Baby Sykes Video!

Our photograph/video compilation is complete! Some of the images are almost 15-years old. Yep, Ken and I have been together for almost 15-years! Looking back, I am glad to be a shutterbug. There are so many memories created and to be had; I hope you enjoy the video. The video has been uploaded to you.tube, just click on the words BABY SYKES.

Baby Survey

At the suggestion of my sister I created a survey to track what gender, weight, size, etc.. the baby will be. If you get a moment fill it out. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGDJDDF

Childbirth Preparation

Today and yesterday evening, Ken and I attended St. Marks Hospital's Childbirth Preparation class. Having busy schedules, we opted for the intensive format instead of doing the six evening classes. The class was GREAT and we both feel more prepared than before. I don't think we will get to the point of feeling totally ready, but who is? The course covered the labor and delivery process, breathing and relaxation techniques, the birth partner's role, newborn and post-partum care, and a tour of the hospital's labor/delivery and post-partum rooms. We even made Play-Doh cervixes and dilated them.

Our trusty manual from the class.

The class had 10 couples include ourselves. As always there is the odd couple who brings up all sorts of weird questions. Don't get me wrong, it makes for interesting comeback lines from the instructor and wide-eyed classmates. We are now educated in hospital rules, as far as, taking your placenta with you in a "doggy bag" for later consumption... interesting.

Some of my favorite quotes worthy of sharing:

"Every time you put on a turtleneck sweater, you are birthing yourself." - Kim the Instructor. I nearly died trying not to laugh out loud, thinking about how hard it would be and how ridiculous someone would look trying to get a turtleneck sweater pulled down over their shoulders, LOL.

"Parenting, Just Do It."

After Ken placed on the pregnancy simulating vest, I asked, "Is this your Play-Doh baby?" (pointing to the dough he was molding). He replied, "I was working on it, but then I got pregnant, and now I don't do anything." ROTFL

The word "taco" has now become an acronym for Time Amount Color Odor in reference to someone's water breaking, how wonderful is that?

After a full day of learning, Ken even had enough energy to make up some delicious ribs for dinner (thanks Boo).

Ken's Play-Doh Baby.

The pregnancy simulating vest.

I think the instructor should of had the guys wear it for more than 15-minutes.

Bead Spiders

My friend/neighbor, Amanda, taught me how to make these nifty bead spiders. I can hardly wait for Halloween to get here! I went a little crazy and bought a bunch of new beads for heads and abdomens... more creativity to ensue.

Ken likes this steampunk spider.

BABY BUMP

There has been a multitude of requests to see a baby bump photograph, so here one is! :) I have to admit, my new favorite store is "a pea in the pod". I have a few tops that work as maternity clothes; however, my current inventory of shorts/pants/slacks are so uncomfortable (even using a belly belt (i.e., waist extender) or a BeBand (i.e., maternity band)).

My shoes still fit, although I do tend to have some swelling of my legs, ankles, and feet. No hand swelling, acne, or heartburn. I told Ken this morning the baby is already preparing us for waking-up throughout the night, since I now magically have a bladder the size of a pea.

The baby is very active in the night, kicking and rolling around. I blame Ken because of his "night owl" tendencies. I hope to have more photographs up soon; stay tuned.

Timp Tradition

At 20 Weeks, Day 2, we continued the Timpanogos (a.k.a., Timp) hike tradition. So the story goes... Ginger's Mom did the hike (back-side of Timp) while in the first trimester with Ginger and Ken's Mom did the hike (to the cave) while in the second trimester with Ken. Being in the second trimester and not doing so hot in the first, I opted for the cave hike. The hike to Emerald Lake on the back-side of Timp is approximately a 16-mile round trip hike (yeee-ouch!). The trail to the cave consists of a 1.5-mile hike along a zigzag path climbing 1,065-feet to an elevation of 6,730-feet. The round trip to and through the caves and back down is 3.5-miles. Thank goodness there is a port-o-potty along the trail. We did the hike and tour early in the morning; therefore, we missed the heat of the day.

Ken, my Sherpa. He carried water, snacks, jackets, flashlights, and the camera.

Heart of Timpanogos.

Our Tour Guide and Jr. Ranger.

Salt and Pepper Shakers. Back in the day, these were the only cave formations you could touch; however, they've changed the rules and the salt and pepper shakers are now off limits.

K-I-C-K-S

It is day 7 of week 19 (2nd trimester) and Ken was able to feel baby kicks by placing his hand on my tummy! They were good solid kicks; Ken thought I was flexing my stomach. I've got to hand it to Cafe Trang's Thai Green Curry Chicken for dinner... soooooo spicy! "Made with medium spice", yeah right; I finished off two large glasses of water at dinner.

I've been feeling movement very once in a while for the past couple of weeks. During our last check-up (last Thursday, August 4th), Dr. Horvath asked if I'd felt any "flutters" (this is also the term used on the baby forums). I replied, "I feel like I have worms."

Currently, the baby is the size of an heirloom tomato. We get a new food size tomorrow; so excited!

Bun in the Oven

Today is Day 5 of Week 14 and we were able to listen to the baby's heartbeat for the first time at the doctor's office; the sound was AMAZING! Dr. Horvath said the heartbeat sounded good and strong. Ken taped the audio of the heartbeat and made a little video of it with a previous ultrasound picture of the baby; click here for the link.

It's been a long while since I've posted on the blog. I haven't even finished posted about our Japan trip. To catch people up on what's been going on, here are a few stories.

Planning Baby: Yes, the baby was planned; it took a while for my work trips to meet-up with the right time, but it eventually happened.

BFP (Big Fat Positive): I've been getting use to the forum acronyms. Being close to a week late, I told Ken we should do the test on Saturday (this is back in April). It was either the storm or mother-nature that woke me up at 2 a.m. Friday morning. Ken doesn't remember, but I told him I was taking the test. After waiting, two distinct lines appeared and I ran into the bedroom and said, "LOOK AT THIS!" practically shoving the test in Ken's face. Ken said something to the fact that he couldn't see and finally he realized what I was showing him. We were both excited and I found it tough to get back to sleep.

First Trimester: Talk about a rough go. I think they should officially change the word "morning sickness" to "pregnancy sickness." During the first trimester, I sometimes would be sick ALL DAY LONG; yeah, no fun. Also I hate my prenatal vitamins. I've been taking them for a while before the pregnancy and sometimes they would make me sick, well during the first three months, they did a great job of making me hate food. Just this week I received the okay from Dr. Horvath to start taking gummy prenatal vitamins (I hate swallowing pills and the other vitamins had 156% DV of iron, talk about causing problems). I have also been allowed to stop taking progesterone capsules. The dosage wasn't high, 200mg per day, but they still made me feel ill.

Boy or Girl: We are not going to find out until the birth! Ken and I decided we have been waited long enough to have a baby, what is a few more months of waiting to find out the gender? What about preparation? Currently our minds are thinking of doing a underwater/ocean theme to the room for the baby. There are plenty of non-gender items to buy and I don't mind greens, yellows, or browns. For those who want to do guessing: my neighbor-friend, Amanda, says my bump currently looks low; I was extremely nauseated and tired during the first three months; and I craved and still crave Cripps Pink apples and other fruits.

The Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Incident: I won't be eating mac-&-cheese for a very long time. During the first trimester, the only way I could feel decent was to have something in my stomach at all times. Ken has been great and has cooked or retrieved anything that I thought sounded good. One night I asked him for mac-&-cheese, which of course he whipped up. Our mistake, Ken placed the whole batch in a big bowl for me to eat from and I didn't know when to stop eating. I bowed down to the porcelain god; I think Ken thought I was dying. Worst night ever.

Funny Sayings: [Disclaimer: We BOTH thought these were funny at the time.]

Me to Ken: "I'm gonna poop out a loaf of bread, cuz I have a bun in the oven!"

Me: "I think it's a boy."

Ken: "Why?"

Me: "Because now I burp and fart a lot like you do!"

Me: "Hand me my towel."

Ken: "I think you've lost your pleases."

Ken to Me: "After dealing with all your whining and complaining, taking care of a baby that constantly cries and shits its self is going to be a piece of cake."

Here is the sonogram taken on June 15th, 2011, Day 6 of Week 11:

At this visit Dr. Horvath said the visible eye-sockets make the baby look like a little owl. At the time of the ultrasound the baby was about the size of a lime. Currently, the baby is suppose to be the size of a lemon.

Plum Blossoms

I think it is my and Ken's destiny to view castles in the rain. Osaka castle was still beautiful in the rain and this time the plum orchard on the grounds was in bloom. We located some geocaches and toured the castle and grounds. I took oodles of plum blossom photographs, but have only chosen a few to share; enjoy.

SAMURAI TIME !!!

Plum orchard.