Target Practice

Since 14 weeks, I've been able to feel some "flutters" every now-and-again. Today, though, baby decided to start showcasing how much bigger and stronger he/she is getting! His/her favorite spot is a couple of inches below my belly button.

I was really worried this morning because of some cramping. I woke up at 3:30am and was feeling some uncomfortable cramps. Unfortunately, they were still there around 9, and they were pretty tight. Nothing helped until I finally decided to lie down in a semi-sitting position instead of on my side. After some time, this pretty much cured it. When I lied down again in the afternoon for a quick rest in the same position, I started feeling these kicks! I thought it was well-deserved considering the morning I had. ^^;;

Anyway, he/she has a liking for America's Next Top Model, apparently, because as I was watching tonight, the kicks started again. No complaints here!

In other news, I met up with some members from a group of expat women today who either have children or are pregnant (or both!). It was so nice to talk with them and get information and just connect. A couple of the women there are married to Korean men, so that's kind of an added bonus. I took a few notes of some of the baby stuff some had brought with to try to find it. Even though one person made my least favorite comment of, "Where's your belly?" it was just a wonderful time. (You know who you are if you're reading this! ^.~) It just wasn't super obvious with what I was wearing. Plus, I've got a lot more room for baby to stretch out with my long torso. As you can see, I am very protective of my little baby bump!

All that aside, it was just a very nice day overall. Sesame still doesn't like bibimbap apparently (I think it might actually be a sort of aversion to bean sprouts...maybe), but cheese sticks and Krispy Kremes are always okay. One of Hee Suk's friends (a guy!) commented on how my cheeks have filled out a little and how my bump is getting bigger, and that, of course, just had me beaming. The people who know me a bit more are usually pretty quick to pick up on the changes (it's not hard with me!).

Anyway, this is a super late night post. Time to get ready for bed!

Thank You, God, for this little Taekwon Baby, for the blessing of being able to feel him/her so early on. I am so in awe of Your design, the incredible ways You work. Thank You, my Lord.

16 Weeks

Hi, Mom~!




So first of all, I decided to stop pressuring myself to take a picture everyday. I will just take significant pictures (and then some, of course). To be honest, a lot of photos were already being taken days later, so I was kind of cheating anyway. :3

That aside, we had an ultrasound yesterday at our 16-week check-up. It went very well. I had a whole ton of questions written down to ask our doctor, and I was so nervous about asking them. Like I've mentioned before, Koreans are very trusting of their doctors and just go with the flow. Americans especially ask tons of questions to be sure they are at the right place because of how different it is everywhere you go, so it's just the opposite.

I expected to be kind of rushed out, but she never made me feel like she was even expecting anyone else (though she certainly did have plenty of other patients to see). Even at the end, she mentioned how she knows that foreigners especially ask tons of questions and that it's no problem at all. She basically expected it, which is actually kind of nice.

One of my biggest concerns was our 20-week appointment, which I have mentioned a few times here I was nervous about because I knew it would be just like the 12-week appointment, which left me slightly traumatized (though I definitely need not be since baby is just fine). We left her office at the end just expecting to call her two days before the appointment so someone would be sure to have the monitor on for me the entire time. I was definitely pleased with this. Right after we left, though, the assistant told us to hold on, that our appointment date might change because the doctor was making some phone calls.

We got even better news that the hospital offers special times twice a week just for foreigners to have super ultrasounds done where husbands can accompany them! I was just ecstatic and beyond grateful at hearing this. She even still told me to stop by her office right before we went off to have the ultrasound done to be sure they would keep the monitor on for me the whole time. What a true blessing.

I definitely feel much more confident in the overall process at the hospital now. I’ve never doubted my doctor, but I did become concerned with some of the hospital’s rules. Everything really looks about perfect, though.

Anyway, some stats:

Baby:
Approximately 9.3cm, or 3.7”

This freaked me out. First, I keep thinking it’s not all that accurate anyway since our baby is super curly cuddly like I am anyway. Second, I know these are just estimates. Third, I know every baby grows differently.

That’s about an inch behind, though, so it is slightly worrisome. However, our doctor didn’t say a thing, so I am sure it must be just fine. Some tickers say baby is just over 4.5”, and others say 5”, so that’s why I am sort of just like, “Woh.”




These were taken Tuesday, the doctor's 16 weeks and our 15w6d.

Mommy:
Blood Pressure: 105/71
Heart Rate: 87bpm
Weight: 59.5kg / 130.9 lbs (a less than 2kg/4-lb gain)

When the doctor was putting the ultrasound…scanner…on my belly, she said, “You haven’t gained anything, have you??” My belly really flattened out when I was on my back, though many have started to notice it! I though I had gained more than what I did.

Today, two parents of my students on separate occasions exclaimed excitedly that my belly was getting bigger. I think the first said something more like, “Wow, baby is really growing!” because her daughter then wanted to know how she could see the baby, lol. Yes, this is the one who thinks we are having either twins or a purple baby. That child is next to hopeless! I have explained in Korean maaaany times that our baby will be mixed, half-Korean, half-white (“half-American”) and even showed her pictures of our friends’ half-Chinese, half-white baby, and she still asked me today, “Korean baby?” I told her again, “No, MIX…” and she asked if the baby will speak Korean or English, again. I told her if we teach Korean, baby will speak Korean. If we teach English, baby will speak English. She sort of seemed to semi-understand after that, but I doubt it!

After the first mom said I was getting bigger (which does bring me great delight), the two girls in class kept wanting to touch my belly. Too cute.

All of that blabbing on aside, Hee Suk made a video of the scan today. Don't turn the volume up--it's just a lot of me laughing. *^^* Our baby was very seriously lying in the same position I was with my arm. Right when the doctor put the scanner on me, the baby was apparently making a peace sign. She tried to rewind the video to show it again, but no such luck (you won't see that part in the video). Our baby is hilarious. And as usual, he/she was hiding out on the lower left side. ^^



Thank You, my King, for nourishing this little one with Your love and for also holding me tight when I am feeling weak. There are no words to describe the awe I feel when I think of how you designed this miracle. You are incredible, my Lord. Thank You, my Lord. Thank You.

A Dream

I had a dream the other night that I was having an ultrasound, and I was pregnant with triplets. (What's with all of the dreams of multiples?) They were able to determine the sex of baby #2--a boy. My quads were all girls, and of the super definitive dreams during pregnancy, I've had one of a boy and one of a girl. My triplets have at least one boy. I think this is a sign we will not find out until he/she makes and entrance into this world.

We have an ultrasound on Wednesday where we will be asking our doctor a whole bunch of questions, which I am nervous about for some reason. I just feel like people here don't ask questions--they just blindly follow their doctors. I wanted to push her to see if she could hint the sex for us at this appointment, but it sounds like telling it so early on leads to many wrong "predictions," for lack of a better term.

I think I am partially nervous about talking about the 20-week scan (FAS-Fetal Anatomy Scan). I will not have it done if the experience will be the same as what the 12-week NT scan was. I will make our doctor do it instead of going to the Ultrasound Tech Room of Doom if she feels it is that important but is unable to have the rules slightly bent for us. Or I will go to another clinic for the scan and somehow get everything sent over. I'm not even asking to allow my husband in since no one can have their husbands in. I want my TV screen to be on the entire time she has the whatchamacallit on my belly, no ifs, ands or buts.

I had a sort of revelation with as to why they probably don't do it like that. I at first could only think of, "They don't want people asking questions while they are taking the measurements," but then it dawned on me--they may be trying to make sure you can't figure out the sex. I don't care if you don't want me to know--you are not going to be looking at our baby any longer than we can!

If you can't tell, I am still trying to get over how that all went down. Clearly, four weeks is not enough time to get over it.

Anyway, that's all for now. More later, as always.

Thank You, my Lord, for holding us so tightly in Your hands and for being a neverending source of comfort and peace. I love You, my King.

Another Quick One

Yesterday was the first time I have truly noticed how things are moving up. I was sitting and bending/slouching a little forward when I realized my skin wasn't "folding" like it used to. I used to have a pinkish line a little lower on my abdomen showing where my skin would naturally crease (in addition to one I still have), but it can't crease there anymore! This is really exciting to me. I love watching my body change through this.

That reminds me...

When we were on the hunt for a bra for me, we stopped by a few shops, including a few maternity shops and a regular ol' bra shop. I sometimes got really down after going to those places because people would first of all assume I was not in the right place (at the maternity shops), and then when we told them I'm pregnant, the looks on their faces and the tones of their voices were just so...almost like they didn't believe me or thought I was a Russian hooker with my sugar daddy (despite my "blinding bling"). I have a tummy! It was so noticeable to me (of course), so why were these people all like, "Oh..."? I know realistically that I am not at that "Oh, she's pregnant!" just by site stage yet, but especially when I have walked into a maternity section without looking lost, I would expect a hint of a smile at least! I know we are obviously not the norm here, but still...

Anyway, Hee Suk really knows how to either whip them out or dig himself a deep hole fast. Here, he was actually clever enough one day to whip out, "It's because they have big bellies without being pregnant!" I love him. ♥

That's all for now! Off to teach my last class for the day.

Thank You, my Lord, for the incredible way You have decided pregnancy, that You have given us so many signs even early on to show us that everything is just fine and going to well. We are truly blessed!

Suddenly...

This is just a quick one, but it's funny how suddenly, people are mostly voting that they think we will have a boy. Our girl count is even minus one from where it was as someone just might have changed their answer! It's still 10:4, girl, but all recent votes have pretty much been for boy. I just think that's funny.


Highlights:

Still no second trimester energy boost, and I am finally getting over the cough/cold I came down with.

I spent almost $4 today on three sticks of string cheese.

Despite being pregnant and having braces, I landed a semi-recurring role on a drama called White Lie and filmed my first episode yesterday. It will air next week Friday on the 29th.

16-week appointment is in one week, and my doctor has no idea how many questions she's got coming at her. :3

Our little monkey is about 4 inches now. ^^;; (You have no idea how many nicknames he/she actually has.)

And that's all I have energy for. Good morning to you and good night to me!


Thank You, my Lord. Thank You.

I love Teacher's Day.

May 15th is Teacher's Day, which is tomorrow. However, seeing as I don't have all of my classes every day, I started receiving gifts yesterday.

What's really wonderful to me is how incredibly thoughtful the gifts have been. Instead of blabbing on, I shall post pictures!

14w

My children's class on Wednesdays presented me with this huge basket of fruit, which was fantastic not only because it's a great gift for a pregnant woman, but also because I was going to head to the grocery store after class just to buy fruit! One student had a scale at her house, so I weighed it--6kg (over 12 lbs)!

♥

14w1d

These are the gifts I received today, minus one I had received in the morning. I will detail what isn't pictured later.


I was shocked to receive an Agabang bag because it's a pretty pricey brand (to me) of Korean baby wears. Inside was this adorable blanket/towel set! As you can see, it is both pink and blue, so no tell-tale signs there. I dreamt that the first gift I opened was both pink and blue! This was a gift from two first-graders I teach.


The one is a bath towel with adorable little mouse ears! Considering I think we are having a mouse because of his/her love for cheese, this was very appropriate!


I had another children's group class today, and they gave me the small box wrapped in pink and the brown bag that says Beyond. In the pink box was my favorite thing in the world--two pairs of Korean-style maternity underwear! One girl in my class wanted me to open it up, so I peaked in, restrained from laughing too hard and quickly tucked it away since there is a boy in the class.

As for what's not pictured, the boy I teach a few mornings a week (who is half-Korean, half-French!) gave me some nice sunscreen lotion.

The grey bag with the origami pocket heart is from an adorable girl I work with two days a week who was formerly in a group class. She gave me a hair clip which looks like it's covered in pearls. I opened it up when I got home and said, "It's perfect!" Pearls have a special meaning to me with having PCOS (the "string of pearls" on my ovaries), so I absolutely love it.

In the brown bag was some stretch mark creme. I am so glad we weren't convinced to buy any at the baby fair! (We almost were!)

I did NOT expect to be receiving such nice things. Maybe it's because most were group gifts, but still. I am so grateful to all of the students and their families for the kindness they have shown me. None of them are reading this, but I just want to say thank you again!

♥

In other news, I had a dream last night that I had just had our baby, a girl, and she looked more American than Korean (which I literally thought was so strange in my dream). My dreams tend to show baby after he/she has grown a bit, and this one showed her sitting up and just laughing at everything. I was taking pictures with my camera phone (which I almost never do!), and she was pretty much posing for them, even waving hi at times. So adorable, and what a nice break from the nightmares. The weird, thing, though, was that at the beginning of the dream, this was apparently going to be our second child...that part was a little kooky.

There are still some more special posts I want to do, but I want to keep them separate. Hopefully, I will get to them soon! I've been really excited about them, but I always end up with something else to type before I am able to get to them.

Much love!

My heavenly Father, thank You for all of those in my life that You have blessed me with, from family to friends to students and their families. We are to rely solely on You for all that we need, but You know how weak our hearts are and generously bless us with others in our lives who You use to bless us even further. I pray that I might be half as much a blessing to all of them as they have been to me. Thank You, my Lord.

Picture Time!

13w1d

On Thursday night, I made a little book for Appa-to-be from our little Sesame for Parents' Day, which was on Friday. I think it is way adorable and pretty funny. I just used the crayons and origami paper we had in the house, along with a bunch of baby stickers I had since my students aren't too interested in those.

♥

13w2d

On Parent's Day in Korea, the thing to do is give carnations to your parents. While I was on my way to my classes, I saw this lady selling carnations. Do you see what is behind her? It's a monkey! She had a pet monkey! I just had to snap a picture.

Even though I gave Hee Suk the book, he didn't think twice about trying to do something for me. We went out to eat that night like I mentioned in my last post, though, so it was nice.

♥

13w3d

These are just some of the freebies we walked away with from the Happy Mom's Fair. We really got some good stuff! I can't wait to go back in September for the bigger one. ^o^

♥

13w4d

On Sunday, I met up with a new friend who is also married to a Korean and is expecting her first very soon! As I mentioned, I scored a great deal on some new bras. The ladies at the shop loved me, so they threw in some free clear bra straps. I love the freebie culture here. ♥

♥

13w5d

I bought these on Sunday, but I had three on Monday, despite trying to limit myself to two. I made a compromise that so long as I have these, I can't order pizza. I just finished the last one, heheheh.

♥

13w6d

I forgot to take a picture of this before. I was at EMart and saw this two pack of notebooks for less than a dollar, and since it said Mother's Day, I picked them up. I have no idea what I will use them for yet since they are not the lined style I like, but we'll see.

And no picture for today yet, but you know there will be one eventually.

There have been many things I have wanted to type about, but I just lose the energy to do so by the time I get here sometimes. I've been having problems with my shoulder suddenly acting up again, so I am going to just go for now and get some rest before my afternoon classes start.

Thank You, Lord, for all of these wonderful memories and for the new friends that you are sending my way to help me feel more connected to others while here. May you bless them and their children, whether they have been born or have yet to make their entrance. Thank You, my Lord!