updates and general news about the developmental trajectory of The Peanut

ALK (w/ Peanut) & SMP