Week 22

My Aunt Mimi also asked that we include Mama Tigger's face in a few of these. So, here you go:


These were taken yesterday, while hiking in Rock Creek Park. Mama Tigger has been wearing maternity clothes for a few weeks now. My jaw dropped when I saw her in a "regular" t-shirt - Tigger's startin' to show!

What a beautiful day!

Work begins on the Nursery

We're almost five months along now so we've started work on the nursery. As many of you know, we have a small room down the hall of the master bedroom; since we moved in we've called it the yellow room (because of the yellow walls). Well, now it's Tigger's room and we've decided that since it's such a nice shade of yellow, we're giong to keep it for Tigger.

After a lot of looking, we settled on the Olivia crib from JC Penney- thanks Mom (aka G-Ma C)! Here's a picture from the website (I don't know why they cover every crib with a big blanket in the pictures!). It's backordered for a month and should arrive sometime in June.

We also bought a glider for the nursery. At first, I was anti-glider until I found upholstered gliders; I'm just not into those cushion-covered wood ones at Babies R Us. While visiting the 'rents in Virginia a few weeks ago, we found a great deal on a swivel glider. The picture shows an off-white chair; we ordered it in eggplant (kind of a deep purple). We thought it was a nice neutral shade that still had good color. Now that I think about it, I think it's the same color as my bridesmaid's dresses!

So there you have it. It looks like the colors in the nursery will be soft yellow and deep purple. We're still working on how to incorporate some Tigger in the nursery, since he's orange and black. Next on our list is a dresser and curtains......

More Kicking!

As Papa Tigger posted earlier, we have some kicking and punching by Tigger. Yesterday, we even saw the kicking and punching! Tigger was being very active, so we decided to watch my stomach. When Tigger gave a really good kick or punch, we could see it! It was neat and kind of weird - it really makes you think there's an alien inside me.

Another quick update from the doctor. We went last Friday and all is well - heartbeat is still around 160, just where it should be. And we got the blood work tests back and it was negative for both the infection and cystic fibrosis. Yeah!

Week 21

Kicking and...

Well, no screaming (yet), but we have kicking! And rolling! And stretching?

Tigger is getting active in the womb. I even got to feel an arm or a leg last night during dinner. I am curious as to what others at the restaurant were thinking as Mama Tigger popped out of her chair every few minutes to walk over to my side of the table, only to place my hand on her lower stomach. Kinda funny.

I feel like its something to play with now - I want to poke it to wake it up and make it move. Don't worry, Mama Tigger is good at keeping me at bay, so Tigger can get its rest...

Brave New World

Oh yeah, we're gonna do this.

Please help us out!

Week 20

Pre-Mother's Day

Mama Tigger and I headed to G-Ma & G-Pa T's place for Mother's Day and G-Ma T's birthday. It was a fun time. I learned that I slept through the night at 2 weeks. 2 weeks! Not gonna happen for Tigger...

The discussions with my parents fueled the debate Mama Tigger and I are having over the whole breastfeeding versus formula question. My parents chose the formula route (hence, the sleeping through the night at 2 weeks). I have been reading up on the question and have had difficulty finding a balanced, unbiased discussion. Everything is pro-breastfeeding...

There is no question there are real benefits to breastfeeding. It is nature's milk, after all. So, in the comparison of breast milk to formula themsleves, there is a clear winner. And that is where most every article I have read on the topic ends. However, what about the external realities that result from breastfeeding?

First, I can't participate, until pumping begins. And even then, Mama Tigger spends as much or more time pumping than if she just fed Tigger outright. Sucks for me, and adds stress / work on Mama Tigger.

The countless hours feeding, pumping, feeding, pumping and feeding again will certainly add up. Such effort will undoubtedly add more stress to our lives and the life of Tigger, not to mention the physical strain on Mama Tigger.

At what point does this stress add up to compete against the raw benefits of breast milk over formula? Yes, I know our "priorities are changing", but we cannot neglect the fact that Mama Tigger is a driven and ambitions person. Is it fair for her to take on such a responsibility when a perfectly acceptable alternative exists, that will allow us to share in the experience and provide a less stressful environment for Tigger?

Week 19

Sono #2

Mama Tigger had her 2nd sono yesterday - it was great fun. After waiting almost an hour, we had a cranky technician that was not very accommodating (it had nothing to do with the fact that WE were cranky, I swear. Well, maybe...). And, Mama Tigger couldn't see the screen. However, all is well on the growth front - right on target at 19 weeks.

The doc noticed a little something quirky with the bowel, so we have to get a couple blood tests run. He said the probability of this being anything but normal is very small, but not small enough to spend some of our insurance company's money to run a few tests (I added the insurance company bit...).

It appears Tigger takes after cousin Cassidy. S/he is very squirmy - so squirmy, in fact, that we were only able to get pictures of parts, rather than the whole 10 ounces. So, without further adieu, I give you Tigger sono #2...

Legs!


Hands!


An arm!


And a face!

Generational Differences

Mama Tigger and I have been enjoying the discussions with the grandparents-to-be, particularly about how times really have changed. Take car seats, for example.

G-Ma & G-Pa T regaled us with stories last weekend of pretty much throwing my sister and me in the back seat. As infants, we apparently were placed lovingly into a basket the width of their their VW bug, only to roll from side to side on sharp curves. Must have been fun!

G-Ma C notched up the safety a bit, providing a booster seat for Mama Tigger in the front seat. I understand it even had a "safety bar" to assist.

It makes me wonder how Tigger will reflect on our technology? My prediction is that sonograms will be done on-demand by placing your computer mouse on the abdomen...