Baby JP's Homecoming

Early Friday morning, April 10, 2009, JP and I were finally able to go home. We had Aunty Diane and Uncle Gary who flew in from California, along with my cousin Nancy and her son Jaxon to welcome us home to "Welsh Stadium." Later JP's very proud and excited grandparents came over to welcome him as well!

We had such an amazing labor, delivery, and recovery experience at our hospital. We had an excellent group of medical staff who check in with us, monitoring me and the baby. I started to feel nervous when i thought of going home without any of that help there. But that's just the worrier in me and everything turned out fine. The support of family and friends really eased my worries.

Our home is so much different now that we have JP and really is a sweet blessing. It's hard to believe that there was a time when it was just me and Jasper. Now our rooms and halls are filled with sounds of our baby giggling, cooing and crying, and we couldn't be any happier!

We were able to put a lot of this experience on video and would love to share it with you. Below, is a JP Welsh's Welcome Home Video:

Lil JP is already on my nerves..Literally.

So, I have to brag that I am not much of a waddling pregnant woman. I have been doing my best to walk as normal as possible.

Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I do try to make a conscious effort to walk up straight.

Everyday at work, I have to walk from my classroom to the restroom about 8 to 10 times a day. Which sounds like a lot, but when you factor in how FAAARR the two are from each other, I certainly get many chances to practice my pregnant walk.

Honestly, a lot of my trips to the restroom is because lil’ JP seems to favor leaning on my bladder. I guess it makes a cozy pillow, and on occasion it feels like he is using it for a punching bag. It certainly is very annoying to have to use the restroom so often during the day, especially when I am in the middle of teaching my class a lesson.

So walking upright and without a pregnant waddle has been fairly easy to accomplish. That is, until of late…

JP has been a serious pain, and getting on my nerves.

Actually, just on my Sciatic Nerve.

Now my doctor says that this is common in pregnancy and there isn't much we can do about it. I was instructed to take Tylenol to help with the pain, but I hate taking medicine unless it's absolutely necessary. I also have a great massage therapist which I have been visiting regularly, but that seems to only alleviate the pain, temporarily.

I am quite sure why my sciatic nerve hurts, and the pain does come and go. But this certainly makes it difficult to go out on weekends with Jasper. We have to plan almost everything around the baby… and he’s not even born yet.

Is JP on my badder? Will he move to relieve my need to urinate? Where is the nearest restroom, just in case. And now, with the occasional pain in leg we have to shorten our outings, and even find closer parking spots if my leg is in pain.

SO….

If you or someone you know has experienced anything similar to this and can relate in some way. I really would love to hear from you.

Do you have any remedies you can recommend? Tips? Or, even if you would just like to tell me about your experience when your baby got on your nerve.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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OH…

On a separate note.

I have been receiving some calls regarding my Baby Gift Registry.
You can click HERE to go directly to it and check it out, or click on the image below…

I love being pregnant?

Yesterday morning, Jasper and I were driving home from Costco.  We were talking about our plans for the day; put away groceries, have lunch with his parents, chores, etc.  As we were chatting I remember we were stopped at a stop light when little JP began to press and push pretty hard out.  Jasper reached over and met push with a playful press back, which began to make me feel like peeing.  :)

When Jasper was playing with little JP, I told him how often I feel him moving and shaking throughout my day at work.  What kind of made Jasper and me laugh was how i followed up my comment with, "This is my favorite part about being pregnant.  I just am constantly reminded he is there and I feel very close to him, and I know this something I am going to miss."

Jasper started to laugh.  I was not sure why at first, but he turned to me and recalled just a few months ago my firmly stating, "I don't want to do this [get pregnant] again!  You know with all the morning sickness and stuff.  How can other women do this more than once?"

I've heard that woment forget the woes of pregnancy 

once the baby is born.  And I know in my heart that it is worth it.  I think about the "morning sickness"  yeah right all day sickness and nausea (getting in car, in car, after car ride, brushing teeth, waking up, sleeping, thinking about the next car ride, standing up, sitting down... you name it I was most likely feeling pretty nauseous...) 1st trimester cramping, and 3rd trimester sleepless nights.

And now I'm stating that I love being pregnant, being able to feel the baby moving, kicking, hiccuping.  It amazes me how quickly time passes.  I am g

oing to cherish every last moment I have while pregnant.  I am sure I could feel so much more comfortable doing the normal tasks of life.  But I sometimes forget this is an answered prayer and most certainly a blessing from God.

Thank you again to all of my family and friends who have been very supportive.  Please feel free to leave any of your comments or questions for me.  

God bless you.

3D/4D Ultrasound - Life in Progress

On January 10, 2009, Jasper and I headed over to Peek of You to get a 3/4D Ultrasound of JP.  I am just about 28 weeks and this is the time most people will reccommend getting these amazing little pictures because babies now have more fat on their bodies and look a little more human.  

As big as I feel I am, I was excited to see his fat face and body.  I can feel him moving and kicking inside and I couldn't wait to be able to put a face on my little kickboxer.  

My thoughtful sister, Diane (who lives in San Diego and didn't want to miss a beat with this new baby) gave us a Flip camera for Christmas which Jasper used to record this memorable event.   We had breakfast and he interviewed me and my thoughts before the ultrasound.  

When we arrived to "Peek of You"  we were able to look at other 3D pictures displayed in the waiting area.  It's so neat that we have this technology to see what our little ones are doing in there.  

Our room had a bed for me and a couch for any guests that we invited to share this moment with.  While the technician used her monitor, I got to watch it projected onto a big screen.  We confirmed the sex, and yes we still have JP on his way, and finally got to see the face of our sweet baby.  He made the cutest sucking lips, and yawned for us.  But this great view of our little one only lasted about five minutes before JP got camera shy and put his hands up to block his face. The tech did everything she could, practically jiggling and poking on my belly, to get him to move.  Jasper suggested I get up and walk around which I did, but he was just way to comfortable with his arms up in that position.  

Fortunately, we were able to get a few perfect shots of baby.  The whole session was put on a dvd for us and we were ok with that.  So, without further ado, here is our JP-his Life in Progress: