18 Weeks Day 4 Belly Picture

Is my belly bigger than last week? hmm.. I definitely feel stuffier...my doctor said that I only gained 2 lbs so far and was told to gain more weight...ay yi yi..
Since I am short, I am going to look like a big whale with all the weights I will be gaining... eeekss! so not looking forward to...  -_-''

I think I can start feeling the baby moving..although I am still not sure if it was just gas or what..but I feel sometimes my tummy is poked from the inside and felt like pressure in my abdomen area..

It's a ............................

Before I said anything, I just want to say, I was right all along...meaning I wanted to be "A" baby but just because I want it, it might mean I am going to get "B"..
My baby was squirming when the technician was trying to take pictures..she had to chase the baby around... maybe that's because I drank a sugary drink before going to the doctor.. :P

So here are the pictures:

 

(not sure what that is?)

 (at 18 weeks..the profile picture)

(the skeleton...a bit scary, huh?, but I am amazed how much the baby has developed in 18 weeks..you can see the eyes,nose and mouth!)

ARE YOU READY TO SEE?

(I think that's between his legs and his goodies..hehehehe)

so yeah..we are having a BOY!! 

I wanted a girl just because so I can dress my baby in all pink cuteness outfits..hehehe but I will take a healthy baby boy so he can be my little body guard :)

Doctor said everything looks good, all the parts that are supposed to be there are in the right places :)

The sad part is, there will be no more ultrasounds :(

However,  I bought this GROUPON thing for 3D pictures in the last trimester so I get to see him again! :)

Thanks for all the supports and prayers! :)

Anatomy Scan Today!

We are going to the doctor for anatomy scan this afternoon. I am very anxious, excited, nervous...
I could not even get a good night sleep last night because I could not wait for the appointment, plus coz of the stuffy nose *yuck*. Ever since the second-trimester started, I have been having this stuffy nose that just won't go away! Blahhhh! Plus with the allergy season, it is a double-whammy! :(

Anyway, I don't know what to expect for the scan. Some people say to drink OJ or soda before going in to make the baby more active so she/he can show off the goodies. LOL
I am praying everything is going to be alright...10 fingers, 2 ears, 2 eyes, 1 nose, 1 mouth..perfect little baby Ma.. AMEN..

Wish me luck!

Here is a bit info from whattoexpect.com re: anatomy scan..

******

What a level 2 ultrasound screens for

The ultrasound anatomy scan, or level 2 ultrasound, is an amazingly interesting experience for parents-to-be. Your baby will be measured from crown to rump (and what a cute rump it is!), around her middle, around her head — and that's just for starters. The four chambers of the heart will be viewed, as well as the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, spine, and sex organs (be sure to tell your sonographer if you don't want to know the sex of the baby!).
Measurements are taken from this special ultrasound during pregnancy to make sure your baby is growing appropriately (and that his or her gestational age is still on target). A survey of the organs, including the umbilical cord, ensures that they are developing normally (or identifies any potential problems as soon as possible). The sonographer will also be looking at your amniotic fluid levels, the location of the placenta, and the fetal heart rate. Settle in to enjoy the show: The detailed level 2 scan can take 30 to 45 minutes (depending on how cooperative your little one wants to be during the photo shoot).

Who a level 2 ultrasound is for

Most practitioners order an ultrasound anatomy scan for all their moms-to-be.

How a level 2 ultrasound is done

You recline on an exam table with your belly exposed. A sonographer applies gel and then moves the transducer over your abdomen. As sound waves emitted from the transducer bounce off "structures" inside (like your baby's adorable face!), images are formed on a video screen. To get the most comprehensive assessment, the sonographer will be aiming for many different views from lots of different angles in this anatomy scan. When the technician gets a clear shot, he or she will freeze-frame the picture (that's the actual sonogram) and then measure the anatomy. You can expect to go home with one or two good sonogram pictures (the perinatologist and your practitioner will review the rest).

When a level 2 ultrasound is done

Most anatomy scans are performed in the second trimester of pregnancy between 18 weeks and 22 weeks. If you have a condition that needs to be monitored (such as carrying multiples), you may have more than one detailed ultrasound.
Risks: There are no significant risks associated with ultrasounds, though medical guidelines caution against unnecessary exposure to ultrasound — which is why your practitioner will schedule only a handful of them throughout your pregnancy.

Baby Daily Deals Websites

A Quick List of Baby Flash Sale Sites 

(Source: http://www.squidoo.com/DealOfTheDayBabySites)

Here's a Brief Rundown of Flash Sale Sites Geared Towards Babies and Kids*

Tip: To get a feel on whether or not you like what any particular site has to offer, it's a good idea to check the site daily for 1-2 weeks. You can do this by subscribing to their daily email. This gives you a feel for the site without taking up a lot of your time, and you will generally know if you want to keep it on your radar or not. If you don't like it, just unsubscribe. Remember that with sites like this, as with baby deal of the day sites, patience is almost always rewarded. Ex: RueLaLa had a black Friday deal that every would-be-chef would go nuts over...Kitchen Aid mixers for $149...NO LIE!

*Most of these thrive and continue to grow in popularity via invitations from current members. When you click on one of the links below, you are clicking on my personal invitation for you to become a member. In some cases current members get credit on the site when new members join and/or make a purchase. This is not true of daily deal sites, just membership sites like the ones listed below.

Zulily

My favorite flash sale site for parents, Zulily has just about everything for infants, toddlers, little kids, maternity and nursing moms.

Totsy

Totsy is another favorite and is also geared exclusively towards all things kid/parent related.

HauteLook

HauteLook has great brands and a special section for kids/babies/maternity. They are also one of the best flash sale sites out there for mens and women's attire and have good home furnishing sales as well. This is a great site for scoring deals and all around really does have some of the best stuff on their site.

The Mini Social

The Mini Social is a more upscale membership site for babies and kids. They specialize in children's clothing and toys.

Gilt

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite sites for parenting related finds. You have to click a few times to really see into their sales in the kids section, but they usually have a whole LOT of stuff for sale and it's usually really good stuff too. This one is really worth checking out.

Ideeli

Similar to HauteLook, Ideeli has a special section devoted to all things kids/babies/maternity, but also has other sections for the whole family. Ideeli is interesting, because sometimes their sales are just so-so and other times they have some of the most amazing sales out there. It just depends on the sale.

Open Sky

Open Sky is a really unique kind of flash sale site, unlike the others. Essentially celebs or others who have a pulse on great products handpick certain products and present them on their shops. I'm still figuring this one out, but it's quickly becoming a favorite, although I haven't explored into the kids category as much as I would like. But what I've seen has been really great! They also randomly give you free credit, including $15 just for creating a free account...so that's super cool! Navigation is a little strange on this site, but it has fast grown on me.

Plum District

Plum District isn't your typical flash sale site. It's similar to groupon, but they do have flash sales and you do have to be a member to purchase just like the flash sale membership sites. Plum District is a great one for parents, because they almost always have something related to babies/kids/parenting. Sites like Plum District and Groupon are different because you have to sign up for a specific city. However, even if you don't live in a major city many of the finds are online sales so it's actually not a bad idea to sign up for the 2-3 closest cities to you. I was skeptical of this site at first and now it's one of my absolute favorites!

Fab

Fab is very new, less than a year old, but quickly gaining a following for their ultra modern, uber chic fare. Not strictly for kids, they have regular sales on home goods or toys in the children's categories. Hint: you've probably never seen or heard of most of the brands offered on Fab...but they're really cool...sometimes really out there. If you're looking for something no one else has ever seen or heard of, Fab is your place. This is a site definitely worth checking out.

Beyond the Rack

Beyond the Rack has a targeted kids/baby/maternity/nursing section, however, while they have some great things to offer, they have a bigger selection for men, women and home goods. They often have some great deals all around.

One King's Lane

A strictly home decor site, you'll often find home furnishing for baby's nursery or toddler rooms. They usually have a few sales a week targeted for parents. One Kings Lane has some really unique stuff and is a really fun site to browse. It's one of those sites that makes you remember when you didn't use to eat, sleep and breathe "kid".

The Foundary

The Foundary is not a site exclusive to the parenting sector, but often has kids gear and toys and is a very clean looking, easy to browse site. They have really nice products and always offer a range of product types and prices at all price points. They also have some of the most reasonable shipping rates. This is a great site to buy birthday and Christmas gifts for the whole family.

Joss & Main

This site is similar to One Kings Lane in that it focuses on unique and luxurious home goods with the occasional children's sale cropping up. However, Joss & Main caters to parents less frequently than One Kings Lane, but has mass appeal for the decorator in you.

Rue La La

Rue La La offers a focus on high fashion and just opened "Little Rue", a baby deal branch (partnered with Toys R Us!) for the kid/parenting sector. Rue is a fun site that often has great brands and offerings. Another cool thing about Rue La La? You pay $9.95 once a month and then get free shipping the rest of the month. Cool. Especially when you see their deals and the brands they carry. One of the best kids sales so far...FAO Schwarz!

Pure Citizen

An eco-conscious, responsible company unlike any other. This one is more for all you mamas and daddies out there, but benefits the entire family. You'll only occasionally find something related to the actual "kid" category. While you willl find things like vegan diaper bags on occasion, this site really does cater to the whole family in that it brings pure and responsibly created products and sources from vendors that are creating healthier products and giving back to their communities. This is a REALLY cool company...a must see!

 

More links:

Babyhalfoff.com

Babysteals.com

mamabargains.com

greenbabybargains.com

ecobabybuys.com

 

 

First Consignment Sale Treasure Hunt!

Last night me and my hubby went to a consignment sale for baby, kids and maternity stuffs. The place is actually quite a distance from our place, about 20-30 minutes drive but I really wanted to check it out because I have never been to this type of sale before. And thanks to hubba wubba who drove us there.. I know this is not his favorite thing to do so I appreciate his willingness to suck it up and go with me anyway.. * yay*

When we go there, holly molly! Tons of people!! and I saw the line for checking out was super long.....great..
We actually have not had any dinner yet so I was a bit nauseous and hungry but we decided to stick it out and see what we can get and get the heck out of there quickly.
Thanks to the tips from a good friend of mine, we went to the newborn boy rack to see if there were any good neutral-color clothes for our baby.
I wish we had known the gender so we knew for sure what to get, but that was fun too.:)
Long story short, we spent about 40 mins going through stuffs...in the end, we got 9 newborn clothes, 1 maternity short for myself (for dreadful hot Summer), and 5 board books for the baby! :)
Checking out is a different story...spent 30 minutes waiting just to check out... -_-''

Anyway...I think first trip is not so bad..although I was wondering, how many newborn clothes are we supposed to get?? My friend said that she bought about 35 pajamas in her first shopping trip and that lasted about 2 months for her baby (she went through 1-4 outfits per day) -_-'' That means, I only have 2 days of clothing for my newborn baby... LOL..oh well..that means I just have to go to the next sale for more treasure hunting :) At least now I know what to expect..
And I really hope I did not overpay for some of these stuffs. Most clothes prices are from $2-$4..average is $3..so I tried to buy the ones less than $3 except if it is like sweaters, overall, etc.


A good friend of mine actually emailed me her consignment shopping tips that are  helpful ..(I hope she doesn't mind me sharing the tips here):

1. The best stuff to buy at consignment sales are: newborn clothing (people get so much newborn stuff as gifts so often these things are brand new. The older the kid gets, the harder they are on their clothes so take advantage now) and books (especially board books that the kids will "read" themselves and likely tear up).

2. I don't buy anything that I can't wash or sterilize (think high chairs, diaper pails, nursing pillows... gross!).

3. I don't buy anything where safety can be compromised, even a little (car seats, strollers - always buy new or only take them used from someone you know and trust). The exception to this rule is a jogging stroller. My boss says consignment sales are a great place to look for one (if you need one) because many people think they need one but never use it so these are usually still brand new. I have looked a couple times and have not gotten lucky yet, though.

4. Here is the strategy we use for clothes shopping: Go through the racks of the age you need and grab ANYTHING you think has potential. Don't look at price or quality yet, just take them (bring a big shopping bag or laundry basket). Then go to a quiet corner and sort. If you spend too much time sorting at the rack, someone else may take what you want before you make a decision.

5. When sorting clothing, we always get rid of anything that looks "too" used and has any kind of stain (remember: yellow stain = poop). And, a good price point is ~$1-2 per onesie. If you are paying more than that, you're probably paying too much. ...

Ay yi yi yi...I am going to bring her along with me for the next sale so I can learn how to shop smart! :)

Celebrities' Ka-Ching Strollers

I was browsing through the internet found this site that shows the strollers the Celeb Parents use for their babies...The price ranges from $200 to more than $1k.
Wow..a stroller that costs $1050 for a baby..Jennifer Hudson actually uses this!

It might look kind of funny, but Jennifer Hudson’s sweet son David appears to be enjoying his perch as he rides high in a Stokke Xplory stroller, which features a reversible, height adjustable ergonomic seat.
Where to Get it: Toys R Us, $1,050

 

That doesn't look like a stroller to me....

As for the cheapest stroller that they use...


Rebecca Gayheart and X-Men hubby Eric Dane chose the sleek and simple Maclaren New Volo 2010 to transport their daughter Billie Beatrice during an afternoon walk.
Where to Get It: Amazon.com, $129

And what about Nicole Kidman?
Sunday Rose, daughter of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, rides in style in the Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle stroller, a rugged, country-ready ride from New Zealand.

Read more: http://www.ivillage.com/strollers-celeb-parents-love/6-b-275338#275378

Can someone please give me $$$$$ so I can buy $1k stroller for my baby? :p

A Blast from the Past (Pics!)

Thought this would be fun to show "old" pics and hopefully this will make this more of a complete blog for our journey with Baby Ma! :)
Found this pics on my phone but did not think about posting these until today....shame on me!!

How did I know/guess I was pregnant?
Well, I missed my period for more than 2 weeks although I had a big fluctuation with my past periods. But, I trusted my instinct and bought this cheap pregnancy sticks tests from Amazon for about $6!

On Saturday, Jan 28, 2012...

Everyone (by everyone, I meant, my hubby and our 2 dogs :), lol ) was still asleep when I woke up around 8 am..I thought I would try those pee-pee test..I have got nothing to lose anyway so might as well find out.
So I peed on the first stick...well technically I did not pee on the stick, I used a small container and dunk the strip into the container.. Less than 3 seconds (literally, 3 seconds!), I saw my pee climbed up the stick quickly and forming a second line (1st strip on the pic).  *Gasp*
Very nervous, I grabbed the second stick and did the same thing and voila....took less than 4 seconds to see the red line (2nd strip on the pic)!
I went back to bed and tried to take this all in and how to break the news to my husband.. lol.
An hour later, I woke up my hubby and finally told the news. I don't remember exactly what I said but all I can remember is I asked him to do the test for me!! (Who knows these cheap strips was a junk after all!)
His test came back negative (no second line- 4th strip on the pic).
Then, I waited for another hour or so, and I took another test..you can imagine how nervous and anxious I was! ta-da...the test came back positive again! (3rd strip on the pic).
Finally, still very curious and really really anxious, I decided to try silly experiment just to prove or make sure that these tests are not junks and telling the truth!
I dunk the strip into regular tap water..LOL...voila! It was negative (last strip on the pic)
Here is the picture: 

Valentine's Day, Feb 14th, 2012
Our first doctor's appointment! Doctor said that I am in my 8th weeks and the due date is Sept 22nd, 2012. Yay...
Here is the first ultrasound pic:

I must say, that is one of the best Valentine's day ever...knowing that a tiny baby is inside my belly :). The only thing that worried me at that time was the doctor found some kind of blood clot or a mass above my uterus. He said that it might be a Fibroid (non-cancerous tumor), so he will have someone check it for me in the next appointment. Blood work came back good. Urine test came back with a result..apparently I have a bladder infection so the nurse sent me a prescription to the pharmacy. Weird thing was I did not feel anything different that indicates I had a bladder infection

March 14th, 2012 (Week 12, Day 3)

Today is our second doctor's appointment! Yay!

First thing in order, the ultrasound technician did an ultrasound to check the "fibroid" to see if it was indeed a fibroid or a blood clot. After few minutes of "digging", she found nothing! Praise God! I told her that I had a brown discharge few days ago so that might be it! I was so relieved!

And here is the baby picture on Week 12:

 

Did you see a tiny nose? :)

That's all the pics that I have for now. Next doctor's appointment is next week for the Anatomy Scan :) *nervous and excited*..
Majority people said that baby Ma is a girl!!! But my mom and my boss and one of my best friends said that it's a boy! So we shall see!! Hopefully nothing is wrong and Baby Ma is continuing to be strong and healthy.. :)

Weird Stuff I Found..

So this past weekend, I hung out with my 9-year-old niece. We went to lunch and watched a movie, called "Mirror Mirror". It was a fun movie and I am definitely glad that my niece likes that movie. In my adult brain, I thought the beginning was a bit boring but towards the end, it was not so bad.

After movie, we went to this toy store across from the theater. There were fun toys but what strikes me the most was this thing: an edible crickets, with flavors like Bacon and Cheese or Sour Cream and Onion!! I thought this is cool and hysterical. I know that in some countries, people do eat crickets! In fact, a friend of mine told me that crickets are not that bad! Hmmm... I don't know if I wanted to try it...but who knows.. LOL.
Anyway, here is the picture of the edible crickets, for only $2.99 per box!

Does it look yummy to you?

17 Week and Day 3 Belly Picture

Is there a difference in my belly since last week?
Ummm, I feel more stuffy and my belly is hard! I have not been able to felt the baby yet so am very curious how that would feel like..
Last week I actually felt better...not sure if it is the meds or because I am in my second-trimester!
However this week..hmmm although I am not throwing up as many as I used to for the last 2 full months, I do still feel nauseous and usually throw up in the morning after shower. For the past 2 days though, I have been throwing up after dinner (and sometimes before) :(
*Take a big breath*....I really hope this will go away soon!!

Ohhh and another milestone... we bought our first crib yesterday (4/17)!! Horrayyy that is our first big purchase for Baby Ma!
We actually bought it online through this awesome website, Zulily.com. I think we got a pretty good deal for a convertible crib. Hopefully we will be able to use this for a lonnnnnngggg time! This crib can be changed to a toddler bed and also a full bed!! :)

We are going to a consignment sale tomorrow night..hoping to get good deals on some stuffs!! *excited*

Heartbeat! April 10th, 2012 (16 Week Day 3)

We went to third doctor's appointment yesterday. I was hoping we could take a look at Baby Ma! But, we only got to hear the heartbeat.. Baby Ma's heartbeat is 145!
I was a bit nervous when the doctor was poking my tummy with the doppler for few mins and could not find the heartbeat. My heart started racing...man...that was not a good feeling at all!
When the doctor finally found the heartbeat, I breathed a sigh of relief! Woooo..
Until this day, I still cannot believe that I am carrying a baby in my tummy! Very surreal!
If you want to hear what a baby's heartbeat sounds like in womb, here is a sample

Doctor also prescribed me another nausea medicine~ Phenergan. This med will make me tired easily so doctor only prescribed a low dose.
I tried taking it last night and I slept like a baby! I am not sure I want to take this during the day though, unless I have a really bad case of nausea, I might cut the pill into half again.
Zofran did not do me any good (besides giving me a bad constipation) so let's hope this is the magic pill!!  *fingers and toes are crossed*

In any case, I think I prefer to "feel" pregnant to have some sort of assurance that Baby Ma is still kicking than not knowing at all. But on the other hand, I am looking forward to the day where nausea fairy is gone and I get to start enjoying the pregnancy and back to myself and eating again!!

16 Week and Day 1 Belly Pic

My bloated tummy pic..hehehe..

15 Weeks and Counting

Ok, I have been slacking in writing this blog. My excuse is because I have been so busy feeding my toilets and every other's toilets when I am around. Yes! I am in 15 weeks and yet I am still throwing up. Woo hoo!
Most people always try to comfort me by saying that this will be over when I hit a second-trimester. Yeah..mmmhmm.. I wake up everyday in the morning hoping that this sick fairy will go away and I can go back to being myself.
But, I must say, I absolutely definitely cannot do this without my wonderful hubba wubba, who patiently cook or buy food for us because I cannot cook or even look at raw meats. Yikes!!
And..no ONION please!
It's funny how I don't have food cravings but I have lots of food aversion. :(

My big No-No: sweets (ice cream, cakes, yogurt, chocolates, all the stuffs I used to love :( ); onion (ugh!); pasta/creamy stuffs

I looked at my husband eating an ice cream bar the other night.. Oh how I envy him!! I really wanted to eat that sweet thang, but I knew I was going to regret it big time. So, I held it in :(

Anyway, next week is our 3rd doctor's appointment. I am really hoping that we can know the sex of our baby because I cannot wait anymore!!
Praying for a happy healthy baby boy/girl..our baby Ma!

Happy Easter!!