C'est La Vie

Raw Diet Day 4

2010-05-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

Vegetables and fruits are SO unappealing to me at the moment... but the detox is working! It's day four of this nightmare.. and I'm finally not feeling hungry after EVERY meal. Nighttime is the hardest because dinner was our best meal before because we always cooked together and it was never on the go. I miss that.. I'm ready for this to be over. Maybe 30 days is going to be reduced to fourteen. Still seems like a long time!

Morning weigh in: 125.5 - 1.1 lb weight loss since yesterday.

I've been exercising regularly but doing light work outs. I haven't been able to complete any P90X workout but I'm going to tackle yoga tonight. I'm still waiting to get over that hump of exhaustion. The headaches are gone though which means I'm over the caffeine! I'm going to start drinking organic tea/coffee after this week so I can get a natural source of caffeine without fake sugars/creams etc.

Raw Diet Day 3

2010-05-26T14:18:00.000-04:00

Each day gets a little bit easier.. I didn't wake up with a head-ache this morning which is a positive change! I went to the gym today and did one mile on the bike and then did all the leg exercises. I got tired really quickly so I'm still waiting to get over this hump.
Morning weigh in - 126.6 - 10 oz loss, almost another pound. I think this is starting to taper off and slow down. I'm eating ALL day long so I'm really shocked about the weight loss. If it keeps declining, I'm going to add raw fish to get more calories per day if that's what it takes. It should go up as I continue to consume over 40 g of protein and continue to work out, as muscle weighs more. So we'll see..

Raw Diet Day 2

2010-05-25T11:10:00.001-04:00

I feel better this morning! More energy! I actually feel like going to the gym today.

Morning weigh in before food: 127.0 - 2.3 lb weight loss which is amazing because I ate a ton of fatty foods like avacado and hemp seed (which is 8g of fat per 2 tbl) and we ate ALL day yesterday. Gerard also lost 2 lbs so it's definitely not just me!

30 Day Raw Diet.. Day One

2010-05-25T11:06:00.000-04:00

Today is day one of this adventure. I figure, if I blog about it and keep track everyday, then maybe I'll do a better job at staying on track and help Gerard stay on track with me. Because seriously, this "diet" is really just about detoxing and purification, not about weight loss, but I have to give up all the tasties I love... no REDBULL!! No processed/artificial sugar... no meat! no dairy!! Only raw fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. The wedding is coming up on July 17th and I just want my skin to look it's best, and I want to feel my best through these next few months filled with stress. We're continuing on with P90X so I'm going to keep track of my weight and make sure that any loss is healthy, and not extreme. So here it goes!
Day one morning weigh in before eating: 129.3

Breakfast:

A shake of raw flax seeds, pea, hemp, rice, and chia seed protein mixed with clorophyll, wheat grass, barley, broccoli, and fresh kale. Add a banana, water, and ice, and it was actually very tasty! The wheat grass is very sweet so that helped a lot. We then ate big chunks of melon.

Snacks:

Apples, bananas, oranges, berries, raw sliced almonds

Lunch:

BIG salad of fresh romaine, spinach, kale, peppers, grapes, apples, mushrooms, etc

Dinner

LARGE fruit salad, so good.

I have no energy.. I'm cranky and hungry about an hour after eating.. is this going to last??

Recap..

2010-03-22T13:40:00.000-04:00

I've been away for too long.. Here are some things that I need to catch up on before I forget them forever..

The same week Bella turned 8 months old, she learned how to crawl, pull herself to standing (lots of boo boo's and tears at first), and how to "cruise".. so much so fast!
Bella turned 1 on March 4th!! I made her cake myself out of a vegan blondie cake mix from Earthfare and used cream cheese mixed with vanilla and banana for the icing! She shared it with her pal Logan but I was sad that she didn't dive right in. Usually those chubby fingers are in everyone's food!!

Bella took her first steps right after her first birthday! Now she can take an average of 8 steps on her own! She still prefers to hold our hand when she walks around in public and throws a FIT when we try to pick her back up. It is so adorable that she just wants to walk around in circles.. she has a huge smile the whole time.

I found my wedding dress!! I can't say much more at the moment just in case Gerard reads this blog.. but it's gorgeous and actually turned out to be eco friendly, which is something I wasn't seeking out, but still elated that it turned out that way. It took two trips to Atlanta (thank you mom..!) and I actually picked a dress the first time. That was followed by an almost panic attack and I changed my mind. The second trip was much more successful, I couldn't be happier with the dress!
The wedding is getting closer and school is finally coming to an end for Gerard and I'm so happy for him and for us. We're going through the process of getting his green card so hopefully he can start working soon and we can finally become more independent! I won't be done with school until December, but the end is in sight and that makes me really happy. I can't wait for this semester to be over, it will be the last one that I'll have to take on a full load. I'm so excited to move on from this poo town!
We had little mice in the house!! They were tiny little deer mice that seemed harmless and it made me ill to get rid of them because at first they didn't bother us. I know most females would freak out and demand them dead instantly! But I just had a really hard time with it.. I had to use those sticky sheets which kills them, but so slowly. And my mom has a phobia of mice and Gerard was a little miss about them, so I had to do ALL the dirty work and I didn't want to kill them in the first place! But I had to think of Bella first and I couldn't bear it if she caught some sort of disease now that she roams the floors... It was hard, but needed to be done. No squeaks lately, so I guess that killing the six of them was enough to scare the rest off.

A lot more has happened.. But I'll do better to keep track. I really like the idea that I can come back and remember everything. Love you Bella!

NEW BLOG!

2009-10-28T17:07:00.001-04:00

Hi all (all 4 of you! ;)) Click here to see Gerard and I's new blog where family and friends can watch our journey of planning the wedding as well as for information when the wedding gets closer. So far, we know it will in July 2010, and all family is invited. I will be posting the date, the time, the ceremony and reception site, detailed directions, where we will be registered, as well as tons of photos! Just in case you lose the future "save the date" cards or invitations, you can go to this blog and access any and all information you may need!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day ♥

Cancer in our Bathroom

2009-10-25T20:43:00.005-04:00

So I've been doing a lot of research lately about the cosmetic products (like shampoo, conditioners, face wash, face moisterizers, lotions, soaps, etc) that contain more chemicals than in some of my basic house cleaning products. I looked up most of those big words you see in the ingredients list on the back of shampoo bottles and other things.. chemicals such as sodium laurenth sulfate, TEA (triethanolamine) Laurent Sulfate (Also DEA), DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide.. I could go on for quite a while, but spelling these words is making my head hurt..

I have to say, maybe ignorance has been bliss.. I always read the back of bottles in the shower while I'm waiting for my conditioner to "work" or if I'm just not ready to get out into that cold air.. and I NEVER knew what these ingrediants were.. but did I question them? Nope. I lathered up some more. For my entire life. 22 1/2 years of rubbing these chemicals on my skin! And we all wonder where our cancers come from. Why do they just pop up out of nowhere. What about those people who have no chancer in their family tree? Why have their branches been shaken? Are we, as Americans, being taken advantage of? Hardly any of us, including me, keep up with the news in Europe the way they keep up with ours. Why should we? So many things are happening right here, in the most powerful country in the world, we just don't have the time to read up on many other coutries outside of the ones involved in this war. But I can tell you something, most of these chemicals have been BANNED, as in made ILLEGAL, in Europe. Thus far, the FDA regulates NINE chemicals in cosmetics.. the EU prohibits over 1,100.

I have to put this out there for those that don't know.. about 75% or more of these chemicals in our products are known carcinogens and are linked to cancer. And we absorb over 80% of the things we put on our skin, as in they go right into our bloodstream. I had put them on my baby! They put these ingrediants in baby products! I couldn't believe it.. The ones that aren't carcinogens are either linked to dermatitus or other chronic skin condtions, or can be attributed to our common breaks outs (like mineral oil, aka parrafin wax, aka petrolateum). Even the perservatives in our products are things like Formaldehyde (but they put it in a fancy labratory term).

I know I've been ranting, but I feel very strongly about this. I want to warn everyone! We don't need to use these products! I myself have been making my own. I made my own shampoo, conditioner, skin care products, body lotion and body wash. Including ones that are safe for Bella (like an organic body wash with organic lavender essential oil that knocks her out when followed with chemical free lotion laced with the same lavender). I've thrown out everything else! Everything is now all natural, and I have to say, my hair has never been softer. My skin has never been brighter. My pores haven't been this small since before puberty! And it turned out to be really easy. Anyone out there who is more interested, contact me please. Any family members out there especially, who want some of these natural products, just let me know! I'll make them for you and bring them to you myself.. I'd do anything to get rid of your toxic products!

And don't fall for the marketing gimics by the large manufacturing companies! For example, L'Oreal has put out a Sodium Laurenth Sulfate (SLES) free shampoo and conditioner "free of harsh salts and sulfates" set called "Ever Pure" .. I checked it. This isn't even close to "pure". All of the other chemicals remain. Do not be fooled people!

If you're interested in anymore information, go to this link or this one and read up for yourself. We all trust the FDA.. so why are they allowing carcinogens in our baby shampoo? And they are aware of it, believe me. Please, join me in banning these products from your bathroom, from your children, and from yourself!

Quote of the week

2009-10-01T15:29:00.002-04:00

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Lao Tzo

I found this quote on a day when I needed strength the most.. only to realize I've had it all along.
I hope everyone is having an amazing week!

ENGAGED!!!

2009-09-29T10:42:00.002-04:00

Yes! It's true!

Gerard proposed last night while we layed in bed with Bella in between us - it was so sweet and perfect to have it just us, just our family. He had been putting me off the scent for weeks! He had gotten it 2 weeks ago but just got his hands on it last night. He said he had so many different ideas that would have to go according to plan exactly, but once he got a hold of the ring he couldn't wait to do it. He was so sneaky! I was shocked!! I didn't even hear the end of his speech when he said "Will you marry me?" because I was crying and my head was spinning! But I said, OF COURSE! I'm so excited and it still doesn't feel real. What a perfect way to get me out of my rut. I have had a serious bounce in my step and nothing could wipe the smile off my face.. All I have to do is look down at my left hand :)

I LOVE YOU GERRY!!!

Venting

2009-09-24T18:39:00.003-04:00

Okay so, I've kind of lost sight of what this blog is meant to be. I know that it's for Bella in the future and for me to be able to look back and remember everything.. but I feel like many people have way more and complex problems than me and therefore I don't like putting anything out there.. but then I realized that maybe writing it out will help me and I shouldn't worry about what others think.. but I do.

I'm so stressed. I don't know how much more I can handle. I feel guilty when I'm thinking "Oh my goodness Bella I just need 5 minutes to myself!".. I feel terrible about that. Last night Gerard had an away game and was gone from 1pm to midnight and so I of course took care of Isabella but I also had two major tests to study for in my hardest subjects. I of course got none of it done.. I just did my best guestimations and crossed my fingers.. Now, I knew the material, but not like I could have... Seeing graduation in the near future has made me a bit of an overachiever and I wanted nothing less than an A in everything.. I mean, I want it bad.

I feel so guilty for thinking bad things when Gerard pays more attention to Bella.. how awful is that.. I guess maybe it's triggered by the fact that we have NO time together. He has so many away games.. for example, I'll alone for the entire day on saturday because he has a game 5 hours away. Now, that's not so bad because I don't have class that day or the day following, but it's still a lot to handle when I have so much on my plate. It's hard to prioritize but that's no excuse for feeling neglected because he wants to love on his daughter.. I'm sorry little girl.

I feel guilty for sometimes releasing my stress when I finally do get home because as Gerard reminded me today, home is the one place where I can be myself and relax and lean on him. The problem is, I don't sleep. And when I do sleep I wake up with this horrible stomach full of anxiety - like that feeling you get when someone scares the absolute crap out of you, except it doesn't go away and I lay awake trying to take deep breaths or going for a walk around the house. I wish I could just stay at home and be a full time mommy and be happy for the time I get to laugh and play with Bella. But instead my mind is somewhere else and I hate it. She is already growing up so fast and I'm missing out on moments I can't get back.

I'm sorry to Gerard and Bella Girl, I'll try to do better. I'll be the old me again soon, I promise. If I didn't have you Gerard, I would be lost. And if I didn't have you Isabella, I wouldn't be complete. I'm very thankful for the both of you..

A moment to brag please...

2009-09-20T21:16:00.005-04:00

So this happened about a week ago but things got away from me so I forgot to post, but.. Gerard has been doing amazing on the team! He was named Big South Player of the Week, which means he was the best player that week out of every single person in their D1 conference which is basically the whole east coast..
THEN..

He was named MVP of their tournament to raise money for breast cancer..

AND THEN..
he was named to the national team in which only 11 players out of the entire country are chosen!! He is the only person at GWU, in the entire history of the school, to have been given that honor.

The reason for all this recognition was that he scored 4 goals and had one assist in just FOUR games.. he was on a hot streak. They have only had one game since so I'm glad I got the chance to report on his amazingness thus far.. but I just had to brag. Apparently Bella is going to be pushed into soccer with hopes that she enjoys it and I thought it would be nice for her to have something to look back on to see that her daddy was the best, because he is. He is having the most amazing senior year and I'm so proud of him.. now keep your fingers crossed that he gets invited to the MLS trials over the Christmas holiday!! I'm so proud of you Gerard! You make time to be a great dad, a great boyfriend, a great student, and a great player.. you are truly amazing and I love you.

(laugh all you want at me Gerry, I know you love it..)

Bella's First Slumber Party

2009-09-13T18:45:00.002-04:00

So I did it. I spent the night away from Bella. Hardest thing I have EVER done. Which goes without saying, that I've had a pretty easy time so far. Anyway, Gerard had a game on Friday but was off from soccer until Monday so we took that oppertunity to have a night to ourselves.

I dropped Bella off in Charlotte with my mom and then actually had to leave and go back home.. it was that leaving part that I wasn't prepared for. I was fine on the drive over and walked in and hung out for a while. But my stomach was doing flips and turns when I realized I actually had to walk out of the door, get in the car, back out and head home, without my baby in tow. I was miserable the whole ride home, crying my eyes out while listening to happy music (to try to take my mind of off it, unsuccessfully). We both got ready to go out. We dressed up nice and I actually spent some time on my make-up. It was nice to look nice. But I turned the corner to enter our room to finish dressing and there was Gerard - kneeling on the bed and smelling Bella's PJ's that she had worn the night before. I feel deeper in love with him at that moment, it was so sweet.

We went over to a friends house and I somehow stayed awake until 2:30 when we finally came home. That scene is just not for me anymore. I missed Bella and everyone kept asking how she was and I said I couldn't talk about it because I didn't want to start crying again. I also don't enjoy drinking anymore - I had a few and just couldn't be bothered to have anymore. I guess there are just so many things that are more important that I just couldn't get in that sort of mindset. It was nice to be able to sleep in until 10:30 though. As we got closer to my moms, I had such anxiety I felt sick. I missed her so much and I couldn't get home fast enough. It was so hard for me to leave her but there were many times during Saturday when I looked at her and realized just how much I loved her. Distance really does make the heart grow fonder. ♥

Best Sound in the World

2009-08-31T17:42:00.005-04:00

Bella's new T

2009-08-31T12:37:00.009-04:00

Gerard told me I needed to get a life, in a nicer way of course. He drilled me on my hobbies, convinced that there should be more to my life than him and Bella. Maybe he was right because I started the process of making Bella clothing and I've gotten really excited about it. I'm also going to make her a scrap book to display the first year of her life and planning for that is something that I look forward to during the day. So I started off with baby steps. I took one of my old t-shirts and decided to cut it up and size it down for Bella.

It was a little difficult because I didn't have any patterns to work with so I had to measure with my eyes since I wasn't about to use pins while she was wearing it! The sleeves gave me some trouble and by the end of it I couldn't be bothered with finishing the collar but I like the way it turned out. Next project - baby sweat pants!

♥ Date at the Drive-In

2009-08-30T12:54:00.005-04:00

There's a drive-in movie theater right in the heart of Shelby - a perfect "people watching" place more than a perfect place to watch movies.. They showed G.I. Joe and Halloween 2 and you tune into your radio to a certain station to hear the sound. It was actually really great - only $7 a car and we set up Bella's travel bed in the back seat and she slept the entire time, allowing us to have a real date. But before it got dark and before she passed out, I got some pictures with my cell phone.

Also, they have a snack bar which was so much cheaper than an actual movie theater. We watched G.I. Joe from start to finish and besides some expected corny lines, it really wasn't too bad. Gerard loved G.I. Joe as a boy so I think he really liked it. But then Halloween started and I lasted about 2 minutes.. It was pitch black, we're surrounded by woods and a lot of people had left by then and I was terrified. It's a really old drive-in (NC used to be in top 10 in the country for drive-ins, who knew?) so it was extra creepy - only gravel roads, no lights to prevent a glare on the screen, and it was a really big lot. But besides it being a really creepy place to watch a scary movie, it was really great for our type of budget and bringing the baby was so easy and convienant. They even give you a trash bag when you pay so that if you can fill it with your trash and leave it on the lawn and someone picks it up for you. Also, if your battery dies while you watch, you just open your hood and people know to come and jump you if they have the cables. It was a lot of fun and I definitely think we'll be going back!

Bella Has a Boyfriend

2009-08-28T14:39:00.010-04:00

Yes, already! I thought she was a flirt, but Logan, her younger boytoy (2 weeks younger) is the biggest flirt I have ever met.. Logan is the son of friends of ours who also went to GWU but now the dad coaches on the team and his wife lives nearby. They finally met each other last week at Gerard's soccer game and they really hit it off..

Isn't that sweet? It's the first time Bella has been around a baby her age. Gerard's brother and his girlfriend had their baby at the end of July while we were there. She was TWO WEEKS overdue, no joke. The induced Sandra around 5 pm and she was having really strong contractions from that moment on, only she didn't know it because it was her first time around. We went to visit but stayed in the caf area and she came down to say hi and have a tea because they told her it was okay for her to walk around, since most women who are induced will probably deliver the next day.. I could see her contractions through her dress - YES dress, they didn't even bother to put her in a gown yet. I could tell she was having real contractions and she went back up to lay down. We went home and 3 hours later we got a call from Michael his brother who said "It's a girl..". We were STUNNED.. 3 hours!? She delivered a little after 8 pm and apparently almost in the hallway because none of the nurses believed her when she described the amount of pressure and pain she felt. No edipural, no complaining, and when we went to visit her she was in high spirits and didn't look anything like she had just had a baby (whereas I looked as though I had run a marathon). Anyways, Bella now has a girl cousin and they're only 4 months apart, so I hope they get along and become close! So Bella has been around a newborn, and all she wanted to do was play with her hair:

Mia (pro.Mee-yah) Marina Hefferon, 8lb 3 oz

Bella with her grandpappy Martin

Did I mention that Bella is becoming obsessed with hair? She has to pull our hair to soothe herself to sleep, she goes after mine when my back is turned, she eats it, twists it in her fingers and rubs it on her face.. She tried to pull her own but her chubster fingers couldn't get a good hold! I am telling you, obsessed, all the time, hair hair hair..

Styling/pulling really hard

Having a snack

Twisting and tangling it around her fingers right before a nice yank

She could pull all my hair out until I was bald, I'd love her just the same..

On a side note: Thanks to "The Griffith Family" for their comment on the last post, it's so easy to overthink and so nice to be reassured.

To vaccinate or to not......

2009-08-27T15:03:00.003-04:00

This issue has been weighing on my mind lately.. what do I do when I can't see inside Bella's brain and notice any significant changes? I understand that the shots have been purified and if the APA deems them worthy and safe enough then I should sit back and relax and know that the worries of 100 years ago are no longer relevant this day and age. We don't have to worry that 1/2 of the children in the population are going to die of the flu, small pox, measles, mumps, etc. These vaccines have saved millions of children's lives.. But why in the world has she had so many vaccinations by the age of 6 months. The same day she was born they gave her a shot for Hepatitus B, a sexually transmitted disease.. why the heck is this neccessary for a brand new body to absorb? Her 6 month check up is in 1 1/2 months and I think I've decided to postpone her vaccinations for a while - I've complied with every single one until now and call me crazy but she is turning into a different baby since her 4 month appt. When we got back from England she had her 4 month check up, even though she was 5 months, and they gave her so many shots, one in each leg and one she swallowed by mouth. Yet the two in the leg contained like 5 vaccinations.. she hasn't been the same since. She is SO cranky and before she was so easy going.. how do I know that without the vaccinations she wouldn't have turned cranky just the same?? I don't and therefore I'm going crazy. She doesn't sleep as well, she refuses routine whereas before England she slept at the same time everyday, ate at the same time, and woke up at the same time AND now she has issues with strangers even if I'm right in front of her. Maybe she's understimulated and not getting enough social interaction? That's Gerry's theory.. She is developing on time if not fast and her weight and length were in the 75 percentile.. Am I worrying over nothing? Is this motherhood? I'm overwhelmed.. I keep reading stories about mothers who notice massive changes in behavior after vaccines with 3 of their children and refused vaccines for the 4th and they didn't have the same problems.. Gerard keeps telling me that they're the exception and our healthy baby who laughs and plays and rolls all over the floor, is the rule.. I think I'm going crazy..

2009-07-05T10:18:00.006-04:00

It's been a while..! I haven't posted anything since our trip to Dallas where Hollie threw us the best baby shower ever! And I still haven't mailed out my thank you cards (so sorry! they're coming, promise) and now we're headed to England on Tuesday. A Few firsts that have happened since then..

Bella started laughing!! She has a tickle spot around her neck and if the mood is right, she laughs when I change clothes. She also likes it when we tickle her face with our hair. Her laugh is the best thing I have ever heard.

She found her feet!! I've been waiting for this moment even before she was born. It is my favorite thing ever.

She went to the pool for the first time. She didn't smile much because it took her eyes ages to adjust to how bright it was, but I think she enjoyed it!

e
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We're heading back to the pool in about an hour, but Bella and Gerard are taking a little nap on the couch together. There will be millions more pictures from London when we return! I'm excited to go, but I probably won't even get to touch her til it's time to put her down to bed. We're also starting baby signing and Your Baby Can Read this month so I'll keep you guys updated on how well that goes.. I'm a bit skeptical about Your Baby Can Read but how cool would it be to have a 9 month old that reads flash cards?! Gerard is certain that I'm on the same track as Rick Moranis in Parenthood..... I'm not that bad.

Comparisons..

2009-04-30T12:11:00.005-04:00

At first, Bella looked just like me. We compared pictures of our first hours of life and it really was a spitting image. BUT NOW, nearly two months old, she looks JUST like Gerry..

He's the little fella at the bottom right.. see the eyebrows and face shape and her eyes are turning more like his and her mouth is wider like his also..

This baby picture is a bit harder to see but I think he's around 6 months here and theres a shadow behind his head.. he has a massive one but not THAT big.

I think she's taking after Gerard for sure.. what do you think??

2009-04-15T11:10:00.005-04:00

I knew life was going to change with a child, but I never could have guessed just how much.. I got sad the other day because Gerard and I weren't dating long before I got pregnant and I feel kind of like we missed out on that new couple phase. And although I couldn't be happier today, my hormones got the best of me while thinking about the past. Gerard and I have been spending time together since last fall but we didn't become an "official" couple, I guess you could say, until April. I was dealing with a stupid idiot all last year who just played games and treated me badly. Gerard and I met while I was dealing with Adam's drama, and he continued to stay in touch with me and send me nice messages over facebook for months! Once Gerard and I started seeing each other in the spring we became inseperable. And even though the last thing we were both looking for was a relationship, we fell in love. Our one year anniversary is on April 20th and our baby is nearly 2 months old (HAH!) I find that funny.. How lucky am I that he is the most perfect person for me in the entire world? What are the chances.. I'm amused by the situation and also so relieved. If this had happened with my ex loser (whom some of you met last thanksgiving) I would be having a nervous break down right about now.. I feel like the luckiest girl in the entire universe. (Yah make fun of me Gerard for this sappy post, but I know deep down you're eating this up)

PICTURE TIME!

I can't believe she's 6 weeks old today.. I love you Bella!!

2009-03-19T09:24:00.009-04:00

Izzy was exactly 2 weeks old on Wednesday so we took a few pictures to compare her to the older ones to get a feel for how much she has really changed. I knew she had gained some weight but I had no idea how much until I took her to the doctor's office yesterday for a check on her eye (the poor baby's eye is stuck shut every time I turn around, but thankfully it's just a blocked tear duct) and she was weighed there. 8 lb 7 ounces.. A FULL POUND in a week. And honestly I wasn't TOO surprised because I spend all my time feeding her and she spends all her time pooing.

Looking at her daddy..

Sleeping on daddy's chest, so sweet.

Her stylish outerwear.

Catchin a few winks..

Just waking up..

Sleeping again!

It was also Papa's birthday on wednesday. I teared up just typing that sentence, miss you so much Papa! I really wish you could be here to meet her, I just know you would fall in love with her.

2009-03-10T17:21:00.002-04:00

Izzy had her first doctors appointment yesterday to check her weight and I am in love with her doctor!! I kind of picked her out of about 10 other doctors in their practice and struck gold! Sweetest woman ever. She just made me feel like the best mom ever! Isabella's weight was only one ounce short of her birth weight at 5 days old and apparently that's a really good thing? She said most babies have to come back a few times to have their weight checked, but it's definitely all her because this baby wants to nurse 24/7. At first I thought maybe I wasn't giving her enough since it's so hard to tell how much she's getting unless I pump it out and give it to her through a bottle (which she hates!). But it was so comforting to know that the little one was getting enough to eat (and I love chubby babies, so I'm dying for her to get FAT!) Other than being mildly jaudice, everything was perfect with her, and it gave me comfort - that is, until we got back home and I went back to checking on if she's breathing everytime she stops moving! I really can't believe how I feel about her. Now I know how much you love me mom!! Such a good feeling to have and to understand! Speaking of the baby, she needs to eat AGAIN!

2009-03-07T18:35:00.013-05:00

Isabella Grace Hefferon was born on March 4th, 2009 at 5:13 pm!!! She weighed in at 7 lbs 7 ounces, 19 inches long, and perfect. I wish I could write about how I feel now that she's here but just like everyone says, it's indescribable. I was induced tuesday night with that insert they put around your cervix to help start contractions and an hour later I was feeling them. They got worse as the night went on and I had to accept some medication to get a little sleep. I still felt every bit of the action but was too out of it to care so I was definitely relaxed but didn't do much sleeping. The next morning around 9am they started the pitocin and the contractions started to get more regular. The hours passed and they were about 2-3 minutes apart and intense. LITTLE DID I KNOW there was nothing intense about those. My water broke right in the middle of one and I thought my insides would explode. However, God was definitely watching over me as I had asked for the epidural about 10 minutes before this happened and the doctor was going to break my water for me after that to get things rolling. But my body had different plans and I have to say that I have never felt such horrible pain. The contractions started coming at 1 minute apart and I think I nearly broke the Nurses call button begging for some relief! I didn't feel the epidural at ALL and the relief was so great. I finally got some sleep. After about 2 1/2 hours of napping I woke up to a lot of pressure and just knew she was ready to make her debut!! I called in the nurse to check me and I had gone from 3 cm to 9 cm in just a few hours! Baby Bella was born an hour later! I only had to push for about 45 minutes and they placed her on my chest and I was speechless. I looked up and Gerard and saw him crying and I just lost it. I'm tearing up just thinking about seeing her for the first time. It was the most amazing experience and worth every day of waiting. Gerard was by my side every minute and wouldn't sleep unless I was. He helped me take a bath, use the bathroom, and held my hand through every contraction. Once my water broke he talked me through every painful minute, helped me breathe, and told me jokes to take my mind off of it. He is head over heels for this little girl and wants to be with her every second of the day.. he is so amazing. Now for the pictures!!

And more to come!!

39 weeks and nothing.. hmph.

2009-03-01T21:32:00.005-05:00

Anyone ever had their membranes stripped?? Never again.. no sir. On a happier note, the induction starts tuesday night and is carried onto wednesday so just a few more days!! I never thought I'd be so ready. The day I was born, March 21st, it snowed (in Texas!) weird right? Well check this out..

It is really coming down! How cool would it be for her to be born while it's snowing in March - it was in the 60s just 2 days ago!! Rocky is LOVING it by the way. I wish I knew how to upload videos because I got a few hilarious ones of rocky sticking his head under with his rear in the air. So cute. And here is hopefully my last belly shot.. everyone keeps telling me I'm going to miss having her in my tummy, and I'm starting to think they're right now that it's almost over (or beginning I should say).

MASSIVE!!!!

2009-02-08T15:44:00.002-05:00

I'm officially 9 months pregnant and the baby has already dropped.. I'm so tired of waiting! The Dr. said (don't read this is if you don't want to know anything about my cervix) my cervix is completely thinned out.. by the way I've had that thing checked about 3 or 4 times now - not fun. I've been feeling those fake contractions - a pretty painful one yesterday, maybe she'll come early? My mom suggested bribing her by informing the little one that if she does come soon, she can have her ears pierced. I told her I would try it, but also that I'd wait to drop that doozey on her after my mom gets back from the beach.
My doctor did a quick ultrasound just for fun and it showed her in the face down, rump up, rolled up little ball position (the technical term, obviously) which is exactly what I had predicted whenever I play "name that bump". She is in the birthing position and with that BIG head of hers, I don't foresee her changing it before the big day. (Her daddy holds the record for largest head ever.. well, he might!) His mom told me lovely stories about how it took her hours to labor his head through.. I wish I was joking.

COME OUT LITTLE GIRL! I can't take much more of your squirming and pushing. Although it is wonderful to feel your elbows jerk upwards and those little legs stretch out, I'd rather SEE YA DO IT! I love you so much already little girl, please don't be stubborn like I was. Come out and play!!

35 weeks and counting..

2009-02-01T21:57:00.004-05:00

Only FOUR more weeks until I get induced.. I find out the baby's birthday at my appt on Thursday, I really can't wait. We all have baby fever. Gerard even made her a facebook, it's pretty amusing. I feel so large and uncomfortable, I hope these 4 weeks go by fast because I'm so ready for her to be here!! And to sleep on my stomach! My mom is SO amazing, she set me up a prenatal massage today and I got to lay on my chest for the first time in nearly 6 months!! It was so amazing, probably the best massage I've EVER had! THANK YOU MOMMA!!

My belly at 34 weeks

Now compare to my belly at 24 weeks..

BIG difference!!

I feel much larger than I look though - I can't even remember the last time I saw my feet.. Just four more weeks..

2009-01-21T11:21:00.003-05:00

Dear Mom,
I wanted to write a letter to my unborn daughter for her to read one day. As I thought about what it would say, I realized I would be signing my name as "Mom" for the very first time. It made me think about all of the letters you would put in my lunchbox when I was little. That was always the best part of my day when I was younger; It would always make my day to see a piece of paper folded on top of my lunch and everyone would notice, it made me feel so special. I remember complaining when you started telling me I had to pack my own lunch, not because I was too lazy, but because I knew I wouldn't have anymore letters from you. You have always taken the time to let me know you love me just they way I was and even when I would get into trouble you would let me know that nothing changed about the way you felt about me. Everytime I'm around little children, I act as you would. I know that if I can be just half as good a mom as you were to me, then I would have succeeded in loving and caring for my daughter better than anyone else ever could. You were always there when I needed you, even times when I didn't know I needed you. When everything seemed to be falling apart, you tried to stay strong for all of us. But I want you to know that not only are you my mom, but my best friend. And I will be there to pick you up when you feel weak, I owe you 21 years (and counting) of support and friendship. I love you more than anything and I can't even begin to thank you for preparing me for what lies ahead. As a child, I wanted to be just like you, and that hasn't changed.

I love you with all of my heart and I'm so thankful I get to call you my mom.

Love,
Kristin

I'M BACK!!

2009-01-14T12:45:00.003-05:00

Well, I have actually been back for about a week BUT we came home to find that our computer decided to give up on us while it was turned off for a month.. I was pretty upset. So my abosolutely wonderful and most amazing mom bought me a laptop this past weekend since we have online classes to keep up with. So I unfortunately cannot upload any pictures of our trip because I can't find the software that goes with the camera, it was all set up on the other computer of course. But considering everything that happened while I was gone, I really did have a great time. I will say that I will never travel that far this pregnant ever again, US airways is designed for little people I swear. Even their international flights are just overcramped with extra seats. My knees were against the chair in front of me and my tray table wouldn't go down past my belly.. for 9 hours I suffered. Little girl seemed to enjoy it however because she didn't see to stop moving the whole way. I was so happy to meet all his family, they are all wonderful and kind and took such good care of me. His mom and sister are nurses and his brother is a doctor so every little ailment was fixed by them. Unfortunately, I lost someone very close to me while I was gone to the flu.. I never in a million years the flu could take a college athlete who stayed healthy.. I'm still in shock.

Although I can't show you any of our pictures, I can upload a cell phone picture of my 32 week belly.. only 7 more weeks until she gets here!!! Getting a bit nervous...

Once we got back into charlotte I got to see all of the amazing things Hollie gave us for the baby. Thank you so much for everything!!! We appreciate it so much! And I love the sleeping baby sign that hangs on the door, I can see how that was so hard to part with, all the stuff is perfect and I can't tell you how grateful we are!!

Hopefully I can figure out how to get the pictures uploaded soon.. it's good to be back!

M.I.A.

2008-12-04T16:32:00.005-05:00

..would be the best way to describe me these days..

Where do I start?? I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving. Ours was wonderful! I took three Englishmen home with me, cooked for 2 days, ate for the rest, and spent a few hours in the ER. That pretty much sums up my holiday!

I'll explain.. We took 2 friends home with us for Turkey Day, both on the soccer team and great guys to be around - one from Liverpool and one from Norwich - we all had a really good time spending most of it in front of my moms TV which is massive and extremely adored by the boys.. Mark was just complaining the other day about how watching TV just isn't the same on their 30-something inch perfectly fine television. I spent most of my time cooking with mom while they stayed downstairs glued to the big screen playing video games on Playstation or Wii. And they, as a whole, drank more than I ever have in my life.. what? it could be true..

I ate so much on thanksgiving that i actually got to see it all over again.. in the toilet (valuable information, I know. You're welcome.). The next day we went shopping and found some really great winter maternity clothes that I could wear while in England (LEAVING IN EXACTLY ONE WEEK!!) but I was feeling terrible the entire day having weird episodes of stomach cramps and lower back pain.. yes I eventually freaked out. By the way, did anyone else hear about the Wal-Mart employee in NY who actually got trampled to death when he opened the doors to the Black Friday customers??? What is wrong with people? His family is suing Wal-Mart for their lack of security and for causing pandemonium with their advertisements.. they're also suing the NYPD and other stores that share the strip mall with Wal-Mart.. Why don't they look at the security cameras.. Wouldn't you realize you're WALKING on someone?? Please keep that family in your prayers..

By the time we got home at 6, my pains were coming even closer together. Once I hit the 15 min mark I called the on call doctor who told me to go straight to the hospital. Turns out, I WAS really dehydrated which can release a hormone that causes pains like contractions (notice the "WAS".. I drank my weight in liquid and made best friends with the toilet seat). On top of these wonderful stomach cramps that felt like the amazing monthly cramps x10, I had this severe lower back pain that kept me up all night and eventually in my moms bed in tears.. I know for sure I have kidney stones. I had an ultra sound at the hospital yesterday on both kidneys and my bladder (with a little glimpse of baby!) and they ruled it wasn't an obstruction.. thank God!.. The pains have gotten better and all that's left is a dull back ache which restricts me from laying in any other position other than my left side.. BLAH!

Okay I'm done complaining/venting/reliving.. this post was anything but upbeat.. hope I didn't bring anyone down!

On a more pleasant note.. Saturday marks week #27, just one week shy of the 7th month.. can't wait for her to get here. Gerard broke the news to me yesterday that his cousin has a daughter named Lily.. they don't have a close relationship and he hasn't seen him in 9 years but they're friends on facebook (I said who cares!) and I actually cried over the fact that he was hinting Lily wasn't a possibility anymore and I realized how much I wanted it.. I say oh well, I'm keepin that name!!

Since we're leaving next thursday right after (FIVE!) final exams, I probably won't get a chance to get on here again so I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!

6 months already?!

2008-11-12T21:12:00.005-05:00

I must be dreaming.. 6 months pregnant? You have to see this to believe it..

I swear it looks like I'm smuggling a basketball around.. The baby is the size of a large melon now and weighs over a pound (which is nice to blame one of those 20 extra pounds on her). And I'd say out of all the amazing new developments this month, my favorite by far is seeing my belly move up and down when she kicks and turns.. She is kicking so hard I get nauseated at times but I never want it to end.. I will admit to changing positions while lying down just to throw her off balance so I can feel her squirm, I can't help it. Gerard is away at their conference championship at Myrtle Beach and I miss him terribly BUT my mom and I get a chance to shop around for a crib which I'm really excited about. Only 4 more weeks until this semester is finally over and we head off to England.. but for now, I'm off to bed to lay around and poke my uterus in hopes of retaliation!

Another week gone by...

2008-10-29T16:10:00.003-04:00

It's halfway through week 21 and I'm finally feeling that period where exhaustion is (mostly) over and I feel the energy to work out! I've been doing some preggo yoga, which is really hard.. Here are some new and exciting things I learned about little girl!

White blood cells are forming, creating her immune system to protect her from diseases and viruses.
No more see-through baby! The skin is beginning to change from transparent to an opaque color.
Her little tongue is fully formed! All 5 senses have developed and she can taste what I'm eating. (Sorry little girl for all the sour lemonade and chocolate.. yummy combo)
HER womb has formed.
She is swallowing more to give her digestive system some practice and to start forming meconium in the bowels for that lovely first diaper.
Her awake and sleep patterns are becoming more consistent. She is actually paying attention the changes in light and dark and when I'm asleep or awake!
Her length is now measured from head to toe since she does a lot of stretching out now. She measures around 11 inches and weighs around 13 ounces, the size of a large banana or carrot!

Not only is she still kicking up a storm, baby girl is also doing a number on my skin.. I didn't even break out this much in high school. And using acne medications is a no no, so whats a girl to do? I also feel like I'm missing out on this wonderful occurrence during pregnancy where your hair never looks better.. Mine is dry and seems to be getting thinner..

I'll post a belly picture in my 22nd week, I'm already getting large.. my 5th month is almost over! Today is just one day closer to getting to touch her and hold her.. we can't wait.

She's gunna be a soccer player..

2008-10-22T15:17:00.005-04:00

Little baby girl.. once you start kicking you just don't stop!

This has to be the most active little thing EVER! Last night, during my usual nightly wake ups to rush to the bathroom before I wet myself, she was kicking up a storm! Every time I tried to go back to sleep she was moving and turning and throwing some punches (or kicks, can't really tell the difference with a 7in baby) and as much as I love feeling her moving around I started getting pretty frustrated. I woke Gerard up like usual when I was trying to get comfortable.. left side with the body pillow in between my legs and under my belly? No... Right side? No... back? Not too good for little one.. Stomach? I wish.

Gerard finally started feeling her movements once he learned to stop expecting a Mike Tyson blow from my belly, and I'm so happy he is feeling more connected with her. He always kept saying how jealous he was that he couldn't experience this pregnancy the same way as me... well Gerard if I could switch places with you I think you would be singin a different tune..

ANYWAYS, off the topic of every woman's dream come true (I mean can't they at least experience our monthly gift.. just ONCE?! No? Okay, moving on..)
I made a realization that I could take a picture of my ultrasound scan with my cell phone and then e-mail it to myself so that I could post it on here, so I chose the best one.. well I chose the only one that was of her body and not just limbs (We didn't care too much for our miss know-it-all technician..)

Miss long legs

Unfortunately I had a hard time getting a good shot that did not include the shadow of my head on top, but it was hopeless.
We still haven't decided on a name yet.. For now I'm going to call her Mia Hamm, baby long legs, Muhammad Ali, you get the idea..

Speaking of Muhammad Ali, I probably said the most embarrassing thing in my life while Gerard and I were watching a program on sports center about the top 50 most memorable events in sports (or something like that). He actually ended up calling his dad alllll the way in England to repeat what I had said..

So the show gets to the event of Muhammad Ali lighting the torch at the Olympics, right? So I'm sitting there and watching him struggle to light it, and I notice he's shaking a lot.. So I SAY:
"Awe, he looks SO nervous!!"
Gerard looks at me with this face.. like "Really Kristin?? Are you being serious?"

Yeah it looked exactly like that..

How was I supposed to know he has Parkinson's Disease!! I don't think I've ever made so many people laugh at me in just one week.. Of course Gerard would have flown a plane over the city with my quote printed on a banner flying in the wind if he could. Now his dad thinks I'm HILARIOUS and I was just being really naive and attempting empathy.. I mean I would be REALLY nervous if I had to stand in front of the entire world and light the Olympic torch.. PLUS in my added defense.. it looked like he was standing really high up (Scary, right!?) So now his dad is going to expect me to be cracking all these jokes and in reality I'll be sitting there with my arms folded in my lap saying my "please" and "thank yous"..
Jessica Simpson has more intelligent things to say.. Can I blame stupidity on pregnancy as well?? :)

belly shot!

2008-10-21T16:26:00.003-04:00

TWENTY WEEK BUMP! And my belly button is about to pop out! Gerard doesn't tire of asking, "will it go "POP" when it happens?" I think I'll have two children on my hands soon..

20 DOWN, 19 TO GO!

2008-10-21T15:03:00.003-04:00

I can't even begin to believe I'm in my 20th week of pregnancy and it's halfway over! In 19 weeks, I'll be getting induced and this little angel will be here.. I have a BAD case of baby fever and it's getting worse with every passing week. According to this web page I found on pregnancy.org, here are some new developments for week twenty..

The babys heart is growing stronger. I should now be able to differentiate her heartbeat from mine if I lay still in a quiet place. (The other night I was watching TV flat on my back and could feel her fast heartbeat in my lower back! I guess she had turned on her stomach to get comfortable!)
Her legs are reaching their relative size. I should start feeling more than fluttery movements. (Yesterday at her ultrasound she had the hiccups and I could feel each one! I can also feel her kicking and punching, poor Gerry, he is getting frustrated when he misses it)
This one is so cool: Immunities are being transferred from me to the baby so that she will be protected from any virus I HAVE ALREADY HAD for the first 6 months of her life!
The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and more complex.
The baby may startle at loud noises as she can hear sounds outside of the womb. Calming noises she hears during pregnancy will be calming to her after birth.
Her uterus is starting to develop and she has 6 MILLION eggs in her ovaries! Only 1 million will remain after birth.
And according to the site, she should weigh around 10 ounces and measure somewhere around 7 inches from head to rump! Yet the ultrasound confirmed she weighed in around 12 ounces, only 4 ounces shy of a pound! my little overachiever..

We also got a few new pictures but since Gerard has my printer at the moment, I'll have to scan them later. The technician did a 3D ultrasound for a minute or two and I could kind of see whose features she got. We couldn't make out much of her face because she was hiding behind her hands, but when we did catch a glimpse, she looked more like a little alien.. one with big lips on a big head.. so I'm going to say she looks more like her daddy.. ;)

I have been playing some classical music for her, literally holding the headphones to my stomach.. Lately she kicks the most to Chopin and Bach (She also likes Jason Mraz- I'm Yours, and Kate Nash-Pumpkin Soup, check them out on my playlist); I want her to be as bright as possible.. which got me thinking about the aspirations Gerry and I have for her as she grows up.

She MUST play soccer (Gerard's wish, obviously)
She has to try ballet (Mine)
She must try lessons in music, preferably one from the orchestra
She can try any sport she wants (As long as it doesn't interfere with soccer season - Gerard)

Shamefully, that's really as far as we've gotten.. We're getting ahead of ourselves I know. Gerard just keeps looking forward to attending her games and I personally can't wait to see what sort of personality she develops. Gerard was a trouble maker, and I was a shy manipulator (a true girl) and I'm sure I deserve to have one JUST like me.. pray for me..

Five months down, only four more to go!!

The most eventful Fall Break

2008-10-12T12:15:00.011-04:00

FINALLY! My midterms are over with and I actually feel good about the grades I made.. Gerard and I bought scrabble on our cell phones and we play each other.. daily.. and I know this sounds stupid, but I think it's made me smarter! Maybe my brain is just working harder than usual.. that's probably not a good thing to admit! So we had NO class till today, it was a nice break. Obviously I did nothing.. because I have nothing to report. I went to Gerard's soccer game and he played really well! They won 2-1, I wanted to take pictures but my camera is dead. So instead.. I took random pictures with my cell phone of my dog... aka the current baby of the house..

Poppy-Dog

So after THAT eventful weekend, Gerard was kind enough to head to Charlotte with me so that I could take care of a few errands and see my mom. First I had to go get my passport renewed since we are leaving for ENGLAND in 2 months! I can't wait! We're also going to IRELAND for a christening of his friends baby girl.. I can't even begin to tell you how badly my mom and I have been wanting to go to Ireland, I really wish she could come with us!! It actually didn't take too long in the post office, Gerry and I played scrabble against each other while we waited of course (he won..hmph) and then headed off to the most exciting place in the world!.. The dentist. He waited patiently while I had my teeth cleaned and my gum's STILL hurt from that.. darn pregnancy gingivitis.. After eating dinner with my mom and collecting a few things from her house (THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HOLLIE FOR THAT ADORABLE DIAPER BAG and that little plastic bag dispenser seems like it will definitely be coming in handy, AND the place mat!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!) we headed back to Boiling Springs and I immediately went to bed. Now Gerard is away at a soccer game so I decided to catch up on here since I am officially addicted to blogging. Want to see what I SHOULD be doing??

Doing Gerry's STINKY soccer laundry??

Cleaning, maybe??

Or watching drama and filth on Maury??... DING! DING! DING!

Hope everyone has a great afternoon! :)

Miss Diva

2008-10-08T16:10:00.013-04:00

Here are the ultrasound pictures I just uploaded when I should be studying for my midterms.. but what can I say?

This is my favorite picture, it turned out the best. You can see her brain, spinal cord, and ribs.

A clear shot of her hoo-ha.
(she's gunna hate me for this later)

I LOVE this picture.. at the bottom left you can see her little belly, and then of course her legs crossed at the ankles and a shot of those little toes!

This was good shot of her spine and ribs, and that little arm! She kept rolling around so we couldn't get a clear shot of her face

A little foot!

She took her arm out from behind her head for a minute to wave!

And the heartbeat, at a whoppin 143 beats per
minute!

Ever since the ultrasound Gerard and I have been closer than ever.. he talks to her when we're laying around and kisses my belly and rubs it as though she's already laying there with us. Last night we went to a friends house for a few hours since the guys had the day off from soccer training and he couldn't stop talking about how amazing the ultrasound was and how it was the most life changing thing he would ever experience next to the baby's birth.. How sweet is that..? He started tearing up when he was describing all the things he couldn't wait to do with her, and then laughed when he decided he'd be the "cool dad" and I would get to play disciplinarian. CAN'T WAIT! :)

The beginning..

2008-10-07T23:56:00.009-04:00

Here are a few pictures of Gerry and I : Pre-babymamadrama

Hates this picture because I made him smile..

Gerard and his current roommate Jordan

On my birthday.. The ultrasound photos clearly show the baby got Gerard's BIG head.. poor thing.. no wait, poor me!

NEXT are the ultrasound photos that shows miss diva2B laying on her back with her legs crossed at the ankles and one arm behind her head.. just chillin in there!

Long story, with a happy ending..

2008-10-07T23:33:00.011-04:00

So here is Gerard (pronounced Jared, for all you non-irish) and I sitting anxiously awaiting a routine doctors appointment. Wait.. Let me start from the beginning.

NO ONE told me just HOW emotional you can get during pregnancy. I knew about the mood swings, the hormone fluctuation, etc, but no one told me about the overwhelming urge to either reach over and whack a rude receptionist or uncontrollably hyperventilate in a parking lot..

I had my 18 wk ultrasound scheduled for yesterday at 1:30 in the next town over. Someone at my doctor's office told me to go to the hospital for it. Long story short, I was "over 15 minutes late" for the ultrasound at the real location, and all of my anticipation and excitement quickly went out the window when I was told I'd have to wait another TWO WEEKS to find out what I was having. I was overly upset. I couldn't handle counting down the days in my calender AGAIN.. I had even started counting hours.. silly, I know. I know that if I hadn't of been pregnant I would have just been worn down from all the running around but never upset to the point where I couldn't breathe.. what a mess. It took Gerard 15 minutes behind closed doors to calm me down and convince me that the baby was alright and that we didn't need to see to know the sex because it was definitely a boy (ha, don't think so....). Luckily, the sweetest doctor in the world, stayed over 30 minutes after closing to do a quick ultrasound to tell me I was having a GIRL!!! So there we are waiting in the doctor's office for my 2nd scheduled appointment of the day.. and my mom kept on clicking away with pictures...

Showing off the 18 wk and 3 days bump...

Gerard with his lovely mullet, touching his soon to be little girl...

My amazing doctor...

This is of course only 3/24 of the pictures she snapped. We didn't make it home till after 6:30.. that was such a long day. I still have to go to my scheduled ultrasound in two weeks however so they can measure the brain and all that.. watch them tell me it's a boy after all..