14 / 15 Weeks - Second Trimester!!

Merry Christmas!! Wait?! Christmas just passed, it has been a super busy month with shopping, cleaning and cooking and day dreaming of baby. =) I hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

I had Marcos, my husband, home this Christmas and I really appreciated it. Last year, I thought it would be fine for him to go see his parents in Brazil for Christmas and I'd stay here. It was a really hard thing to do. At first it didn't bother me, well the idea of him leaving, but once he was gone it was just bad. Marcos is literally my best friend, the love of my life and he wasn't celebrating Christmas with me. I thought deep down that this would be a good lesson for him, for him to realize that it was stupidest idea ever to be separated at Christmas. I'm still not sure how he feels about it because I know he never gets to see him family and I see mine almost every day if  not 2xs a day. I know I couldn't do it though, but I don't think he'd think twice about going back to Brazil to spend Christmas with his family and leaving me here in MS with my family.

(Cutest Ornament EVER! Thanks Mom!)

Speaking of family, this is when the issue gets tricky. I'm trying to explain to him that we, as in ME & HIM are a family now. I don't think he gets it quite yet but maybe this baby thing will open his eyes some to see what I see. Or maybe I am just being selfish... who knows?!

At 14 weeks, nothing was to exciting. I was hoping to find out the gender of this baby, but Shiloh just wouldn't cooperate. I am really concentrating on my weight. In the first trimester you should only gain about 5lbs, and I was trying my best to do that. I really think it is unneccessary to gain sooo much weight do to over eating. Don't get me wrong, I definitley over ate for Thanksgiving and Christmas but now it's over and I can stay focused. Every  morning I try and eat a banana and yogurt. The text books say that a baby only needs 300 extra calories a day, so eating that every morning I have taken care of my baby for that day. Then, I go about my day eating and doing things I'd normally do on a normal basis. I have a friend, Kristy (shoutout to you sista) and she is preggo with baby #2 and I saw her at 18 weeks and she barely looked pregnant. She was tiny, and still in her old jeans. It was a real reality check to me after seeing her and reading books that if your small you are less likely to show until your 5 or 6 month. Sometimes I look big, but that is due to bloating or water retention one day. I'll get on the scale and flip out that i gained 5lbs over night but then the next day i'm back to my normal weight, it's mind boggling but reassuring to know it techincally wasn't me.

Today marks, 15 weeks. on Monday we got to see baby Shiloh and baby was very active, kept sucking it's little thumb too! That was soo cool to see and watch. We couldn't get baby to cooperate with us so we could tell if it was a Natalie or an Asher but hopefully soon we will know. This week is NEW YEARS and we have plans to spend it at my brothers house, cooking out steaks and playing games - family fun! =) New years day we are packed up and headed to Dallas Cowboy Stadium where we will celebrate my 26th birthday and watch Rebels play OSU. My best friend from college who lives in TX will be coming to celebrate with us and bringing her fianance, Dale. I met him back in September (a trip I will never forget because I wasn't goign to go because I knew I was ovulating and I didn't want to miss the day, which I thought was a Sunday the day I'd been on the airplane all day - but I guess I was wrong, maybe it was Monday ;) Ha ) I'm really excited about going to Dallas and seeing my friend and spending my birthday w/ Marcos, Nicole and baby!

Well, that's it. I'm tired of typing and want to take a nap! I hope you all have a Happy Happy New Year - and May God reveal himself to you in a MIGHTY way in 2010!

Much love,

Jana

Good Morning!

So, It is early and I am AWAKE. Not sure if I wrote about the name thing but we have a girl name if Shiloh is a girl.

Natalie Arianna Rodrigues
Natalie Gisele Rodrigues
Natalie Nicole Rodrigues

Which one do you like?

For a boy - this has been dificult. We knew Natalie would be the name from the beginning - we BOTH love it. But for a boy - a whole other story. Here is what we have for a boy.

Asher Giovanni Rodrigues
Dylan Asher Rodrigung
Marc "Sterling" Rodrigues

If you are wondering about the name Asher - well, it is one of the 12 tribes of Israel - 8th son of Jacob.
The name Asher means: Blessed & Happy child. =) And I like that!
Dylan means: Resolute Courage or Faithfulness
Sterling means: Pure & of High Worth

So - Let's here your votes! =)

It's Potty Time... Again?! 13 weeks and counting...

 I'm exhausted right now, mostly due to the fact that every night around 1:45am I wake to run to the potty. It's like my bladder has shrunken in size. Once i wake up, I can't go back to sleep. I lay awake until about 4AM then finally some how, I fall back to sleep and stay asleep until about 9AM.

Well, this week was quite as exciting as a month ago. I went to the dr. on Thursday, December 16 @ 13 weeks for some spotting. Just like last time I was freaked and praying like crazy. As I waited in the Dr.'s office i started counting back when the last time I was in here for spotting. It was just last week at 12 weeks that Marcos and I had just heard the heart beat and here I am back in the Dr's office freaked out not knowing what is going on. I realized I had been in at 9 weeks for spotting and it had been 4 weeks and now I am back.

Dr. arrived just as confident and happy to see me. She just saw me about 11 days ago. She asked what was up and I told her well, same thing bleeding and kinda freaked out. She pulls out the doppler and says lets have a hear shall we? Yes, we shall! =)

The night before I just felt my baby move. You make think that being odd... but it isn't. I'm pretty small - and very in tuned to my body. It feels like a "goldfish". It doesn't happen alot but it'll move somethng like a flip - jerk - sudden twitch sooo noticeable that I know it is just my big ole baby! Which I really do think I will carry a big baby not 6lbs but like 8 or 9lbs. Haha. Why do I thnk that , I dunno... I just do!

So, Dr is looking to find the heart beat and i am calm because I know I felt it last night but I don't know why I am spotting. The Dr. is searching down low and taking forever! She looked very nervous. I explain to her the baby is higher and on my right side. She moves the doppler on up to where I thought I felt the baby the night before and sure enough there baby was just a moving. Kicking up a storm. (I'm feeling that right now as I type!!!!! =) ). I got to hear the heart beat and Dr. assured me everything was fine. Actually, it was on November 16 that I came in for the same thing and here it was December 16 exactly a month from that date.

Dr tells me, "Well, your just a bleeder... you know like you wouldn't even know you were pregnant if you had already known". Like the TV show on TLC - Pregnant and Didn't know. I used to watch that show with Marcos and think these people were crazy. But, I guess if once a month you are having signs that a period is about to show you right it off as one and think you're not pregnant. Totally crazy - but as for right now that is ME!

Christmas is next week and I will be 14 weeks and entering my 2nd trimester, even though some text books say I entered it at 12 weeks. I haven't had any morning sickness - this pregnancy has been quite smooth when it comes to pregnancy symptoms people occur during the first trimester - I've experienced very little if that. I give God the glory for that. I'm trusting in him every day to see me through each day. I couldn't imagine going through a pregnancy not having God on my side. It's an awesome feeling.

No Mexican for 12 weeks!

12 week doctors appointment this AM. Everything was great. Baby's heart beat is just a beating rapidly. Can you hear it?




So, anyone who knows me, knows Marcos and I eat Mexican every Friday night with my parents. We have always done this. Literally, for 2 years now we have done this.

Things have changed. I can't stand the sight of Mexican. Even having to talk about it right now is making me quesy. I just realized it has been 12 weeks since I've eaten Mexican. I used to enjoy it all the time. I actually miss the thrill of Friday and Mexican. I desire to want a desire to want it again. Ha, did that make since?

Marcos has been dying. He still loves to eat Mexican. So, we attempted to eat it yesterday. I had no desire for fajitas (like the usual) but the quesadillas sounded good. I got the chicken quesadilla. When it arrived I tried and it was ok. What I realized though was that it would be much better if I scraped out the cheese and chicken and just at the tortilla shell dipped in sour cream and salsa. Yummy - now that was good!

I've started to work out now too. I'm trying to walk 1 mile 3 times a week and lift weights to have sexy skinny arms. I've already gained -- well--- I won't scare you just yet. But do know - I am working on this. Just because your pregnant doesn't mean you have to blow up and get huge. Just eat an extra 300 calories - which translates into yogurt and a banana. I can do that! We shall see.

I hope everyone is having a great day. Were you able to hear the rapid 3 second video of babies heart beat?

Lots of love, joy and peace!

Jana

You Will Never Understand

I am now 11 weeks. Wow, it's super surreal. I wasn't sure what to blog about at 11 weeks until I spoke with a friend today. So, I titled this post, "You Will Never Understand".

If you've never had a  miscarriage, "You Will Never Understand". You'll never understand the anxieties, the worries, the thoughts, "is this going to happen again?" I know many people now, who've lost a child aka "missed miscarriage" and these are the thoughts we go through on an hourly basis. Sure, first time pregnant moms have some anxieties and worries, it's only natural right - but it's nothing like "us".

It's like a new group of friends - the "us" group, who's been there and done it and can relate. Not only can we relate but we can feel the exact pain someone goes through when they've discovered their loss. It's in this moment that I am some how grateful I faced a devasting tragedy because now I truly know how it feels.

Jealousy - jealousy is something that satan tries use to make you feel the pain all over again - when a friend or relative or sister or whoever becomes pregnant and doesn't experience a loss. They have what they call, "a perfect pregnancy" - blessed pregnancy. This is something I overcame a long time ago. I actually don't ever remember being jealous of anyone who was pregnant around the time that I was and carried their precious baby to full term. But, I do know of those who have lossed and this becomes an issue.

Pride - I've dealt with prideful pregant people. Those that were pregnant or are pregnant and have the thoughts of gosh, "I'm pregnant or poor her, she experienced a lossed and I am just blessed". It's actually sickening how some people can act with not truley understanding the motives behind what they just said. It's very easy for me to see those who truley are meaningful in their words and those who aren't. You'd think I should feel some bitterness for those people but once again, I acknowlege who they are and thank God, I am not like them. That I can have compassion and be thankful and grateful that God has blessed them with perfect pregnancies.

Babies are BLESSINGS.

With Hannah, "I thank God for the blessing of this baby."

There is no need to be jealous - if you've lost a child and no need to feel prideful if you've haven't. I think those who have lost a child should think of those who haven't and put yourself in their shoes - and how they should feel grateful they carried a pregnancy full term. Those who haven't had to experience a loss - Praise God - but put yourself in our shoes. Imagine your sweet baby you have right now taken from you - lossed. It's a terrible pain - unimaginable.

So, today I pray like I do on many occassion - Lord - change me. Keep me renewed. I want to produce the fruits of the spirit in my everyday walk of life - in all trials and tribulations - in the greatest times and in the worst of times. Let me be: love, joy, peace, patient, good, gentle, meek, self-controled and faithful. I thank you for molding me each day into the women you've designed me to be. I know you're not finished and for that I'm ecastic. In Jesus' name! AMEN!